Junior Day

[bnoro]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

 

[SU2NASA]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

The proof is in the results. See Michigan, University of.

 

[DeepThrowIt]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

Overblown? Possibly, however Junior Days are extremely important for schools like Syracuse. Because Cuse is a little bit off the beaten track (as compared with other regional recruiting rivals such as UConn, BC, RU, and MD) it is harder to secure more intimate personal "junior days" that these schools have more access to. This makes an official, big Junior Day more of a necessity.

Just for some background, Junior Day is a chance to showcase the program for the first time (in theory) to potential recruits. They have evolved as recruiting has evolved (earlier dates, multiple junior days, etc...) but the opportunity is the same. They consist of facility/campus tours, academic presentations, weight room presentations, lunch, etc...There is little to no "real college" experience like nightlife and parties during these trips. Those are more common on official visits. Junior Days are also very important (in some cases more so) for the parents of the recruits. These days are heavy on academics which usually impacts the parents more. You must recruit the parents just as hard as the kid, sometimes even harder.

While your weather concerns are valid, they can't be the deciding factor on when to host such events. Date is vitally important when scheduling Junior Days. The earlier the better. Why? Because you want to set the bar. You want the kid (and his parents) to use Syracuse as a measuring stick. In some cases this isn't good (facilities, weather) however if done correctly, this can be a big time positive (academics, academic facilities, the Dome, south campus apartments, etc...). Now these recruits are all going to see Syracuse last. While it will be their most recent Junior Day, they will be comparing everything they see at SU to what they've seen at five, six, maybe ten other schools. This does not play to SU's favor.

I also worry about the decision to do the Junior Day the same day as the Spring Game. One of the benefits of doing a Junior Day early on (say Jan, Feb, or March) is that typically its the only thing going on. You are able to maximize your time with the recruits and their families. Throw a Spring Game in the middle of this and I worry that the recruits will have limited interaction with the staff. As I've mentioned in earlier threads, most schools use their spring game as a supplemental Junior Day for b-list kids (or A list kids who couldn't make the earlier Junior Day) or for another opportunity for top kids to come visit. MD, VT, UConn, OSU, and PSU spring games are all on the same day as Cuse. We are now going to be competing with these schools just to get kids on campus for a Junior Day. Not well thought out, imho.

 

[TexanMark]

What you are missing: Since we aren't holding our Jr. Day in Feb...that means a recruit can go to someone else's Jr. Day in Feb and get caught up in the excitement and commit.

 

[SU2NASA]

I can't express how many times I heard in interviews with the EIGHT Michigan commits from the Michigan-Ohio weekend that talked up how awesome the Michigan fans were.

So instead of showing 34,000 screaming SU fans, we show an empty dome. Great thinking there.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Just curious, as I don't know, but how many of our commits from this year came to JR. Day last year?

 

[javadoc]

The proof is in the results. See Michigan, University of.

Valid comparison? Maybe some variables not being controlled here?

 

[SU2NASA]

Valid comparison? Maybe some variables not being controlled here?

Syracuse football isn't Michigan football, but basketball, what takes a distant second-place at Michigan was a great recruiting tool. EIGHT 4-star commits that raved about the crowd. We're taking our most valuable commodity and not using it.

Do you think that having our junior day for the spring game is more advantageous to recruiting over having it say, for the UConn or Louisville basketball games?

 

[DeepThrowIt]

Syracuse football isn't Michigan football, but basketball, what takes a distant second-place at Michigan was a great recruiting tool. EIGHT 4-star commits that raved about the crowd. We're taking our most valuable commodity and not using it.

Do you think that having our junior day for the spring game is more advantageous to recruiting over having it say, for the UConn or Louisville basketball games?

That's the crazy thing. I would understand if there were rules on how many Junior Days you can have, but there aren't. It doesn't need to be one or the other, it can be both!!! Not to mention the fact that this should have been the off-season that we kicked recruiting up a notch. New coaches at PSU and RU...BC about to get fired and Edsall being Edsall at MD. And SU does nothing to take advantage of this.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Just curious, as I don't know, but how many of our commits from this year came to JR. Day last year?

That would be zero. In fact, there's never been a February Jr. Day commit since Doug Marrone got here. We have, however, had April Spring Game commits- Addazio, Kinder, M. Davis, Macky.

 

[CuseLegacy]

That would be zero. In fact, there's never been a February Jr. Day commit since Doug Marrone got here. We have, however, had April Spring Game commits- Addazio, Kinder, M. Davis, Macky.

Thanks. I couln't remember any and seemed to remember that a few came after camp.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Who cares when the they host the junior day, good lord. This is absurd, I am sure they have their reasons, win some -ing games and host the junior day on Christmas eve for christ sake, I could care less.

Syracuse recruiting will get better with more wins and better facilities, the rest is procedures

 

[SUtyger]

That would be zero. In fact, there's never been a February Jr. Day commit since Doug Marrone got here. We have, however, had April Spring Game commits- Addazio, Kinder, M. Davis, Macky.

I think he meant how many of our commits came to our Jr. Day. I would have to think that there was at least 1.

 

[OttoForLife]

I've been to wakes that have had more energy than the SU spring game. While I think you make some good points, the key is investing in making the Spring Game/Junior Day a better experience to showcase the strengths of the program. Based on history, I have pretty low expectations.

 

[SUFan44]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

There are a million different ways to skin a cat, but I'm pretty sure the way that SU has set up Junior Day is not optimal for the program - most especially since SU has a product that ANY kid would be impressed with (men's basketball).

I don't care if a kid comes to Syracuse for football, basketball or to become a computer engineer, an impressive visit can go a long way. And if you don't think a football kid - or any athlete - would be impressed with 32,000 fans at a basketball game vs. 3,000 fans for a crappy spring game, you're crazy.

Not to mention, as has been said, that coaches will be much busier doing actual coaching before and during the spring game. As opposed to having interaction with the kids and the families in attendance throughout the day/weekend.

I think most people who understand the dynamic of recruiting are of the opinion that this is a much greater risk - both in timing (late) and in atmosphere of the visit.

And I think one of the cruxes of your argument (weather) is completely overblown.

 

[Faegan]

It's not black and white. It will impact some recruits, others not so much, some not at all. It's nice for a recruit to see the dome filled with fans, basketball, football, whichever.

 

[Alsacs]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

I typically agree with your positions but disagree with you here. What will recruits be more impressed with a 33k plus crowd for a basketball game or 10k at most in the Dome for the Spring game where there will be not much energy especially from the students and 1/3 as many fans as a basketball game.We should be using our strength which is our Basketball program to snag support for our Football program its a mistake plain and simple. I hope Marrone recruits well this year but he should be using as many advantages as he can and using the Basketball program in the future hopefully is one of them.

 

[atcar]

It's not black and white. It will impact some recruits, others not so much, some not at all. It's nice for a recruit to see the dome filled with fans, basketball, football, whichever.

You summarized it in a nutshell. It may not work for some but there are those who will take in a rockin dome and walk away impressed. Why not take advantage of it. Like someone else mentioned see Michigan last week. Heck we would be happy if we walked away with one 4 star commitment as a result of a Jr Day.

 

[orangepassion]

If you're a HS recruit and could only go to so many of these Junior days, what would be more exciting to you? Watching a few thousand people at a spring game or watching the #2 team in the country with over 30, 000 fans? if you even have to think about it, something is wrong. It's not just this Junior day-It's getting guys on campus, period. How often do we get guys on campus early? As Deep Throw it said, every home basketball game after football season (which was pretty early this year) should have some recruits in the crowd w/ the coaches. It is the easiest and possibly best advertising. There's no reason to wait till late to always host recruits.

 

[PhatOrange]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

It's not overblown at all and Syracuse could be having more than one junior day like most sch0ols.

People have cited Michigan and there will be the crowd who says we can't compete against Michigan but I've read recent quotes from recruits regarding junior days at Virginia, Rutgers, Uconn, Florida (which also killed it at their Junior day) and some other schools.

The bottom line is Syracuse needs to do a better job with recruiting and the overall big picture of it. Syracuse in February is sometimes not a good sell, and that's a risk, but such is life in Syracuse in February. The hoops program and 33000 fans is a commodity and it can show a recruit how exciting the football stadium and crowd can be. Kids are easily swayed by emotion.

Now I've never known us to get a commitment as a result of a junior day but I've read numerous articles in the past from kids raving about it.

 

[money3189]

I dont thi

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

I dont think its overblown. There is a reason why most schools have the juinor days by Feburary. Early contact, building relationships, etc. You have it early so you can invite the players you really like to the spring game. Then they will be able to do the next step as you mention, watchin position coach, practice, coaches conduct. All the North East teams have the same wheather issues. Thats not stopping them. Thats not an excuse. why are we behind all the Northeast schools in terms of contacts made and offers givin? You can invite whoever you want to the spring game still.

 

[billsin01]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

Eh, I think this is valid to a degree but I see it differently. If you're recruiting a 25-year-old or a 30-year-old, maybe it's different. But being in a jumping dome with a big student section for a big game between two national powers -- it resonates. It very well could give them less of a feel for the football program, but I tend to agree with the notion that it's about making an impression. You can sell the program itself for the next however many months.

 

[OrangeMojo]

I really think this Junior day thing has become completely overblown.

Football players aren't coming here to play basketball. They know the environment at a basketball game will be completely different for football.

Think of it this way. We have Junior Day this weekend against Louisville. We get hit with a huge snowstorm and it is 10 degrees all weekend. This kills the party scene, so the kids can't experience "the college lifestyle", and the basketball team loses by 20 to Louisville, and the crowd's never into the game. The kids now wonder why the crowd was so quiet, and don't have a good time.

Now think of April 21st. Very minimal chance of snow/cold temperatures especially in this mild winter. They see their position actually play in the spring game and can see where they fit in. They see how the team practices together, how the coach conducts himself. They are able to experience some parties, and they know how FOOTBALL is treated here, not basketball.

the idea is to use a basketball game as an incentive to come to the SU junior day and sell them on the school so they'll come back up for the spring football game and experience all the things you mention there. By not doing that you give them a chance to go to another school's junior day and get sold by the school/staff and then possibly choose to go to one of the ten or fifteen other spring games scheduled on the same day as SU's.

There is really no downside to inviting the kids to come to a packed dome to watch the #2 basketball team in the country play a big time opponent in front of 30k+ fans. Not taking advantage of that because you're focusing on who knows what else right now is just a bad decision.

 

[cusestudent]

Regardless of what goes on this year in recruiting the end result needs to be a better class than we've seen. I think moving the junior day was a big step in the wrong direction