Comments from a future Bearcats parent

[UCBearcats]

I finished up a softball game last night and headed to the local Skyline to grab some food before heading home. I walked in at the same time as a dad with his two sons. One of the kids was huge and wearing a football t-shit from a local high school. As I was waiting to order I heard the dad talking to the cashier about how his son was excited to play at UC next year.

As we were standing there waiting for our food I started talking to the dad about UC football. Turns out his son is an offensive lineman and committed to UC a couple of months ago. I won't name names but I'm sure you can probably figure it out.

We talked for a good 5 minutes about his son's recruitment and I thought it was interesting to hear his perspective. I also asked his son a few questions as well.

According the father his son told him he was going to commit to Pitt last winter. His Dad told him to wait it out and not jump into anything too quickly. After Hoke got the job at Michigan they made a huge push and his son changed his mind and started leaning towards a Michigan. According to the father there were plenty of offers from the Big 10 and Big East schools as well as offers from UK and Tennessee and most of the smaller schools in the region. UC was always on the radar but never really in serious consideration.

I didn't know this but was told that due to recruiting rules coaches are only allowed to make one phone call to a recruit during the early recruiting period. CBJ called his son on a Sunday night and they spoke for 15 to 20 minutes, two days later his son had committed to UC. According to the Dad CBJ was far and away the most impressive coach his son had spoken with. As a parent he said he's thrilled that his kid is staying home and even happier that he knows he's going to a place where he will be supervised and taken care of. The father said he's been a UC fan all his life and thought that CBJ was a little "corny" when he was first hired. In the couple months since his son has committed he thinks he's one of the most genuine people he's ever met.

The son told me that he's excited and can't wait to play for Butch. He seemed like a pretty shy kid, didn't really seem comfortable talking with me.

Anyways, the Dad is excited about what CBJ is building and feels like the next two recruiting classes are going to elevate this program to a level of consistency it hasn't seen before. The only negative was when I asked how he thought the team would be this year. According to the parent he doesn't expect them to be much better than last year and he made it sound like he doesn't believe Butch does either.

Apparently Butch told him not to let his son get down if the team doesn't have huge success this season and to stay the course. The team is being built to a plan and for consistent success in the future.

That's basically it. Thought it was an interesting conversation and obviously it's only one person's perspective. It didn't stop me from being excited about this season and it made me feel a lot more optimistic about our future under CBJ. Plus this kid was HUGE and he ordered a 3way and 4 cheese coneys which was probably just a snack before he had his real dinner.

 

[JasonS]

I finished up a softball game last night and headed to the local Skyline to grab some food before heading home. I walked in at the same time as a dad with his two sons. One of the kids was huge and wearing a football t-shit from a local high school. As I was waiting to order I heard the dad talking to the cashier about how his son was excited to play at UC next year.

As we were standing there waiting for our food I started talking to the dad about UC football. Turns out his son is an offensive lineman and committed to UC a couple of months ago. I won't name names but I'm sure you can probably figure it out.

We talked for a good 5 minutes about his son's recruitment and I thought it was interesting to hear his perspective. I also asked his son a few questions as well.

According the father his son told him he was going to commit to Pitt last winter. His Dad told him to wait it out and not jump into anything too quickly. After Hoke got the job at Michigan they made a huge push and his son changed his mind and started leaning towards a Michigan. According to the father there were plenty of offers from the Big 10 and Big East schools as well as offers from UK and Tennessee and most of the smaller schools in the region. UC was always on the radar but never really in serious consideration.

I didn't know this but was told that due to recruiting rules coaches are only allowed to make one phone call to a recruit during the early recruiting period. CBJ called his son on a Sunday night and they spoke for 15 to 20 minutes, two days later his son had committed to UC. According to the Dad CBJ was far and away the most impressive coach his son had spoken with. As a parent he said he's thrilled that his kid is staying home and even happier that he knows he's going to a place where he will be supervised and taken care of. The father said he's been a UC fan all his life and thought that CBJ was a little "corny" when he was first hired. In the couple months since his son has committed he thinks he's one of the most genuine people he's ever met.

The son told me that he's excited and can't wait to play for Butch. He seemed like a pretty shy kid, didn't really seem comfortable talking with me.

Anyways, the Dad is excited about what CBJ is building and feels like the next two recruiting classes are going to elevate this program to a level of consistency it hasn't seen before. The only negative was when I asked how he thought the team would be this year. According to the parent he doesn't expect them to be much better than last year and he made it sound like he doesn't believe Butch does either.

Apparently Butch told him not to let his son get down if the team doesn't have huge success this season and to stay the course. The team is being built to a plan and for consistent success in the future.

That's basically it. Thought it was an interesting conversation and obviously it's only one person's perspective. It didn't stop me from being excited about this season and it made me feel a lot more optimistic about our future under CBJ. Plus this kid was HUGE and he ordered a 3way and 4 cheese coneys which was probably just a snack before he had his real dinner.

Good write up and thanks for sharing. As for the success of the team, I think Butch is trying to make sure the kids see the big picture and don't let one good or bad season sway their decision. I think Butch has to realize that this offense has the potential to be amazing this year with Collaros, Pead and Woods at the skill spots. The defense is a big question mark based on how they played last year and with all the new faces littering the depth chart this year. If we could fast forward this defense to next year and keep the offense from this year, UC would be the favorite to win the Big East. This team will go as far as the defense takes them (assuming the offense can hold onto the football). I personally don't think CBJ has any negative thoughts about this team this year. I think he fully expects to contend for a Big East title this year but he has never been a rah-rah kind of guy. He is a very genuine guy and I am sure in his conversation with the player and the parents, he explained the long term vision he has for this program.

I will be disappointed with anything less than 8 wins this year. I think UC could win as many as 10 if things go well. Then again, no one expected 12-0 and #3 in the BCS a couple years ago. I think Tennessee is going to be tough. It may be a bit easier now that their top CB was dismissed from the team. NC State will be tough but that is at home and they are down a couple players with injuries. Plus, we owe them one. 4-1 out of conference is reasonable to expect from this team. 6-1 in conference is not necessarily far fetched either. I think people are underestimating the coaching changes and what effects that will have on a team. Pitt, WVU, and UCONN are all in this boat. This conference is wide open and if this defense plays to potential and the offense holds onto the football, it could be another special season. We only have 9 more days until the journey begins!