South Carolina home games double as showcase for recruiting
Sept. 15, 2016
Saturday is the first chance to show off the Boom Era to South Carolina football fans at Williams-Brice Stadium. But the first home game of Will Muschamp’s tenure means something else.
It will be the first time his staff welcomes recruits to a packed Williams-Brice for a game.
Think Muschamp feels it’s important?
“That’s one of the huge selling points here at South Carolina is our gameday atmosphere,” Muschamp said. “To come to Columbia on a Saturday afternoon, to see all there is to do within our town and all the diversity and culture we have in Columbia as opposed to most of the schools that are recruiting the same young men.”
But the mechanics of balancing time with prospects and the actual game work can be a little tricky. Players are all focused on the opponent (ECU this week), so they can’t spend much time with recruits.
The coaching staff relies on USC’s recruiting office to organize the visiting athletes and make plans for them, Muschamp said. Prospects stand on the sidelines before the game and actually get some face time with coaches.
“As coaches, in pregame we spend a lot of time with the prospective student-athletes,” Muschamp said. “The game plan is finished. We spend time with them, including myself. And then during the game, our recruiting staff entertains the players and prospective student-athletes. And then after the game, we spend time with them.”
Dozens of prospects visit for each home game. Most trips are “unofficial,” meaning recruits pay for their own transportation.
This weekend’s expected visitor list included four-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner from Fort Dorchester and five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas of Wilson, both from the Class of 2018. Several 2017 commitments are expected to attend Saturday’s game, including quarterback Jay Urich and linebackers Davonne Bowen and Sherrod Greene.
Any prospective student-athlete on an official visit will eventually transition into the care of their hosts. Senior offensive tackle Mason Zandi has hosted a few, and says his goal is to spend as much time with them as he can, after the business of the game is finished.
He tries to have them spend time around other teammates, who could provide another dimension to the recruiting process.
“We certainly bring them around the team, all hang out,” Zandi said, “see if they can get comfortable with us, see if they’re a good fit. And if they’re not, report back to coach, ‘Hey, look coach, he’s not a fit for us.’ Or if he’s a great fit, then we say, ‘Hey coach, I think he’ll be great here.’ ”
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article102002652.html#storylink=cpy
THE STATE
Sept. 15, 2016
Saturday is the first chance to show off the Boom Era to South Carolina football fans at Williams-Brice Stadium. But the first home game of Will Muschamp’s tenure means something else.
It will be the first time his staff welcomes recruits to a packed Williams-Brice for a game.
Think Muschamp feels it’s important?
“That’s one of the huge selling points here at South Carolina is our gameday atmosphere,” Muschamp said. “To come to Columbia on a Saturday afternoon, to see all there is to do within our town and all the diversity and culture we have in Columbia as opposed to most of the schools that are recruiting the same young men.”
But the mechanics of balancing time with prospects and the actual game work can be a little tricky. Players are all focused on the opponent (ECU this week), so they can’t spend much time with recruits.
The coaching staff relies on USC’s recruiting office to organize the visiting athletes and make plans for them, Muschamp said. Prospects stand on the sidelines before the game and actually get some face time with coaches.
“As coaches, in pregame we spend a lot of time with the prospective student-athletes,” Muschamp said. “The game plan is finished. We spend time with them, including myself. And then during the game, our recruiting staff entertains the players and prospective student-athletes. And then after the game, we spend time with them.”
Dozens of prospects visit for each home game. Most trips are “unofficial,” meaning recruits pay for their own transportation.
This weekend’s expected visitor list included four-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner from Fort Dorchester and five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas of Wilson, both from the Class of 2018. Several 2017 commitments are expected to attend Saturday’s game, including quarterback Jay Urich and linebackers Davonne Bowen and Sherrod Greene.
Any prospective student-athlete on an official visit will eventually transition into the care of their hosts. Senior offensive tackle Mason Zandi has hosted a few, and says his goal is to spend as much time with them as he can, after the business of the game is finished.
He tries to have them spend time around other teammates, who could provide another dimension to the recruiting process.
“We certainly bring them around the team, all hang out,” Zandi said, “see if they can get comfortable with us, see if they’re a good fit. And if they’re not, report back to coach, ‘Hey, look coach, he’s not a fit for us.’ Or if he’s a great fit, then we say, ‘Hey coach, I think he’ll be great here.’ ”
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article102002652.html#storylink=cpy
THE STATE