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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 15, 2015 18:35:56 GMT -5
Given ETSU's struggles this year and some ongoing conversation on this board about where we are/where we should be as a program, I started thinking about how hard it must be to recruit for a startup program. And, on top of that, as far as Mercer is concerned, we had to recruit kids to come into a practice year with no scholarship, and know they were playing their first season minimum in a non-scholarship league. On top of that, I don't think anyone had envisioned us moving to scholarship football that quickly. So, basically, these kids from the Originals (or even the second class for the first year in the Pioneer League) had no guarantee of ever getting a dollar in scholarship money.
Having said that, there are 25 players on the two deep (or would be if they weren't injured) that came from that pool of players that decided to come to Mercer and start a program with no guarantee of ever seeing a scholarship.
Given how well our first year went and how we've competed coming into a league like the SoCon so quickly, it's pretty damn amazing to consider the amount of impact players that took a chance on Mercer. Even though we've lost our two conference games so far this year, after watching those games more than once, I can honestly say, I don't see a huge talent gap with us and other schools. Watching 1-on-1 matchups, there isn't one group where I look and say, "Wow, we really just got out talented there," or "We just don't have the players to deal with that guy."
Anyway, I'm thankful to those kids and their families for rolling the dice. And also that Coach Lamb and his staff have a future in sales if this whole football thing doesn't work out. Because we have some ballers that play for us that came here knowing there wouldn't be any money for school.
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Post by FUBeAR on Oct 15, 2015 19:45:22 GMT -5
Given ETSU's struggles this year and some ongoing conversation on this board about where we are/where we should be as a program, I started thinking about how hard it must be to recruit for a startup program. And, on top of that, as far as Mercer is concerned, we had to recruit kids to come into a practice year with no scholarship, and know they were playing their first season in a non-scholarship league. On top of that, I don't think anyone had envisioned us moving to scholarship football that quickly. So, basically, these kids from the Originals (or even the second class for the first year in the Pioneer League) had no guarantee of ever getting a dollar in scholarship money. Having said that, there are 25 players on the two deep (or would be if they weren't injured) that came from that pool of players that decided to come to Mercer an start a program with no guarantee of every seeing a scholarship. Given how well our first year went and how we've competed coming into a league like the SoCon so quickly, it's pretty damn amazing to consider the amount of impact players that took a chance on Mercer. Even though we've lost our two conference games so far this year, after watching those games more than once, I can honestly say, I don't see a huge talent gap, either. Watching 1-on-1 matchups, there isn't one group where I look and say, "Wow, we really just got out talented there," or "We just don't have the players to deal with that guy." Anyway, I'm thankful to those kids and their families for rolling the dice. And also that Coach Lamb and his staff have a future in sales if this whole football thing doesn't work out. Because we have some ballers that play for us that came here knowing there wouldn't be any money for school. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 15, 2015 22:34:27 GMT -5
Lol. I also like that one GIF style.  |
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Post by chez23 on Oct 16, 2015 10:41:54 GMT -5
Well said and spot on. However, the honeymoon is almost over, its time to win. If expectations are not at the highest level all the time then the program will flounder in mediocrity...and I dont think MU has any desire to be average. |
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Post by bear38 on Oct 16, 2015 15:16:23 GMT -5
Given ETSU's struggles this year and some ongoing conversation on this board about where we are/where we should be as a program, I started thinking about how hard it must be to recruit for a startup program. And, on top of that, as far as Mercer is concerned, we had to recruit kids to come into a practice year with no scholarship, and know they were playing their first season minimum in a non-scholarship league. On top of that, I don't think anyone had envisioned us moving to scholarship football that quickly. So, basically, these kids from the Originals (or even the second class for the first year in the Pioneer League) had no guarantee of ever getting a dollar in scholarship money.Having said that, there are 25 players on the two deep (or would be if they weren't injured) that came from that pool of players that decided to come to Mercer and start a program with no guarantee of ever seeing a scholarship.Given how well our first year went and how we've competed coming into a league like the SoCon so quickly, it's pretty damn amazing to consider the amount of impact players that took a chance on Mercer. Even though we've lost our two conference games so far this year, after watching those games more than once, I can honestly say, I don't see a huge talent gap with us and other schools. Watching 1-on-1 matchups, there isn't one group where I look and say, "Wow, we really just got out talented there," or "We just don't have the players to deal with that guy." Anyway, I'm thankful to those kids and their families for rolling the dice. And also that Coach Lamb and his staff have a future in sales if this whole football thing doesn't work out. Because we have some ballers that play for us that came here knowing there wouldn't be any money for school. While all true. The Ap State and GA Southern switch was a done deal (at least for the 2nd year recruits) and the SoCon rumors were strong and made sense. It wasn't a totally blind decision. Additionally, Mercer seems to be attracting some high academic students that had access to some academic scholarships. I think they have led the Pioneer League and SoCon in Academic awards. But it should have been easier for ETSU since they were full scholarship from day 1, although I don't know if they are gradually putting those scholarship in place over 4 years. |
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Post by etsufan1 on Oct 16, 2015 19:49:32 GMT -5
Don't necessarily think it should have been easier for ETSU. Our first recruiting class had to redshirt because we didn't have football yet. Add to that, ETSU is playing at an off campus high school stadium for 2 years while the new stadium is built. And yes, we are gradually spreading out of scholarships, and almost all our of second recruiting class is being redshirted so we don't have 60 sophomores next year.
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Post by FUBeAR on Oct 16, 2015 21:15:51 GMT -5
Don't necessarily think it should have been easier for ETSU. Our first recruiting class had to redshirt because we didn't have football yet. - SAME + No Scholarships Add to that, ETSU is playing at an off campus high school stadium for 2 years while the new stadium is built. - NOT THE SAME, BUT 1st Mercer Class signed with no stadium built + No Scholarships for 1st 2 Classes And yes, we are gradually spreading out of scholarships, - SAME (now that Mercer has scholarships - started recruiting scholarship players in 2014 - SAME as ETSU)and almost all our of second recruiting class is being redshirted so we don't have 60 sophomores next year. - SIMILAR - Mercer has redshirted about 1/2 of each recruited scholarship classEach situation is unique. There are challenges a-plenty for any start-up. Mercer dealt with them beautifully in Year 1, and IMHO, continues to do so. That said, I don't think you can view a school as no longer a start-up until about 10 years have passed since the 1st football players stepped on campus. That gives full 'allowance' to redshirt that full class and to begin playing in Year 10 with some players who as 5th year Sr's were recruited as FR while others were already 5th year Sr's. Year 1 - R (Practice year, in most cases) Year 2 - R-FR, FR Year 3 - R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 4 - R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 5 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 6 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR <- When players in this class are 5th year Sr's, then the program is no longer in Start-Up Mode Year 7 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 8 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 9 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR Year 10 - R-SR, SR, R-JR, JR, R-SO, SO, R-FR, FR While ETSU has struggled to win games (so far) this year and Mercer won games right out of the gate, I don't think it's truly 'fair' to fully evaluate Mercer's start-up until 2022 and ETSU's until 2024. If there are any delays to ETSU building their stadium, then the full evaluation should take a longer view. I know we live in a WIN NOW, "What have you done for me lately?," instant gratification, hit your quarterly numbers society, but the evaluation horizon above is the truth of the matter as I see it. Some may do better early and some may come on later. As my friends in The Big Easy (not the Saints though, they aren't my friends today) say.... "Wait a-while" |
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Post by bear38 on Oct 17, 2015 8:47:02 GMT -5
Don't necessarily think it should have been easier for ETSU. Our first recruiting class had to redshirt because we didn't have football yet. Add to that, ETSU is playing at an off campus high school stadium for 2 years while the new stadium is built. And yes, we are gradually spreading out of scholarships, and almost all our of second recruiting class is being redshirted so we don't have 60 sophomores next year. Thanks for coming on our site and participating! Glad to have you. I wasn't knocking ETSU just pointing out that Mercer didn't offer scholarships until start of year 3 versus start of year 1 for ETSU. That factor is a benefit. However, your right in that other factors might offset (stadium, etc) |
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Post by chez23 on Oct 19, 2015 10:03:32 GMT -5
How many scholarship players are now on MU?
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Post by FUBeAR on Oct 19, 2015 10:24:38 GMT -5
How many scholarship players are now on MU? Radio said 53 this AM and I have been told by a current prospect's Dad that he was told by Mercer's Coaching Staff that Mercer had 10 scholarships to give this year. So, those numbers jive. So that's probably accurate, EXCEPT you have to think about scholarships differently in FCS Football, because they can give partial scholarships. So, they may have the value of 53 total athletics scholarships distributed across an NCAA maximum allowable 85 players. I know they are 'getting back' the amount of Athletic Scholarships this year that the 2 5th Year Sr's who are out of eligibility and beyond the point of a possible 6th year due to medical hardship (DANGIT!)....I imagine there are several R-Jr's who have some Athletic 'money' who will elect not to return for their 5th year and those funds should come back as well. One thing I would say though....'worrying' about scholarship numbers for an FCS Football fan is really a fruitless task. Without being on the inside, there is just no way to know how those scholarships are distributed nor what amounts are available year-to-year. Kind of interesting exercise in FBS Football or D1 Hoops to track...just not worth anyone's time in FCS Football due to the sheer speculation involved. Better / More fun just to follow offers, commitments, quality, etc. if you're into following the Recruiting 'game.' Here's the place to do that for SoCon Fans - SoCon Recruiting |
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