ESPN Iowa - The Oakland A's of college recruiting

Great article and puts into perspective what I have thought for a long time. Kirk knows what he is doing like billy and the a's you will have ups and downs but he is taking an educated and calculated risk that has got him and Iowa very far.
 
Slightly off topic but as a huge baseball fan, the movie Moneyball was a complete joke and really pisses me off

Now that that's off my chest, I thought it was a great article. Like it or not Ferentz has found a way to remain competitive on almost a yearly basis by doing things most other teams don't.
 
mopkins said:
Slightly off topic but as a huge baseball fan, the movie Moneyball was a complete joke and really pisses me off

Now that that's off my chest, I thought it was a great article. Like it or not Ferentz has found a way to remain competitive on almost a yearly basis by doing things most other teams don't.
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Ok, i am interested. What was wrong with the movie moneyball?
 
mopkins said:
Slightly off topic but as a huge baseball fan, the movie Moneyball was a complete joke and really pisses me off

Now that that's off my chest, I thought it was a great article. Like it or not Ferentz has found a way to remain competitive on almost a yearly basis by doing things most other teams don't.
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The role of Gary Barta will be played by Brad Pitt.
 
This article makes it sound like Iowa has never recruited Florida where in reality this is a more recent switch in philosophy.

I also wonder if the coaches are talking in code. Of course they are not going to tell their secret formula for finding hidden talent.

Finally as someone else pointed out, this just may be a sign that Ferentz and company are better at developing below average talent than they are at recruiting.
 
I don't agree with the comparison to that movie awhole lot. Other then the way Iowa has recruited isn't exactly the norm. But it's because that's how they HAVE to for them to be as good as they have been. Geography has alot to do with it. Iowa has what 3 million people tops? Iowa can't go out and just offer the top 150-200 kids and just wait for the first 18-23 to commit. They have to scout alot more kids to narrow down who they are going to target. Sure Iowa will go after some really good kids (Hilliard) But usually it's because there is a tie of some kind. An "in" if you will. But the misnomer in this article here is that Iowa doesn't recruit nationally. Last time I checked the top two QBs on the depth chart were from Florida and TN... Carl Davis is from Detroit I believe. How did Michigan and MSU not go after him? Now what makes this a story is that Iowa has gotten the Gallerys and Clarks. (home state nobodys that just developed beyond anyones expectations) and Bob Sanders Hyde, I'll even throw in Drew Tate types who were good HS players really good. But were snubbed by their home state schools cause they were too small or a step slow whatever the reasons were and Ferentz either saw something in them and or through their chips just worked their butts off to get to where they got. It's great to see a national article written giving Iowa some props for something when usually the national media want to take the pot shots at them. (see Ferentz is most overpaid/rated articles that have been written at nauseam the last half dozen years it seems like).
 
KF is not without his set of connections, either (along with staff). Some of the diamonds in the rough have been sent this way by former coaches, players, etc. And of course, Ted Ginn Sr. was sending his Glenville castoffs for a while.
 
"Most coaches believe that if you want to win big, you have to own the South. Not Iowa."
Not to be negative but define win big. Yes we had two years of being Big Ten champs and two BCS bowl games but can anyone say looking over the entire grand scheme of things that Iowa wins big. KF has shown an ability to coach up players but winning big to me means you are in the top three in the conference year in and year out. Again I am not critiquing KF but am pointing out that the article did mention these other programs that DO WIN BIG and I don't think it's an accurate description. I am not saying I am right in this instance and if you want to support the win big statement have at it. I do think we could have a very special year ahead because of the favourable schedule. We could win big this upcoming season. I hope so.
 
I really don't see much difference between the way Hayden recruited and how Kirk handles it. Recruiting has pretty much been the same for the last 34 years. The article doesn't say it, but the recruits are students that can make it in the classroom first and haven't had citizenship problems off the field. They have had a few knuckleheads, but overall they have avoided problems.

People can criticize not recruiting the top rated high school players, but when you start to look below the surface many of those top rated players have reached their maximum physical development by the time they are 18 or 19. Many of them are egotistical and first class narcissist. Frankly they are probably a poor fit in the system Iowa operates. Take Jake Rudock and examine his time at Iowa. Obviously a first class student. Not a five star rated guy, but still a good recruit. He bid his time and stayed loyal during and after that 4 and 8 season. He kept working hard to win the starting job not assuming it was his by virtue of time. He made some clutch plays as he gained experience. He is a fit at Iowa based on the intangibles.

With the increased academic standards for incoming freshman starting with the 2016 class there are going to be a number of high rated recruits unable to play or practice that freshman year. Iowa has lived without playing many freshmen. You can amlost guarantee every Iowa freshman will be able to practice and play because they just do not recruit risky students. I think some programs that turn over a lot of players are going to have to be more selective. The junior colleges are going to benefit.
 
There is a lot of speculation that the Oakland A's were early users of performance enhancing drugs, ahead of other teams, which is how they really gained an advantage over other teams .

I have often wondered, without having any proof whatsoever, if Iowa was using some kind of Performance Enhancing drug, especially during that great 2002-2004 run.

By now I am confident Iowa was not, because someone would have blabbed to someone and any secret performance drug use would have leaked out.
 
guffus said:
Not a Jonah Hill fan either. I don't think he is funny at all and not impressed with his acting. I can't believe he has won some acting awards.
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There's no shortage of Jonah Hills out there...minimally talented "comedians" that just aren't that funny.
 
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guffus said:
There is a lot of speculation that the Oakland A's were early users of performance enhancing drugs, ahead of other teams, which is how they really gained an advantage over other teams .

I have often wondered, without having any proof whatsoever, if Iowa was using some kind of Performance Enhancing drug, especially during that great 2002-2004 run.

By now I am confident Iowa was not, because someone would have blabbed to someone and any secret performance drug use would have leaked out.
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PEDs speculation with the A's isn't speculation anymore. They had the godfather of PEDs in Jose canseco. Not to mention McGwire, Giambi, tejeda, etc. but you can't deny what billy beane has done with looking for undervalued talent and winning using nickels versus other teams dimes.
 
guffus said:
There is a lot of speculation that the Oakland A's were early users of performance enhancing drugs, ahead of other teams, which is how they really gained an advantage over other teams .

I have often wondered, without having any proof whatsoever, if Iowa was using some kind of Performance Enhancing drug, especially during that great 2002-2004 run.

By now I am confident Iowa was not, because someone would have blabbed to someone and any secret performance drug use would have leaked out.
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I honestly never had the thought that Iowa was doing any of that..... It sure seems that Doyle is as respected of a strength coach there is. I was curious about things after the Rhabado deal but after how pretty much everyone came to his and the programs defense on how they do things I didn't think there was anything nefarious going on. That said never say never when your on the outside looking in as we are. But I'm with you as far as if they had been that stuff would have been leaking out with the time that's gone by. Kinda like the UNC academic crap. All it takes is one player, tutor, teacher to start talking....
 
Foval21 said:
PEDs speculation with the A's isn't speculation anymore. They had the godfather of PEDs in Jose canseco. Not to mention McGwire, Giambi, tejeda, etc. but you can't deny what billy beane has done with looking for undervalued talent and winning using nickels versus other teams dimes.
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Except Billy Beane and they Oakland A's have not done much since 2003. Just a coincidence?
 
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