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[QUOTE="Shrmdougluvr, post: 1283719, member: 396"]
I don't think people realized how fractionalized/segmented athletics gets once you reach the college level.  You bring kids together with numerous ages, academic aptitudes, from different locations, etc.  Many have been not only the best player at their respective schools, but sometimes the best in their league, county, state, etc.  Now you expect them to blend.  The coaches are "professionals," meaning they often have their own agendas.  Then you add that to how compartmentalized football is.  I had a friend who was a defensive player at a major D-1 program.  In High School, he was recruited by guys like Ed Orgeron and Urban Meyer back when they were position coaches.  He would tell me that he often didnt know players on the offensive side of the ball, because they seldom interacted in practices and during games.  He wasnt some aloof loner or ego maniac- a genuinely nice guy.

I think there are programs that pride themselves on being preps for the pros - USC, Alabama, etc (maybe even Syracuse under Marrone).  At those places, you are informed of your duties and responsibilities, and it is incumbent on you to perform.  If you dont, well, "next man up."  Other programs offer more of a sense of togetherness.  I think SU really tries to sell this to recruits.  It helps that the coaches genuinely care about each other and Coach Shafer seems to want to get the best out of everyone, not just use them for his own advancement.
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