Fellow Lairman - you know I wanted to post this a day after the frustration of getting our A$$es kicked last night in all phases from Coach Jimmy (Carpetbagger/Snake Oil Salesman) etc... but I experienced first hand the difference in Coaching Philosophy on recruiting at camps of both coaches. For those Lairman who never went to a college summer football camp I will explain.
First, I took my nephew to the Pitt camp last summer at the UPMC indoor facility, it was very good, Coach Duzz made a nice speach to everyone (kids and parents) at the beginning and end thanking the parents and praising the kids for being interested in continuing to play football somewhere at the next level. I was excited to see and hear Coach Duzz too. During the camp, Duzz was kind overseeing everything talking to a few of the kids he was recruiting and maybe their mom or too. However, most of the non recruited campers had any interaction with Coach Duzz he was very distant even to sign or pose for a picture with the camper or family if you were not a big time recruit. I was disappointed that we didn't get to shake hands or get a quick picture etc...
On the other hand, we went to Coach Jimmy's camp in July because I wanted to see the difference in programs. It was very different. First, you drive and meet at Beaver Stadium. As you enter Beaver Stadium Coach Jimmy is at the door shakes everyone's hand (including all family members) and thanks you for coming to his camp. Next, you get picture, height and weight measured, and then can walk out to end zone in Beaver stadium to take selfies, pics, to get a feel of the stadium that your kid may play in. Then my nephew and his mom got on the bus and went down to the practice facility about 1/2 mile away. While the kids were stretching and loosening up outside, Coach Jimmy gave a 20 minute speech to the parents only and then took questions and provided answers for the next 15 additional minutes. Throughout the camp he was very approachable by anyone for selfies, individual questions, or shake hands, etc..He was very organized... It was well run as any camps we have attended.
In summary, Duzz is a good recruiter but Coach Jimmy is a great recruiter and works the kids and parents very well. No big surprise there to most of us. However, Franklin knows how to market his product and vividly says we are a national program and his goal is to be in Top 10 every year. Well, I know some of you Pitt Yunzers don't want to hear this but it's reality that Coach Jimmy has figured it out and our Coach not so much and now is getting less and less quality recruits. I don't have the answers but wanted to share what I observed.
First, I took my nephew to the Pitt camp last summer at the UPMC indoor facility, it was very good, Coach Duzz made a nice speach to everyone (kids and parents) at the beginning and end thanking the parents and praising the kids for being interested in continuing to play football somewhere at the next level. I was excited to see and hear Coach Duzz too. During the camp, Duzz was kind overseeing everything talking to a few of the kids he was recruiting and maybe their mom or too. However, most of the non recruited campers had any interaction with Coach Duzz he was very distant even to sign or pose for a picture with the camper or family if you were not a big time recruit. I was disappointed that we didn't get to shake hands or get a quick picture etc...
On the other hand, we went to Coach Jimmy's camp in July because I wanted to see the difference in programs. It was very different. First, you drive and meet at Beaver Stadium. As you enter Beaver Stadium Coach Jimmy is at the door shakes everyone's hand (including all family members) and thanks you for coming to his camp. Next, you get picture, height and weight measured, and then can walk out to end zone in Beaver stadium to take selfies, pics, to get a feel of the stadium that your kid may play in. Then my nephew and his mom got on the bus and went down to the practice facility about 1/2 mile away. While the kids were stretching and loosening up outside, Coach Jimmy gave a 20 minute speech to the parents only and then took questions and provided answers for the next 15 additional minutes. Throughout the camp he was very approachable by anyone for selfies, individual questions, or shake hands, etc..He was very organized... It was well run as any camps we have attended.
In summary, Duzz is a good recruiter but Coach Jimmy is a great recruiter and works the kids and parents very well. No big surprise there to most of us. However, Franklin knows how to market his product and vividly says we are a national program and his goal is to be in Top 10 every year. Well, I know some of you Pitt Yunzers don't want to hear this but it's reality that Coach Jimmy has figured it out and our Coach not so much and now is getting less and less quality recruits. I don't have the answers but wanted to share what I observed.
