How Nick Saban's Alabama 'Process' is being channeled in Cajun Country

[CajunNation]

I don't buy we got trounced in recruiting this year. Nor do I think we did well. I am so convinced recruiting rankings at our level are so meaningless that I was tempted to use the word "know"in describing my opinion of those. Also, the rankings on signing day did not include the late DL guys who inked with us.

A lot of it is meaningless, but not all of it.

A very good measuring stick is the offer list. When we sign someone, the list of viable offers that player had in hand is easily retrievable, and tells you how well we are doing in recruiting.

Why do you think the focus is always on Tech, USM and Tulane? Because their signees have had offer lists that dwarf our signees' offer lists for about the last 20 years.

[angeleast]

Spot on. We got trounced in recruiting this year, but that was to be expected with the late start. Napier has to make a splash this year and start getting players attached to the 3 schools you mentioned. I will not be a believer until I see a tangible uptick in the quality of athlete brought in.
Btw, that was a great article. Too bad our local guys can’t do something like this.

The guys we got after the recruiting season have really good potential ..

[cajun_lannister]

Local guys? That would take some effort....

The Univ just needs to hire Luke to write for us & about us

[MetryCajun]

The guys we got after the recruiting season have really good potential ..

The guys we sign every year have really good potential. Most “projects” do not turn into difference makers.

[MetryCajun]

I don't buy we got trounced in recruiting this year. Nor do I think we did well. I am so convinced recruiting rankings at our level are so meaningless that I was tempted to use the word "know"in describing my opinion of those. Also, the rankings on signing day did not include the late DL guys who inked with us.

I agree rankings are not the be all, end all, but as Cajunnation said...who is offering matters. We have been losing the individual recruiting battles against Tech, Tulane and SMiss for a while now. I love the buzz surrounding our program, but it has to be translated into getting more polished athletes. We have way to many “raw” and “under the radar” players.

As for the DL players, anyone who cant get major snaps on this defense has to be considered a bust. I would expect them to play early and often.

[talktomewillis]

When you build a solid foundation it takes longer to see the building.

I have no idea what our record will be nor do I really care.

He's gonna build this thing to last. If that means we win two games this year, so be it.

[CajunNation]

...who is offering matters. We have been losing the individual recruiting battles against Tech, Tulane and SMiss for a while now..

The offer list and the dreaded stars show the talent gap coming in to the program. Nothing is better than P5 wins to show the talent gap on the field.

From 1997-2017:

Southern Miss: Illinois, Pittsburgh, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma State x2, Illinois x2, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Virginia, Kansas, Virginia x2, Kentucky

Tech: California, Alabama, Alabama x2, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Illinois, Virginia, Illinois x2

Louisiana: Kansas State

[zephyr]

When you build a solid foundation it takes longer to see the building.

I have no idea what our record will be nor do I really care.

He's gonna build this thing to last. If that means we win two games this year, so be it.

I hope you are right. At this stage and with the resources we are dumping into coach Napier and his staff, we honestly can't really afford for this not to work out. I'm not as certain as some that this will be a homerun but looking forward to seeing the results. I also disagree that wins this year are inconsequential. If Hud was such a poor coach and this staff is such an improvement, we should be able to win games immediately, at least do better in conference. I know we will get hit hard by the likes of Alabama but we have a lot of offensive talent and if they are as good as advertised (coaches) we should be able to put up a lot more points this year..

[MetryCajun]

The offer list and the dreaded stars show the talent gap coming in to the program. Nothing is better than P5 wins to show the talent gap on the field.

From 1997-2017:

Southern Miss: Illinois, Pittsburgh, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma State x2, Illinois x2, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Virginia, Kansas, Virginia x2, Kentucky

Tech: California, Alabama, Alabama x2, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Illinois, Virginia, Illinois x2

Louisiana: Kansas State

Very telling, and this is not entirely a coaching issue. Both of those other programs have made mediocre hires during this span. My take is that conference affiliation is the most important aspect to success.

[zephyr]

Very telling, and this is not entirely a coaching issue. Both of those other programs have made mediocre hires during this span. My take is that conference affiliation is the lost important aspect to success.

I think you are right but SBC teams have still been able to recruit well despite the conference. Look at what Arkansas State and Troy have done. ASU is bringing in higher level talent and transfers. Their QB is the real deal and could play at a lot of places.

[CajunNation]

I think you are right but SBC teams have still been able to recruit well despite the conference. Look at what Arkansas State and Troy have done. ASU is bringing in higher level talent and transfers. Their QB is the real deal and could play at a lot of places.

Troy has been FBS since 2001. They have wins over Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and LSU. Just off of last season, they should be crushing recruiting.

stAte only has a win over Texas A&M in 2008, but they have a string of conference championships and a string of getting their head coach hired by P5 programs.

We have had facilities, Bowl games and lots of silly, geeked up unis for the recruits to see.

What works?

Winning. Winning often. Winning loudly(P5)

[Cajunsmike]

Very telling, and this is not entirely a coaching issue. Both of those other programs have made mediocre hires during this span. My take is that conference affiliation is the most important aspect to success.

Conference affiliation is a major factor. HOwever as others have pointed out there are schools in our league that have had success despite this.