Four-star guard Will Fries says he had "a really, really awesome" visit to Northwestern over the weekend.
Fries rates NU visit a 10 ($)
Fries rates NU visit a 10 ($)
4-star OL Will Fries rates NU visit a perfect '10'
- Thread starter lou v
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I love reading about all the recruits who rate their visit here "a perfect 10", or ":totally awesome", or "my mother lovd it", or any number of comments which puts us in the led. and they go elsewhere. I am waiting for the "awesome": comment followed by the commitment. Until then it seems to be pure fluff.
Yeah, it I tasty fluff but too much fluff without meat is non-full filling, gives you cavities without energy, Being close per figarating is only horseshoes and grenades, neither of which put you in the end zone. Now, if the "Katy three" are real (another "10" visit or great visit) that would be something. Until then I plan to be a fair-weather fan from Missouri (show me, then I'll believe) so my Maalox and nitro combination would never come into play until the real season when we are left with broken dreams by all the "10's" and "greats" and "tops" that we were told about in the past. Anyway, it is only April.
NU is a very special place that does not appeal to everyone. However, those of us who love it see it as offering a unique opportunity. The cosmopolitan student body, the academic quality of the students and the faculty, the diversity of programmatic strengths from drama and dance to journalism to science and technology, the lakefront campus, the proximity to Chicago, the great alumni network - I could go on - all make NU very, very attractive to certain students. Those who find this appealing are unlikely to find it anywhere else. For those who want to play football, the team offers a close-knit group of smart, socially-engaged students that is not replicated on many other campuses and Fitz is a straight-shooter with a great track record and job security. Visitors may be inclined to say nice things about the schools they visit, but when they note the special aspects that NU offers I think the enthusiasm is likely very real.
Uh, just about all of NU's current players said that their visit was awesome, and then they followed that up with a commitment. So, what's your point? Some say it's awesome and then don't commit, some say it's awesome and do. You don't know which is "fluff" until they do commit -- to NU or someplace else.
Take Fries, for example. Is he a liar just because he didn't commit this weekend? He's going to take some officials in the fall and then make a decision. This awesome visit put NU "way up" on his list and ensured that he will take a return trip to NU. That's pretty big.
I can't ever recall a score of less than 8, so I don't put a lot of stock in that. However, I do read their comments and compare them to other quotes from other visits. These are strong comments and it leads me to believe he is serious about NU. All the pundits have him as a PSU lean, but it seems like we opened his eyes. Of course, this would be a great get as OL is an area that can improve and early playing time could be available. Sounds like this may go on for awhile and I would expect our buddy Franklin to turn up the propaganda machine after these comments. This is definitely one of the most important guys on our radar.
That they almost all say that their visit was awesome whether they eventually commit or not and probably more say it and do not commit than say it and do. In the end, it means you can tell almost nothing about our chances from the comment unless the follow it up pretty quickly with a commitment (or the kid had some brain cramp of honesty that we are unlikely to see and said it was so-so or worse).
The other side of the coin would be to ask Lou how many kids won't even let him do an interview because their interest is low or how many interviews Lou does that don't result in an article because the enthusiasm is just not there.
very true. I think part of the "problem" here is that the kids honestly enjoy all of their visits. the concept of playing football in college is really exciting. heck, just the concept of going away to college is exciting to most any 17 year old. college campuses tend to be pretty nice (yes, some better than others, but they all tend to have their charms) . . and you're visiting a place that is trying to be super nice to you so that you'll want to go there. AND you're at least remotely interested, or you wouldn't be there in the first place. so, if you end up with less than 8/10 . . . . that's pretty bad!
Case in point: Sam Schleuter, whose recent visit to NU was reported on April 2 "really good" and "raised the bar"... but announced today that he will soon choose between Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.
Well, he said that God pointed him to those three schools. I tried to reach the Big Man, but he wouldn't return my calls.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Posted from Rivals Mobile
GCG, you know better than just about anyone from being around the process that most kids are appreciative, of the attention they receive on the visit. They generally are respectful to both the coaches and reporters such as Lou. So bits and pieces of positive comments can be taken from just about every post visit interview. What I look for when making my very uneducated predictions is some unique effusive comment that didn't appear in other stories from other school visits. Sometimes you get a tidbit and sometimes the recruit plays it closer to the vest. I am not saying we are getting Fries, but I do think we are in the game for him right now. Maybe Lou is a more enthusiastic writer, don't know, but Fries comments appear to be more than the polite drivel you sometimes get. Hopefully, the staff closes the deal as we could sure use him.
well...that's the thing. the 1-10 scale is really a 1-3 scale. an 8 tells me the kid probably isn't coming, a 9 doesn't really tell me anything at all...only a 10 gives me any serious optimism.
Nah, the score depends on the kid's scale. There have been NU commits that rated their visit a 9. I think there was even an 8 or 8.5 in there over the years. Some kids think a 10 is only for a visit that prompts you to commit on the spot. Some don't want to say 10 out of respect to other schools recruiting them. Everyone is different.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Posted from Rivals Mobile
God is definitely not an NU football or basketball fan. Or a Cubs fan for that matter. But He seems to like NU women's lacrosse though.
Post-visit public comments never played a factor in a kid's recruiting from the staff's perspective. Not once. Trying to read between the lines and quote-mine 16- and 17-year old kids is a fool's exercise and not likely to yield much by way of real results. Most kids are reasonable and don't want to publicly trash a coaching staff who has taken the time and effort to recruit that player to campus and/or offer a scholarship. Plus they don't want to burn any bridges in case their "preferred" offers dry up and they have to reevaluate their process.
