How do we keep Texas players in Texas?

[ThEgReAtOnE]

1) 64% of Oklahoma's roster over the past 5 years has been Texas athletes.
2) 3 of the top 5 Hesiman candidates, this year, are from Texas...Drew Tate, Vincent Young and Adrian Peterson...but only one of those athletes play at a Texas school.
3) Div-1 Schools in Texas...Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, UNT, Houston, Rice, UTEP, Baylor, SMU....and yet 43% of the Texas kids that recieve scholarships leave the state to play somewhere else. And of that 43%, 75% are Top Country recruits. - AP

So what's the problem? There was a time when Texas was truly feared, nationally...when Texas A&M was winning National Championships (The "Bear" was the coach, then.)...when Baylor, Houston, TCU and Rice had some pretty darn good programs.

Why can't we keep Texas kids, in Texas?

I mean obviously the other 57% stays in Texas, but most of the, overall, highly ranked kids don't. They go to Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, etc...

What does Texas colleges have to do to keep the kids here? What adjustments must be made?[/

[Tiger Dude]

Texas college programs need to win more and get higher up in the national rankings in order to recruit better.

Kids these days watch a lot of college football on cable TV. If they are presented with a choice to go to A&M, who are struggling to win the Big 12 or go play at one of the schools that *always* seem to be in the hunt for a national title, they go to the bigger school.

Remember when the Southwest Conference was the ultimate goal for most HS players (in TX and AR)? I think they had those SWC games of the week on Saturday. (you know, back when we only had 3 networks and 2 UHF stations).

I blame a lot of it on Cable TV games. Those thursday night games are great for recruiting.

That's my two cents.

[Texasfrog]

1) 64% of Oklahoma's roster over the past 5 years has been Texas athletes.
2) 3 of the top 5 Hesiman candidates, this year, are from Texas...Drew Tate, Vincent Young and Adrian Peterson...but only one of those athletes play at a Texas school.
3) Div-1 Schools in Texas...Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, UNT, Houston, Rice, UTEP, Baylor....and yet 43% of the Texas kids that recieve scholarships leave the state to play somewhere else. And of that 43%, 75% are Top Country recruits. - AP

So what's the problem? There was a time when Texas was truly feared, nationally...when Texas A&M was winning National Championships (The "Bear" was the coach, then.)...when Baylor, Houston, TCU and Rice had some pretty darn good programs.

Why can't we keep Texas kids, in Texas?

I mean obviously the other 57% stays in Texas, but most of the, overall, highly ranked kids don't. They go to Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, etc...

What does Texas colleges have to do to keep the kids here? What adjustments must be made?[/

Pray & plead and then alot of these kids are still going to leave.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

The one thing I noticed when I played college football was the marketing of the school. It spent as much of it's emphasis on advertising the educational strengths and athletic possibilities. I also noticed the fan participation of the state, and school. The program was not battered 24/7 by the AD, so it was allowed to grow, become stronger, become richer. There were never any threats from the NCAA or other programs within the school. The diets of athletes was a neccessity, and foods such as fish and chicken was served on a regular basis...instead of burgers and pizza, like most schools. It was as if the school truly cared, about it's athletic program, primarily it's football program, because it understood the financial importance of the program.

1) Emphasize the athletic qualities, as well as the academic qualities. Today, for what ever reason, Texas college coaches and AD's feel pressured to emphasize academics far more than athletics. I totally believe in the academic neccessities, but athletes want to play sports for an athletic driven program. They understand the importance of a degree, but they look at playing football as a job, regardless of what most parents and teachers say. They know if they come into a program and dominate they'll go to the League. Trust me, it's not that easy. But they still think that...and no one's going to tell them any different. So Bobby Bowden, Bob Stoops, Steve Spurrier, Les Miles and etc....tell them what they want to hear, "Play for me and you'll get a look from the League".

2) Strengthen the athletic atmosphere. The athletic stronghold where the athlete will call home, for the next 4 or 5 years, needs to be of admirable quality. When you walk into Miami's weight room you're blown away...trust me I know. When you walk into Houston's weight you feel somewhat dissapointed. Be-littled. Call it being conceded, but a 6'4 205, 4.4 40 yard-dash running reciever, who caught for 1800 yards and 24 touchdowns his senior year will feel he's worth more. It sounds crazy, but that's exactly what most of them think.

3) Advertise the "heck" out of the sports program. Get national televised football schedules. Play some big teams so the athletes can, at least, feel they're a nationally viewed team. That will heighten their self-confidence. It will seperate the contenders from the pretenders. Trust me, no one wants to screw up on national television...but everyone wants to be on national television.

From experience I can say college football is an exciting experience, but it's also a serious one. I think Texas schools are serious about academics and that's great, but most of these kids, even though they tell their parents, their coaches, the media they want a degree....most of them want the fame and luxury of playing in the league...and trust me...half of them have no idea where that way of thinking will take them. Texas schools just need to kick it up a notch, then maybe we can enjoy 4, 5 or maybe even 6 powerhouse colleges, all from the Tall State of Texas. Stress the books, but understand you're talking to kids who live to play the game. It's their life. Some people dream of becoming doctors, lawyers and policeman...football players want to be football players. Well, at least, most of them. No one will put themselves through what they do, since the age of 7 or 8, just to fall short. And the Top ranked talent in Texas WANTS to play in the League some day, so if Texas colleges wants to keep them they need to step up to the level of the other colleges.

That's what I think. Now you guys, obviously, don't need to be that in depth, but tell me what you think...

[Texasfrog]

The one thing I noticed when I played college football was the marketing of the school. It spent as much of it's emphasis on advertising the educational strengths and athletic possibilities. I also noticed the fan participation of the state, and school. The program was not battered 24/7 by the AD, so it was allowed to grow, become stronger, become richer. There were never any threats from the NCAA or other programs within the school. The diets of athletes was a neccessity, and foods such as fish and chicken was served on a regular basis...instead of burgers and pizza, like most schools. It was as if the school truly cared, about it's athletic program, primarily it's football program, because it understood the financial importance of the program.

1) Emphasize the athletic qualities, as well as the academic qualities. Today, for what ever reason, Texas college coaches and AD's feel pressured to emphasize academics far more than athletics. I totally believe in the academic neccessities, but athletes want to play sports for an athletic driven program. They understand the importance of a degree, but they look at playing football as a job, regardless of what most parents and teachers say. They know if they come into a program and dominate they'll go to the League. Trust me, it's not that easy. But they still think that...and no one's going to tell them any different. So Bobby Bowden, Bob Stoops, Steve Spurrier, Les Miles and etc....tell them what they want to hear, "Play for me and you'll get a look from the League".

2) Strengthen the athletic atmosphere. The athletic stronghold where the athlete will call home, for the next 4 or 5 years, needs to be of admirable quality. When you walk into Miami's weight room you're blown away...trust me I know. When you walk into Houston's weight you feel somewhat dissapointed. Be-littled. Call it being conceded, but a 6'4 205, 4.4 40 yard-dash running reciever, who caught for 1800 yards and 24 touchdowns his senior year will feel he's worth more. It sounds crazy, but that's exactly what most of them think.

3) Advertise the "heck" out of the sports program. Get national televised football schedules. Play some big teams so the athletes can, at least, feel they're a nationally viewed team. That will heighten their self-confidence. It will seperate the contenders from the pretenders. Trust me, no one wants to screw up on national television...but everyone wants to be on national television.

From experience I can say college football is an exciting experience, but it's also a serious one. I think Texas schools are serious about academics and that's great, but most of these kids, even though they tell their parents, their coaches, the media they want a degree....most of them want the fame and luxury of playing in the league...and trust me...half of them have no idea where that way of thinking will take them. Texas schools just need to kick it up a notch, then maybe we can enjoy 4, 5 or maybe even 6 powerhouse colleges, all from the Tall State of Texas. Stress the books, but understand you're talking to kids who live to play the game. It's their life. Some people dream of becoming doctors, lawyers and policeman...football players want to be football players. Well, at least, most of them. No one will put themselves through what they do, since the age of 7 or 8, just to fall short. And the Top ranked talent in Texas WANTS to play in the League some day, so if Texas colleges wants to keep them they need to step up to the level of the other colleges.

That's what I think. Now you guys, obviously, don't need to be that in depth, but tell me what you think...

I would say that you coverd first base, second base, third base and Home plate and I'm pretty sure you painted the dang lines.

[zippy]

You know, if we did keep them all in Texas college football would be very boring to watch. It would just be blowout after blowout ;) . Really this is very true, and some kids just want to get away from Texas. I dont have any idea why they choose Oklahoma however. If you look at the starters in the past at Oklahoma, more than half are from Texas. Its not just like this on the overall roster.


1) 64% of Oklahoma's roster over the past 5 years has been Texas athletes.
2) 3 of the top 5 Hesiman candidates, this year, are from Texas...Drew Tate, Vincent Young and Adrian Peterson...but only one of those athletes play at a Texas school.
3) Div-1 Schools in Texas...Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, UNT, Houston, Rice, UTEP, Baylor....and yet 43% of the Texas kids that recieve scholarships leave the state to play somewhere else. And of that 43%, 75% are Top Country recruits. - AP

So what's the problem? There was a time when Texas was truly feared, nationally...when Texas A&M was winning National Championships (The "Bear" was the coach, then.)...when Baylor, Houston, TCU and Rice had some pretty darn good programs.

Why can't we keep Texas kids, in Texas?

I mean obviously the other 57% stays in Texas, but most of the, overall, highly ranked kids don't. They go to Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, etc...

What does Texas colleges have to do to keep the kids here? What adjustments must be made?[/

[ThEgReAtOnE]

You know, if we did keep them all in Texas college football would be very boring to watch. It would just be blowout after blowout ;) . Really this is very true, and some kids just want to get away from Texas. I dont have any idea why they choose Oklahoma however. If you look at the starters in the past at Oklahoma, more than half are from Texas. Its not just like this on the overall roster.

Well I'd rather it be Texas colleges blowing out the other schools...instead vice versa. (Like what happens today!!) Yeah, Oklahoma LOVES Texas. And the best Texas athletes love Oklahoma...i.e Adrian Peterson.

But I just think the schools need to step it up!!

Just personal experience speaking.

Thanx for the response!

[zippy]

Your right on the money with that, the Tx schools, even with the great ones leaving, still have great teams that should win a lot of the games that they lose. I think UT has a lot of politics involved that keep them from winning games (C. Simms, thats all I need to say about that) Even Tech had the weapons to beat anyone last year, but they just seemed to blow teams out, or get their butts kicked. They beat some good teams last year. I dont know, maybe this year UT will have a shot. Houston looked like they were going to make Tx proud, and maybe TCU will knock off Ok ;)


Well I'd rather it be Texas colleges blowing out the other schools...instead vice versa. (Like what happens today!!) Yeah, Oklahoma LOVES Texas. And the best Texas athletes love Oklahoma...i.e Adrian Peterson.

But I just think the schools need to step it up!!

Just personal experience speaking.

Thanx for the response!

[wide-e-wide]

How do we keep Texas players in Texas?

That's an easy one.

H2 Hummers
Diamond earrings
Plasma TV's
Big booty girls
and of course stacks of Ben Franklins big enough to choke a baby elephant....

And whaddya know...ou's entire roster suddenly consists of players strictly from Jenks and Union HS...
Problem solved

[Gridiron Gopher]

The best players have been going to the schools with the best chance to win a title and increase their draft value. In the last 10 years Miami, FL ST, Okla, USC have been the dominate programs and the kids want to go there. Miami is starting to feel the pinch. So is FL State.
Texas is winning but can't win the most important game of all....Okla. Until they do we'll continue to see some of the best go to schools outside Texas.

That being said. If Texas and say Texas A&M get over the hump, we're still going to see some great players leave the state. We have a huge amount of talent in our state and there just isn't enough starting positions available for all the kids.

[zippy]

That is a good point, and you cant blame them. For many this is what they will do for a living. I would do the same thing.

The best players have been going to the schools with the best chance to win a title and increase their draft value. In the last 10 years Miami, FL ST, Okla, USC have been the dominate programs and the kids want to go there. Miami is starting to feel the pinch. So is FL State.
Texas is winning but can't win the most important game of all....Okla. Until they do we'll continue to see some of the best go to schools outside Texas.

That being said. If Texas and say Texas A&M get over the hump, we're still going to see some great players leave the state. We have a huge amount of talent in our state and there just isn't enough starting positions available for all the kids.

[FootballJunkie]

I would say that you coverd first base, second base, third base and Home plate and I'm pretty sure you painted the dang lines.
I agree with you but come on now. You must be crazy if you think Mack Brown is not saying the same things as Bobby Bowden, or any of those other coaches. The bottom line is winning championships and putting kids in the NFL. Look at the 2004 MIAMI draft half their team were first round draft picks. Oklahoma how many have they put into the NFL. Those schools win but they have systems that churn out NFL players. Bottom line is when Texas schools win the conference and play for National Champioships then they will recruit better. Prime examples Nebraska, Penn St. when they were winning they recruited when they started losing all of a sudden talent wasn't there. Check history before FSU started winning they couldn't even recruit right in their own town same for Florida before Spurrier ie they started winning!!

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Hell, when I was running track I wanted to really go to LSU, before Tech sent me some items in the mail and came down to the civic center to visit. ;)

[pack0808]

How do we keep Texas players in Texas?

That's an easy one.

H2 Hummers
Diamond earrings
Plasma TV's
Big booty girls
and of course stacks of Ben Franklins big enough to choke a baby elephant....

And whaddya know...ou's entire roster suddenly consists of players strictly from Jenks and Union HS...
Problem solved


LOL wide!! hey, clear up your pm space i need to tell you something.

[grayowl60]

With maybe 250 DI players in Texas there is not enough room at DI schools. Oklahoma may have 30 DI players eavh year, so what are they going to do. We just need to keep the True "Blue Chips" in state.

[grayowl60]

1) 64% of Oklahoma's roster over the past 5 years has been Texas athletes.
2) 3 of the top 5 Hesiman candidates, this year, are from Texas...Drew Tate, Vincent Young and Adrian Peterson...but only one of those athletes play at a Texas school.
3) Div-1 Schools in Texas...Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, UNT, Houston, Rice, UTEP, Baylor....and yet 43% of the Texas kids that recieve scholarships leave the state to play somewhere else. And of that 43%, 75% are Top Country recruits. - AP

So what's the problem? There was a time when Texas was truly feared, nationally...when Texas A&M was winning National Championships (The "Bear" was the coach, then.)...when Baylor, Houston, TCU and Rice had some pretty darn good programs.

Why can't we keep Texas kids, in Texas?

I mean obviously the other 57% stays in Texas, but most of the, overall, highly ranked kids don't. They go to Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, etc...

What does Texas colleges have to do to keep the kids here? What adjustments must be made?[/
You missed S.M.U. :(

[ThEgReAtOnE]

With maybe 250 DI players in Texas there is not enough room at DI schools. Oklahoma may have 30 DI players eavh year, so what are they going to do. We just need to keep the True "Blue Chips" in state.

That's my point OWL60...I'm glad you said it. How do we keep the BEST in Texas? The Blue Chippers? People have said....win more games, have nationally televised games...well with current rosters, neither will happen.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

You missed S.M.U. :(

Everyone misses SMU!! :D Just kidding. I'll add them!

[RDAWG11]

Probaly cause OU owns UT. UT is always over-rated

[wide-e-wide]

Here we go again. Another idiot who hasn't taken the time to look at the history of the rivalry...look it up...google it...then come back and tell me that ou owns Texas....go ahead...move along now...(something tells me this cat won't be back after the research is done)

[RDAWG11]

Were talking about now. Why we can't keep Texas players here now. No one cares about the history. idiot comment not necessary!

[bleedgreen]

RDawg----give me a break with that ou owns Texas crap......first, they don't own Texas--check your stats.....second, the ONLY reason ou is even beating Texas is because our own players are migrating to that stink-hole of a state and putting on those ugly as hell crimson jerseys.....it's really Texas VS Texas...that is why they call ou "UT at Norman".....pretty sad when you have to cross the border to recruit our own players just so you can be competitive..........

[businesstron]

If it's a problem then just beat OU. But Texas players always are going to leave the state. OSU has alot of Texas players on their roster as does Arkansas and a etc.

[Texasfrog]

With maybe 250 DI players in Texas there is not enough room at DI schools. Oklahoma may have 30 DI players eavh year, so what are they going to do. We just need to keep the True "Blue Chips" in state.

Over the coarse of the last 6 seasons. Texas has been averaging about 330 kids signing D-1A scholarships each year.

I would say out of those 330 about 150 or so would be considered the top 500 National Blue-chip each year.

Top 500 National Blue-chips= Texas has about 150. Texas loses about 60% of those 150 kids to out-of-State powers each year. That hurts.

[wide-e-wide]

Look up the definition of idiot and you will see it is entirely necessary.
Who cares about history?
Obviously you do brainiac...your bringing up the past five years...is that not history Professor? I think it is.
Why are you still here...don't you have some research to do?
And while you looking up idiot in the dictionary ...take the time to update your picture that is next to it...it's a bit dated.

[RDAWG11]

I agree with what yall are saying. I don't want are guys to leave the state either. I'm just saying its UT fault they choose OU over them because Mack Brown favor's his recruits thats why they get verbals and then lose them right before signing day. O yea... UT colors eww!

[FootballJunkie]

Here we go again. Another idiot who hasn't taken the time to look at the history of the rivalry...look it up...google it...then come back and tell me that ou owns Texas....go ahead...move along now...(something tells me this cat won't be back after the research is done)
Kids nowadays don't remember that ancient history they only know about the present. You figure if they are a senior they may have been following college football seriously for the past 5 or 6 years so OU winning is all they have seen. Ask the average senior about the old Southwest Conference and they don't have a clue.

[RDAWG11]

Thank you!

[wide-e-wide]

It wasn't a compliment.

[KT2000]

Ah, another tame exchange between wide and someone else... ;)

Some of yall take this stuff way too personally. This board makes me feel like I'm back in junior high or elementary sometimes.

[wide-e-wide]

Glad I can contribute.
I'm in rare form today. The Pack plays tonight and the 'Horns play
tomorrow. I'm all amped up...got my mojo (no pun) workin'...It's the
weekend...I'm not at work...got the beer chillin'...Aaaaw man! I love
America.

I will try to maintain some type of composure KT. Forgive me...I am
like a kid on Christmas eve.

[mtbray]

I'm pretty sure the reason many Texas athletes leave is because they want PT, not to work hella hard and maybe be #2 or #3 on the depth chart.