PistolD said:
It's easy to appreciate what Mike has done for OSU Football. Before him, our lack of quality was maddening and there was far more failure than any success. His tenure has been very successful and naturally he has created expectations for more!
OSU has always been a place that wrestles with their definition of success. They accept far less than the general definition which involves success versus your instate rival and championships. That creates a divide within the fanbase as to what constitutes excellence and what is accepting of something less.That debate will rage on until by some stroke of magic they actually align with more wins in rivalry games and more titles achieved. Until then, the general definition is embraced by the general public and national media when judging Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State Football. It is decidedly good but not great. That implies we have much more to do to reach greater universal success. But many aren't sure if Mike has the energy and plan to reach greater heights as a program? We seem complacent, staid, and comfortable with bowl eligibility and trying to win more than we lose.
The question is how does that impact our ability to recruit because it sure seems that has been felt in our inability to close on consensus recruits and win head to head with other successful programs?
We sure get uneasy as a fanbase when we offer players with no other Power Five offers. It seems desperate, lazy, and doesn't inspire confidence our program is actually competing for titles or simply filling a roster and hoping to catch lightening in a bottle.
These are the reasons the fans get concerned when things fall off a cliff like the 2022 season. How does that happen if you recruit better depth that can play?
I hope Mike can fix our weaknesses and can insist his staff recruit better so we don't find ourselves unable to field competitive players even if we are hit with injuries like we were this year.
One thing is certain, we aren't the only program with stated goals of dominating the new Big Twelve and TCU and KSU seem ahead in that regard with Tech setting up a fully funded effort with new enthusiasm to do the same. We have to have a plan and match the energy those programs are bringing to that effort. We just hope we recognize it and are doing something to get in the fray!
In summary, you think the answer is - quit being lazy or complacent and just recruit better. Correct?
What if I told you landing 4 & 5 star recruits, and some higher rated 3 star recruits is now almost completely out of the control of the coaching staffs and now rests with the booster organizations or individuals that control NIL $$$? Are fans going to celebrate recruiting successes (as measured by stars) as the work of the HC or of the NIL folks? Are fans going to criticize the HC for uncompetitive recruiting classes or blame the lack of NIL$$$?
How can a HC play strictly by the rules (not use the promise of NIL$$$ as a recruiting inducement) and ever get a firm handle on who he can realistically sign and therefore who he and his staff spend time and money recruiting?
Will evaluating and identifying player "potential" out of a much larger pool of 2 & 3 stars become more and more critical for schools that lack substantial NIL$$$? And when a HC turns a 2 star recruit into a 4 or 5 star player, how does he keep that player without substantial NIL$$$ which he has no legal control?
Do facilities, stadiums, training tables, academic services, coaching staffs, culture and program quality become afterthoughts by recruits that focus solely on NIL$$$? If so, as a donor, why would I donate for top-notch facilities and player amenities when recruits only care about NIL$$$?
Bottom line, can a HC be held solely responsible and accountable for talent acquisition and retention when he can't legally be involved in the single biggest factor (NIL$$$) affecting an athletes decision to sign with or stay at a university?
I'm losing interest, rather quickly.
