The current recruiting dynamic for NU has been fun for all of us to see. Things can change rapidly downward for a school like NU without the benefits of a blue blood brand or the institutional advantages of State U. But for now, the momentum is strong and the results promising. What does it all mean for now?
1. Our move up on the totem pole of perceived prestige has been significant. I believe we have passed Iowa and MSU for the time being. Wisconsin and PSU are fair game now. Michigan, ND and even OSU are no longer slam dunk recruiting losses.
2. Consistent with no. 1, NU is currently a no apology necessary option for highly recruited and academic minded kids in the BIG footprint. We must sustain that. It is a great achievement.
3. Outside the conference footprint we are being well received from the Midlands and Southwest east to the entire Atlantic Coast. This reflects IMO an emerging brand of being an attractive alternative to Stanford and ND. When you’re mentioned in the same group as those 2, our distinguishing qualities will net us a good percentage of the better student athletes we would like to have.
4. Returning close to home, it is obvious we are selling Chicago’s best staying home to play for Chicago’s BIG Ten team. Smart move. It has gotten some traction in the last year for sure. McCarthy could accelerate that process with his commitment to NU. I still think that happens this summer.
5. It appears we are gravitating more and more to the Stanford model of targeting the best student athletes. Accept you will be fishing in a smaller pond, make an NU offer mean something special and then bust your butt to catch a good percentage of your targets. I like that model. It is who we are as a University when you think about it.
Fitz remains a great closer. He’s got the budget now to surround himself with great people and great facilities. The future is bright.
GOUNUII
1. Our move up on the totem pole of perceived prestige has been significant. I believe we have passed Iowa and MSU for the time being. Wisconsin and PSU are fair game now. Michigan, ND and even OSU are no longer slam dunk recruiting losses.
2. Consistent with no. 1, NU is currently a no apology necessary option for highly recruited and academic minded kids in the BIG footprint. We must sustain that. It is a great achievement.
3. Outside the conference footprint we are being well received from the Midlands and Southwest east to the entire Atlantic Coast. This reflects IMO an emerging brand of being an attractive alternative to Stanford and ND. When you’re mentioned in the same group as those 2, our distinguishing qualities will net us a good percentage of the better student athletes we would like to have.
4. Returning close to home, it is obvious we are selling Chicago’s best staying home to play for Chicago’s BIG Ten team. Smart move. It has gotten some traction in the last year for sure. McCarthy could accelerate that process with his commitment to NU. I still think that happens this summer.
5. It appears we are gravitating more and more to the Stanford model of targeting the best student athletes. Accept you will be fishing in a smaller pond, make an NU offer mean something special and then bust your butt to catch a good percentage of your targets. I like that model. It is who we are as a University when you think about it.
Fitz remains a great closer. He’s got the budget now to surround himself with great people and great facilities. The future is bright.
GOUNUII
