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Message: [QUOTE="Lax Mouse, post: 5511480, member: 8158"] Lots of great thoughts and perspectives shared above so I won't quote them all. But again, kids will go where they already want to go. I'm not sure how much sway (I'm sure there's a little) recruiting pitches make sometimes. I'm sure NIL is starting to play a role but how much exactly? It would have to be a considerable amount to sway kids away from their top school and even then it'd have to be for a school that they already wanted at least a little. Kids have access to more information now than ever - they're able to see campuses and teams before Sept. 1 in ways that were impossible years ago. Websites, social media, talking to other students or friends, larger lacrosse social networks because of club teams, national news media, more televised games. Apparently they're able to have intermediary conversations with coaches before then too. I imagine at the very top of these recruiting lists, very few kids are going into the process thinking they're open to many teams and just waiting for the best pitch. They know what they want or at the very least have a very targeted list. As noted already, Syracuse is still a top academic institution in this country (and I say that impartially - I'm not an alum). There's still a strong social scene on campus. And Cuse has without a doubt the best and largest fan network in the sport. But . . . many of their competitors are top academic institutions and have social scenes as well. Kids are looking for evidence to support choosing the schools they already want and ignoring evidence why those schools might have some concerns. There are many examples of perceptions that don't always match reality: - Princeton making the quarters vs Syracuse in the FF having beat them - but one is viewed as resurgent and the other not so much - Cuse's title drought being an issue but it's shorter than Princeton's and not that much longer now than Duke's - Cornell winning it all but not having a serious recruiting bump - The idea of Syracuse not reaching its potential with the class of 22 (with a year left and a FF appearance) although Duke has done that with far more classes for far longer - Coaching at schools like Cuse and Hop being viewed a certain way when UNC coaching has actually been far more chaotic and disappointing, while Duke seems to fall short consistently, and while UVA buries talented players on the depth chart - Bloated rosters at certain schools not being an issue for recruits - Perceived lack of social life at a place like Hop when it's not any different at Ivies - Schools like PSU, OSU, and Michigan being considered less focused on lacrosse when they've actually made huge recent investments I'm sure there are many other examples. At the end of the day, it's important to remember that these are high school kids who are making college decisions at the beginning of their junior years. If Cuse is to make inroads, yes the money is very important in the evolving landscape, but they also need to work to change perceptions that kids have of the school, the program, and the coaches. True or not, perceptions exist. Like Sobel, kids need to come into this process already having Cuse on their short list - then the pitch can make a difference. They need to highlight alumni and especially in the PLL - which they have the chance to do now for really the first time with Hiltz, Stevens, English, and Grace (among a few others) but which really needs to be highlighted this upcoming year when Spallina & co make the jump. The coaches need to build strong relationships and trust amongst hs and club coaches and especially parents. They need to promote their top academic programs and non-lacrosse alumni outcomes. There's a lot of work to do and being hands-off won't get it done. IMO the most important work here is marketing, and that starts way before Sept 1. (or should) I still have a rather positive outlook of the next few years for Cuse, but this is a race they need to start getting in front of. This year, of course, could go a very long way . . . [/QUOTE]

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