From Switzer to Meyer, the key to recruiting is connecting

This year's recruiting saga is much the same as it has always been. Coaches have searched long and hard for the best of the best, placated parents and lamented the dreaded de-commitment. The "win some lose some" refrain is familiar yet no less painful when forced to proclaim.

So as the hunt for difference-makers comes to an end, here's a quick take on what is happing in the hearts, heads and minds of coaches, players and parents during the recruiting process.

Barry Switzer built Oklahoma into a power in the 1970s and '80s with his recruiting skills. (US Presswire)

Some context might be helpful. Today's young men are not the same as when I was recruited 20 years ago. They are more informed, yet not necessarily more mature. And right or wrong, the elite player has a heightened sense of entitlement. They understand their value as centerpieces of money-making machines that collectively put billions in the coffers of a long string of for-profit organizations and individuals.

In case you missed it, the NCAA recently settled a lawsuit that argued that restricting a scholarship to the cost of tuition, books, housing and meals was an unlawful restraint of trade because of the billions of dollars the NCAA earned through broadcast and licensing deals. No lie can live forever.

Keep in mind as we approach Feb. 6, national letter of intent day, the rules of engagement are also vastly changed. When Barry Switzer came calling at my home, he had in his arsenal more than 100 scholarships compared to 85 today. He could tout a job in the summer so I could earn a few dollars in the offseason. That's no longer the case.

The nature of recruiting has been altered significantly because of the diminished role of head coaches. They are permitted only a handful of personal visits. And beginning in 2008, the restrictions get tighter still. So the burden of recruiting gets heavier for assistant coaches. Their value in the recruiting scheme is huge, because they do the bidding and lay out the benefits of signing with their team.

It's no surprise that super recruiters/coaches like Trooper Taylor get lured from Tennessee for Oklahoma State. Coaches have always moved regularly, but this offseason, assistants have done so at a dizzying pace. I've never seen anything quite like it. This brings me to the next important change in the recruiting process.

If I had to put my finger on the most crucial element of getting the four- and five-star players, it's the intense personal relationship between coach and player. When I asked John Blake, assistant head coach and highly regarded recruiting coordinator at North Carolina, about his approach to recruiting he said, "It's not about manipulation but rather ministry."

I thought, that's odd, but when you think about it, recruiters aren't asking kids to buy a video game. They're asking them to bet the next four years of their lives on his program. For an 18-year-old and his concerned parents, it can't get any scarier.

Blake added that recruiting rules restrict the number of phone calls to prospects, but not prospects' calls to coaches. His callback list is always long, because young men and parents trust him. So a central component is for coaches to get across that they are going to be good stewards of these kids. They first must gain the trust of the parents.

Here's a story about how coach Switzer connected with a coveted recruit's parents:

When Barry came upon the player's home, in a rather tough neighborhood, he noticed a beer can in the yard, near the trash can. Ever aware of his surroundings (the great recruiters always are), Switzer notes the brand -- Pearl, a now-defunct, stand-alone Texas brand. Once inside the home, Switzer receives a rather chilly reception from the prospect's father. Finally, the dad enters the discussion after some considerable silence, and begrudgingly asks Barry if he wants something to drink -- perhaps a beer? Barry smiles and on cue responds "Only if it's a Pearl."

An instant connection was made. The point of the story is in the end people buy in to people. Connecting is sometimes just about paying attention to the small things. There is a whole lot of effort going in to trying to connect with young men this week. An institution's buildings can't talk; people can. And, when it comes to recruiting, what coaches say can literally mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Coach Switzer used to say his strong-suit was convincing a parent his or her son was in good hands. This is why Urban Meyer brings recruits into his home to meet his wife and children. This is why Meyer's players take a day each week to visit with the coaching staff's children. Family values matter in an increasingly impersonal world. The proof is in the results. When National Letter of Intent day rolls around, Florida will finish with the top recruiting class in the nation.