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[QUOTE="BlazeOrange, post: 1811567, member: 683"]
This is a topic that I'd be interested in the players parents on the board perspective (I didn't pay attention to names while reading the thread to see if any chimed in)...

Basically, the argument is will we get better recruits by playing big games at the possible detriment of our record or by ensuring easy wins and bowl eligibility each year?

To me, "better recruits" would mean a mix of high 3-4 star types instead of middling 3s or 2-stars that might get bumped up senior year (not relying on the star system, just using it for ease of description).  Those kids are not likely to be lifelong SU fans and also will have offers from most of our peer schools and those above us.  We need to get their attention somehow, then let our recruiters work their magic.

They aren't going to see SU vs Colgate, MTSU, etc., but might tune in to an SU-LSU game.  An upset would obviously be awesome for us, but even if we just give them a run for a while it could pique their interest.  And allow a recruiter to say "We could see you finishing that drive/making that play for us in the fourth quarter where the game turned...", "With you in the lineup we could've run more plays to exploit...", or whatever pitch they're selling.  Now, we're engaged with a player early in the season.

Alternatively, we can be one of many schools piling up early season wins that no one sees and sending out letter bombs about how we cracked the "Others Receiving Votes" in the polls.  Maybe they'll watch our big conference games and we can use the approach from the prior paragraph.  Otherwise, we're relying on a middling bowl game in late December (after most recruits have their favorites in mind) to make our strongest sales pitch.
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