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What really happens when a recruit visits ND
UHND.com - Bob Chmiel - Used courtesy of DomerDigest.com
1/19/2002
This is a special preview for uhnd.com readers. Domer Digest subscribers receive articles like this daily.
This two part series ran on Domer Digest earlier this week.
FRIDAY
It is critical to basically control the environment
without smothering the prospect and his family and, as always, the most important factor
is honesty.
Each situation must be tailor-made to suit the needs of the individual prospect. Upon
arrival on Friday, there is always a tendency to be anxious. But, have all the plans been
made in a first-class manner? We have 48 hours and this must be perfect! I would equate
the weekend to having houseguests, very important houseguests.
So let's get into Friday.
Some recruits will drive to campus with their families. In this case, they are able to
receive a per-mile stipend. This is actually a more economical method for a family in that
if they were to use air travel, the hosting institution can only purchase a ticket for the
student-athlete. I actually know of families who have driven to South Bend from Texas and
Florida. I salute these families in that this reflects their investment in their son's
future.
In the case of air travel, the N.C.A.A. permits the institution to arrange pick-up at the
nearest major airport. Notre Dame has been cleared to shuttle recruits from both Chicago
airports. I was always able to secure top quality vans from nearby van conversion
companies. It was common practice for the G.A.s, or senior managers, to meet the prospects
at the airport. I always wanted the prospects to be met at the gate. This was policy. It
showed a personal touch and it avoided confusion for the guests. Also, I wanted the
recruit to be met with some type of N.D. literature and a personalized folder. This gave
the recruit introductory literature for the trip to campus.
In the van, we would provide soft drinks and, if the travel was lengthy, perhaps snacks or
sandwiches. I always expected the drivers to be able to explain the distance to South Bend
as well as the time of travel. This gave our new friends an estimation of the time in the
van.
Upon arrival on campus, the prospect and his family would always stop in at the football
office. I always had a banner welcoming them to N.D. as well as the playing of the fight
song.
Once inside the office, the atmosphere was war, enthusiastic and welcoming. FIRST
IMPRESSIONS! Coaches greeted each prospect and the head coach always came out to say
hello. The prospect and his family were then given itineraries. Now the weekend was about
to begin.
After a brief, but important visit to the football office, most usually prospects will be
taken to the hotel to check-in. The only exception to this would be an early scheduled
visit to the admissions office in which case the prospect and his family would be driven
to the administration building for a visit with Assistant Provost for Admissions, Mr. Dan
Saracino.
Over a seven-year period, I probably made this trip more than three hundred times, but I
can honestly say that each family reacted in a different manner to seeing the Golden Dome
for the first time. I think this is the point at which the reality of the visit sets in.
Once inside the administration building, the beauty of it's interior is almost
overwhelming, especially since it's remodeling some years ago. It amazed me how seniors in
high school would almost become reverent when they came into the building.
Once at admissions, the prospects completed classes-in-progress forms and then met with
the admissions representative. At times, the meetings were held with the prospect and his
parents and other times the admissions people met with the prospect first and then
together with the parents. Every family had different reaction to the meeting.
Later in the day, the results of the meeting are sent to the football office. With the
exception of a few cases, the reports usually were positive or reflected the ability of
the prospect to succeed. This came as a result of the football office doing its
"homework" in regard to the academic qualifications of the prospect.
Upon leaving the admissions office, a campus tour was in order. I felt the best place to
begin the tour was the administration building. Walking out the front door of the building
was like opening a new world to the prospect and his parents. Here is Notre Dame.
This initial campus tour is important, but it should be comfortable and informative.
Although the Basilica stands next to the administration building, I always made a point of
visiting the Basilica last. Without getting lengthy about my personal feelings concerning
the Basilica, I honestly feel it is the most peaceful and beautiful place on the face of
the earth! Enough said.
A trip to the hotel and then some down time before dinner followed.
Friday night dinner is a very important event in the chemistry of the weekend. It is the
first time that the entire group will be assembled along with the coaching staff. I always
wanted this event to be very special, yet comfortable and not intimidating.
As the prospects arrive, they are usually introduced to their hosts for the very first
time. Prospects and their hosts soon gather with each other and parents have an
opportunity to meet other parents who are visiting for the weekend. The group is coming
together and the dynamics of the situation are always interesting to watch. Some of these
people have been on other recruiting weekends together. In a lot of ways, people are
checking each other out!
After a short while, we ask the guests to be seated. Players will sit with their recruits
and parents usually sit with coaches or members of the support staff. Coaches and the head
coach must be careful to sit with various prospects throughout the weekend, because any
greater attention - unintentionally given- to one recruit or another can be interpreted as
a slight to someone else.
I always scheduled the head coach to sit with various families throughout the weekend, or
not to sit with anyone except staff members, so as to not suggest a favorite among the
visiting families. These types of plans only come with experience, and I say that with
pride.
As all guests are seated, I usually introduced the head coach. Introducing the head coach
is always tricky business. I did not want to sound too patronizing, but yet I did want to
let the guests know that the coach was someone special.
The head coach now welcomes the group and may ask the prospects to stand and introduce
themselves to the group, ie: name, position, hometown, high school as well as who
accompanied them on the visit.
Finally, and importantly, I would ask either a member of the clergy, a coach or a team
member to lead us in a word of prayer. Dinner now began. After a comfortable period, I
would get the attention of the group and read the itinerary for the next day.
The recruits and their hosts are now free to leave and the parents and staff remain for
some social time. I always gave the recruits pertinent telephone numbers in the event of
some type of emergency. I also gave the numbers to our G.A.s at the hotel who would be
available for transportation purposes.
Our staff would now visit with the parents and then bring them back to the hotel when the
parents felt ready. This was always a great time to visit and discuss any questions that
the parents may have, and honestly, to gather important information that could lead to a
successful visit for the family as well as for the university.
SATURDAY
Saturday was the meat and potatoes of the recruiting weekend. The day we basically had to
get it all done. The meeting in the morning was always critical. Coaches came in armed
with plenty of information from the night before. Everyone wanted to talk at one time,
each discussing his recruit or passing along information to another coach about a
conversation with a parent from the previous night. Once we all settled in, it was time to
go through the spreadsheet as well as the itinerary of the day's events.
Upon conclusion of the meeting, it was off to the hotel to meet the recruits and their
families. The G.A.s had already placed a wake- up call and the group would be assembling
for the trip to the North Dining Hall. Awaiting the prospects at the N.D.H. were the
professors and deans from the academic community. I always had a special feeling for these
people who gave so generously of their time, they obviously loved Notre Dame.
After a brief welcome, the prospects were seated with the academic person in the recruit's
particular academic interest. This was a wonderful opportunity to speak informally before
going over for the formal academic presentations. The room was abuzz with conversation. We
were on our way.
After breakfast, we transported the group to the College of Business and the Jordan
Auditorium. At this time, we would have the Head of Academic support give the overview of
our entire academic support program. This would be followed by a presentation from Chuck
Lennon the director of the alumni association. Talk about enthusiasm-I often wondered if
Chuck should have given pre-game talks, he was the best.
It was now time to break down the group by academic interest. Once this was done, the
individual professors would take small groups to individual meeting rooms for specific
information and questions about their particular field of study. These sessions could last
up to an hour, dependent upon questions from prospects and their families.
Now it was time to visit the stadium. Notre Dame Stadium! I was always teased by our
coaches because I would refer to it as "The Crown Jewel of College Football" and
in my heart I believe I was correct. As we walked through the huge iron gates and down
through the tunnel, you could almost hear the band and see the Irish Guard. I wanted to
stop the recruits and let them know that they were on sacred ground and what they could
possibly have if they came to Notre Dame. But they had to feel it for themselves.
Now it was into the locker room. The equipment people, first Chris Matlock and later Henry
Scroope, decorated the locker room as though it were game day, except for the fact that
the lockers reflected the names and jerseys of the visiting prospects. Each locker had a
plaque card of any Notre Dame man who distinguished that number. On the top of the plaque
would be the name of the current recruit. The back of the locker room held the jerseys of
those Notre Dame players currently in the pros. Jerome Bettis' Steelers jersey, Mike
Rosenthal's Giants jersey.I believe over forty in total, talk about impressive. I can only
estimate the time taken by the equipment people in this effort, it was first class all the
way. Thank you, Chris and Henry.
At this time, cameras would be going off every which way. Prospects trying on jerseys and
helmets, parents posing with their sons, the victory march in the background. Now it was
time to go down the famous staircase. "Touch the sign!" "Touch the
sign!" It seemed like everyone knew exactly what to do. Play Like A Champion Today,
imagine yourself eighteen years old and having this opportunity? I often thought the sign
should have read for only these Saturdays-Commit Like A Champion Today.
The atmosphere at this time was beyond description. I hated to leave the stadium, but
there was still so much to do.
After visiting the stadium, each prospect will now have a tour of the training room. The
head trainer gives this tour. Parents especially get into this segment because it reflects
the medical attention that will be given to their son. Each one of the training room
policies is reviewed; the schedule of treatment, the availability of the training room
staff, as well as the availability of the team doctor. I would like to add that Dr.
Moriarity is the finest team doctor I have ever had the privilege of being associated
with, he is a class act in every sense of the word.
At the conclusion of the presentation, the heights, weights and medical history of each
prospect are recorded. In the case of a significant injury, the team doctors may actually
make further inquiry with the prospect, these situations can be extremely sensitive.
When the training room segment is complete, it is now off to the weight room for a
presentation, and perhaps a demonstration, by current team members. The recruits
thoroughly enjoy this particular part of the afternoon. It amazes me at how far this
department in athletics has come in a relatively short amount of time. High school
athletes are so in tune to various philosophies in weight training. The questions that
they pose to the strength staff are the result of much research and interest. Each
strength coach has a background that is linked to a strength "guru" in whom they
believe is the finest. They become disciples of a certain system. Parents who have never
seen a big time weight room in action look upon this segment of the day with big eyes,
"Can my son actually get that big and strong?"
Upon leaving the weight room, a brief visit to the indoor football field is in order. At
one time in the not too distant past this would be a big deal, but presently all major
programs have indoor facilities.
Coaches now have options for the remainder of the afternoon: campus tour, a stop at the
bookstore, offensive or defensive overview, a meeting with a position coach or perhaps
some casual time with your host. However, they will have scheduled a mandatory meeting
with the head football coach.
This meeting with the head coach is most significant in that this is where the formal
offer will be made. A bit of anxiety can occur on both sides of the head coach's desk.
These meetings can be brief, as in the case of a prospect who has already committed, or
they can be lengthy if there are many questions or if the head coach is trying to 'close.'
As a recruiting coordinator, I was always cautious as to when I should tap on the door.
But at times, if we were significantly behind in time, it had to be done. Gary Moeller
would acknowledge my knock as a sign that he was going well over time and then he would
include me in the conversation and we would go on for another fifteen minutes. Mo was
great in those visits because he was so honest and wanted the recruit to come to Michigan
only if the recruit felt perfectly comfortable. Mo is the consummate football coach, and I
believe the Lions made a huge mistake in not retaining him as the head coach!
(I will do another piece on the importance of the host, but at a later date.)
This is the time of the day that the recruiting coach has the opportunity to be creative
and tailor-make his portion of the day to suit the recruit and what he personally knows
about the recruit. At times during this period, the parents enjoy going back to the hotel
and relaxing.
Next: Saturday evening dinner at the College Football Hall of Fame. If you have not
visited this wonderful tribute to college football, I suggest you do so if visiting South
Bend. The director Bernie Kish and his staff do a marvelous job of hosting all guest, and
the displays are very interactive. Bernie would actually speak to the recruits about the
history of the Hall and how it came to South Bend.
After dinner, the recruits and their parents were free to roam the hall and view the great
exhibits. Vans were available to campus at the discretion of the hosts and the prospects.
The coaches and the parents were invited to a reception in the dining area. By this time,
the atmosphere was casual in that our guests knew each other. Coaches would now transport
the parents back to the hotel upon request. A long day had come to an end!
Sunday morning saw the recruits and their families going to breakfast at the head coach's
home and one more meeting with the head coach. Those departing by air were taken to the
airport and those driving home were bid a fond farewell hopefully to return in August.
After all of the guests had departed, the coaches convene and meet at the football office.
"Hey, Let's do this again next week!!!!!!!!"
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