PhatOrange
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really interesting article and worth the read. This is the difference between the big money haves and the rest of us.
Why is Georgia the new Alabama? Kirby Smart's spin on Nick Saban's 'process' could be a game-changer
some highlights:
"There’s nine new full-time employees in Georgia’s football office, most focused on recruiting, being paid more than $500,000 annually to fuel the operation. There’s also a phalanx of more than 60 support staff members, interns and students who have created one of the most vast and sophisticated recruiting ecosystems in college football. “Kirby took it from a Mustang and turned it into a Ferrari,” said Georgia linebacker coach Kevin Sherrer, who worked under Richt."
"There’s nearly a dozen student workers in an office known as the Dog Pound that watch tape, set up mailings and serve as do-it-all gophers to help coaches recruit better. (There’s incentives like Starbucks gift cards and dinner at Five Bar for weekly challenges like uncovering the best unknown recruit.) There’s more than 30 workers from the R.O.S.E. Society who work to put together personalized communication and help on recruiting visits. (They use a color printer the size of a Star Wars transport.) There’s a director of recruiting, director of player personnel coordinator, a graphics department (with interns), a digital media department (with interns) and even an employee focused just on the transcripts and academics of individual recruits."
"McGarity did the back-of-the napkin math in an interview this week and came up with a figure of more than $500,000 annually for the nine new full-time positions added since Smart came aboard."
"So how’s the whole operation work together? The best example may be that when coaches return from the practice fields most days, there’s notes, addressed envelopes and printouts on their desk. The printouts have information that say Recruit X had three touchdowns against Valley Central on Saturday and plays in the first round of the playoffs against Springfield East on Friday night. That way, the coach can have the personal touch in handwriting the note without the research time. There’s addressed envelopes waiting for them and along with a stationary adorned with a graphic – think an image of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb – to write their note on. Coaches don’t even have to lick the envelopes, there’s someone who’ll do that for them.
"The notes show the Dog Pound’s research, the graphics department’s ingenuity and the prospect identification of the recruiting department. It allows the coaches to maximize their interactions amid their busy schedule. “Their job is to put the ball on the tee,” says Sherrer, “and let us take a swing.”
"Smart does channel his inner-Saban when he laments that the young members of his Dog Pound are being hired elsewhere. Some have gone to the NFL to be personnel department grunts. Others move up within the Georgia hierarchy as interns or student assistants. But Smart’s embrace of what they bring is a unique twist to his process. “That kid might be able to relate better than I can,” Smart said. “He knows the music they listen to, where they go, what they want to see. The more juice you have, the more youthfulness, the better off you are.”
Why is Georgia the new Alabama? Kirby Smart's spin on Nick Saban's 'process' could be a game-changer
some highlights:
"There’s nine new full-time employees in Georgia’s football office, most focused on recruiting, being paid more than $500,000 annually to fuel the operation. There’s also a phalanx of more than 60 support staff members, interns and students who have created one of the most vast and sophisticated recruiting ecosystems in college football. “Kirby took it from a Mustang and turned it into a Ferrari,” said Georgia linebacker coach Kevin Sherrer, who worked under Richt."
"There’s nearly a dozen student workers in an office known as the Dog Pound that watch tape, set up mailings and serve as do-it-all gophers to help coaches recruit better. (There’s incentives like Starbucks gift cards and dinner at Five Bar for weekly challenges like uncovering the best unknown recruit.) There’s more than 30 workers from the R.O.S.E. Society who work to put together personalized communication and help on recruiting visits. (They use a color printer the size of a Star Wars transport.) There’s a director of recruiting, director of player personnel coordinator, a graphics department (with interns), a digital media department (with interns) and even an employee focused just on the transcripts and academics of individual recruits."
"McGarity did the back-of-the napkin math in an interview this week and came up with a figure of more than $500,000 annually for the nine new full-time positions added since Smart came aboard."
"So how’s the whole operation work together? The best example may be that when coaches return from the practice fields most days, there’s notes, addressed envelopes and printouts on their desk. The printouts have information that say Recruit X had three touchdowns against Valley Central on Saturday and plays in the first round of the playoffs against Springfield East on Friday night. That way, the coach can have the personal touch in handwriting the note without the research time. There’s addressed envelopes waiting for them and along with a stationary adorned with a graphic – think an image of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb – to write their note on. Coaches don’t even have to lick the envelopes, there’s someone who’ll do that for them.
"The notes show the Dog Pound’s research, the graphics department’s ingenuity and the prospect identification of the recruiting department. It allows the coaches to maximize their interactions amid their busy schedule. “Their job is to put the ball on the tee,” says Sherrer, “and let us take a swing.”
"Smart does channel his inner-Saban when he laments that the young members of his Dog Pound are being hired elsewhere. Some have gone to the NFL to be personnel department grunts. Others move up within the Georgia hierarchy as interns or student assistants. But Smart’s embrace of what they bring is a unique twist to his process. “That kid might be able to relate better than I can,” Smart said. “He knows the music they listen to, where they go, what they want to see. The more juice you have, the more youthfulness, the better off you are.”
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