I can imagine the pitch from DD in the top recruits living room. It might go something like this…
I imagine in the short term it goes something more like this:
Recruit: “I’d like to play against top competition, so the NFL scouts know that I can get it done, regardless of who we are playing”
DD: “No problem, because we are in the Atlantic Division, we play FSU, Clempson, and Louisville every year”DD: “No problem, because we are in the Atlantic Division, we play FSU, Clempson, and Louisville every year. And have you seen us play lately? To impress the NFL, you gotta be on the field. We have plenty of opportunity.”
Recruit: “Wow coach, that’s a top notch schedule. What about bowl games…my pappy doesn’t like to travel, so we need to be on TV so he can watch”
DD: “Once again, no problem, just to make sure we get to a bowl game, we schedule games against the sister’s of the blind, the sister’s of the deaf, AND the sister’s of the taste impaired, plus throw in a I-AA game, and we’re golden.”DD: “Once again, no problem, just to make sure we get to a bowl game, we schedule games against the sister’s of the blind, the sister’s of the deaf, AND the sister’s of the taste impaired, plus throw in a I-AA game, and we’re golden. But once you’re here, you can be a a part of changing all that.
But getting back to the NFL… Come here and show them that you were part of turning around the culture at NC State, that you brought your winning attitude to a program that didn’t win a single conference game the year before you arrived.
The NFL is interested in more than just physical skills and college wins. Ever hear of Jarmacus Russell? Come to NC State where you can show the NFL that you, your hard work, and your intangibles played a significant role turning the Wolfpack into Champions!”
Recruit: “Oh, my pappy doesn’t get ESPN3. Thanks a lot coach, I’ve gotta go though, I’ve got a meeting with an SEC team is 1/2 hour”
DD: “But…if you play in the SEC…all you’ll get is exposure on every ESPN channel, highlight on every (non-NFL focused) program. If you play at State, you get to go the Weiner Bowl”DD: “Great teams over there, no doubt, and if that’s what you want, best of luck to ya. Nothing wrong with hitching a ride-a-long with a good team. Team exposure and winning are likely to come, regardless of the role you play in it. But if you go that route, be wise in your choosing, sometimes those programs can be a little “wascally” in their enthusiasm. Sometimes they get caught.
But if you want to come to NC State and be a central cog in building a winner, to be a central figure, the reason why the Wolfpack wins, then come to NC State young man. You will have your chance. The NFL will be watching.
Hold on one sec, I gotta answer this… Well hello Russell, nice little game you had up there in Jersey. I hear you, JR, and little Stevie Hauschka had a great time. What’s that? Nate says ‘hi’? Oh, that’s great. Well I gotta go, I’m speaking to a nice young man at this very moment about joining the Wolfpack, then meeting Keim for lunch.. yeah, that’s right AZ’s GM, Class of ’96… Yeah, we’re meeting the Holt boys over at PR to share 1st hand accounts about the Super Bowl. Wanna come?”
Recruit: “uh…thanks coach…see ya”
