College Recruiting Question

default

default

Member
This has been on my mind for a few years but why does a d1 school such as CSU only manage to get recruits from Ohio to sign with themmainly from L.C? As a lifelong fan and supporter, it's starting to really make me question the recruiting strategy of the school and effect the outcome of the team as shown in the past year..is it the lack of facilities/softball field appearance or lack of coach Nicholson's recruitment strategy? Hoping the team this year can regain the tradition of the strong Viking program! Go Vikes!
 
default

default

Member
Think you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Its recruiting. Although you have one of the best position players in the conference in Toman. The pitching there post Sito hasent kept par with the rest of the horizon. pick up decent pitching youll see a difference in play. But being A Father of a Valpo player they can keep on keeping on in the same direction for a while lol
 
default

default

Member
Hahahaha good point there. The hitting is good but pitching and defense kill them. The facilities/stadium i like a high school style to which is a huge turnoff to recruits. I really think Nicholson needs to review her recruiting method and push for some stadium improvements to turn some heads around here. No offense to anyone but having a team of ohio girls or Lorain county girls is not going to get you far in the NCAA.
 
default

default

Member
hmmmm. Maybe they just don't have the money for recruiting/facilities? Schools in the Horizon league do not have football teams and we all know that football usually supports the other athletic programs. I wouldn't put the blame on the coach. Just because they are D1 doesn't mean they have 12 scholarships- some D1's only have 4-6. Don't kid yourself
 
default

default

Member
I live in the Cleveland area, and think it's a great place to live ... but I have to be honest and say that I think the downtown setting there isn't going to be attractive to some girls and their families. They are always going to have much more success in recruiting local girls who want to stay close to home. Just my opinion ...
 
default

default

Member
Vikingsix, YSU has a football program.... the setting isn't all that attractive but the campus doesn't really help keep students on campus or attract visitors. The athletic facilities are average at best with the exception of Krenzler field....Coach needs to step up to the Board or the AD and recomend some upgrades to try and get some three star recruits at least which would start a domino positive effect...
 
default

default

Member
Thinking of the field at CSU, they are so land locked there Major upgrades may be next to impossible. But there would stilll be room enough to re vamp the seating like has been done at Valpo and WSU. Upgrade the field a bit it would have to improve their recruiting some what. No one wants to play D1 softball at a high school type field and environment. Then charge 5.00 a ticket. Valpo has been doing it. Pretty close to selling out on the home side.
 
default

default

Member
DD went to a sokker camp there loved the campus, since she was being recruited for that sport at that time. Security was terrible, during a practice a homeless person walked out on the field scared the daylights out of the kids. That was a turnoff to many parents.
 
default

default

Member
Vikingsix, YSU has a football program.... the setting isn't all that attractive but the campus doesn't really help keep students on campus or attract visitors. The athletic facilities are average at best with the exception of Krenzler field....Coach needs to step up to the Board or the AD and recomend some upgrades to try and get some three star recruits at least which would start a domino positive effect...
by bad you are right, the are in the MVC for football.....
 
default

default

Member
Upgrades to physical facilities cost money, and that money must come from somewhere. Since most softball programs (female sports in general) are not revenue generating, it's a double whammy. Remember, colleges are businesses, and must operate in the black or bad, ugly things happen. You won't find a money pit at Horizon league schools like at some *ahem* more prominent universities in central Ohio. The money comes from generous donors and benefactors, and those with a vested interest in the University. The easy path would be to raise tuition to pay for those niceties, but everyone knows the negative effect that has on recruiting students. So it continues to be a juggling act, and a tough one at that I'm sure.

Personally, I like the idea of kids learning the value of a dollar and an honest day's work. If your kid goes to a Horizon League school on athletic scholarship, chances are that she will be a "willing participant" in volunteer activities for the revenue sports, selling raffle tickets at games, etc. Just imagine... kids learning how to actually do productive WORK instead of getting knee deep in some Wall Street pyramid scheme.
 
default

default

Member
Hey Vikingssix you said in your post the horizon league schools do not have football teams... I replied and said yes some do which I am aware that they aren't in the HL for football. As far as the land locked (Bouldersdad) you have a good point. There is not much room to expand or renovate but some simple upgrades would easily attract a wider selection of recruits. The field is pairly above average compared to high school fields and other small colleges. The security is not the best either. Since the baseball program was cut I would think that it would free up some money for the softball team to use up. Sammy pointed out ways to improve revenue and the fact that colleges are a business which raises my point being why isn't the coach stepping forward and pushing for improvements to upscale the facility? The state of the program at CSU was on an uprise for about 3 years but now is free falling fast.
 
default

default

Member
YSU is building a new Softball field. YSU problem is they pass on the local talent,so the Softball Community does not care about there Program. Did you ever go to a YSU Softball Game. NO! Me Either !
 
default

default

Member
I don't know about the local talent at YSU. They have 2 women from Boardman and 1 from McDonald. Plus I saw a Cuyahoga Falls and a Windham, and a Tallmadge player. Sees pretty local to me.
 
default

default

Member
Yes there are a few,and I know the McDonald Girl, She is a great girl ! I know of some very good softball players they never gave the time of day to, So I guess it may be a little to personal for me to comment. All I can say I wish them the best.
 
default

default

Member
Since the baseball program was cut I would think that it would free up some money for the softball team to use up. why isn't the coach stepping forward and pushing for improvements to upscale the facility? [QUOTE]

This all sounds a little personal to me....which is fine. just curious, do you think its time for a regime change?
 
default

default

Member
Not so much a regime but something that will spark the school to stand out...John Parry stated that cuting baseball would save $450,000 because they played off site and havent been over .500 since the 1980's... The women's program has been successful with winning the league a few years ago and has a stadium on campus. The coaches need to step up and get the AD and his board on the same page. It's an easy solution here.. Improved facilities=More recruits/signess=better team which will help increase revenue and make Nicholson look like a better coach.. Im afraid of what the team is going to be after Toman leaves...
 

tomasgreenro

New Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2022
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Not so much a regime but something that will spark the school to stand out...John Parry stated that cuting baseball would save $450,000 because they played off site and havent been over .500 since the 1980's... The women's program has been successful with winning the league a few years ago and has a stadium on campus. The coaches need to step up and get the AD and his board on the same page. It's an easy solution here.. Improved facilities=More recruits/signess=better team which will help increase revenue and make Nicholson look like a better coach.. Im afraid of what the team is going to be after Toman leaves...
good amount
 

Similar threads

Top