Football Recruiting 101

**warning: Jay pride ahead**

read only if you too have Jay pride ;)

Signing day was yesterday.
Signing day is a big deal in the football world.
It is the "end" of recruiting for the year.
And when I say end,
I really mean the start of recruiting for the next year.
Thats the thing with recruiting,
It. Never. Ends.

BUT on the first Wednesday of February, for a moment, all the coaches hard work is on display.


I believe Jay is one of the best recruiter out.

(I mean how else could he convince a

 wildly self directed wandering 18 year old girl 

he picked up hitch hiking 

and her parents 

that she should be his eternal teammate)

Jay can tell you the height and weight of any recruit and be within 1/4 of an inch or within 5 lbs.  I have always claimed to be 5'9" and he was adamant that I am not 5'9" so he measured me to prove himself right and of course he was.  I am 5'8 and 3/4" (so basically 5'9") I told him not to guess my weight LOL.

He has a "type" for each position on the field and his accuracy has been proven to me over and over.  He looks at everything from body type(some positions it really makes a difference if they have skinny calf and ankles), size, ability to grow (he is usually right when he sees a kid that looks like he will still grow or has done all his growing and if a frame can put the needed weight on or off), talent (raw or polished), athleticism and personality.  He is a good unbiased judge of character. 

And then he walks into the recruit's home with the information the kid need.  He has done his homework and has a plan for them educationally.  Knowing the exact gpa and test scores they need. Many times getting the kid graduated a semester early and getting them to the university and working out with the team before graduation. Which blows the parents away who tell hime not one other recruiter has given them that information. 

He makes sure to have a great relationship with the coach knowing which coaches exaggerate and by how much.  If a coach says I have a kid that is 6'2" and run a 4.4 Jay knows the kid is probably 5'10 and a 1/2 and runs a 4.7 because of the relationship and the consistency in his recruiting.

He now is prepping his coaches to be just as effective having specific recruiting teaching meetings where he shows them how to watch the film of a recruit.  More than the highlights, do they get up quickly after a play, do they run off the field or walk.  Film shows more than just the big plays and big hits.  Just the other day He told a coach, measure the kid shoes off, mark the wall, in front of the coach so he knows the right way to tell us size. 

The coaches go to the recruits until weekends in December and January, that is usually when the recruits come on an "official" visit and come to the school. This is a 48 hour period when the school can pay for the kid to fly or drive to the school, pay for their hotel, meals and entertainment while visiting.  The kids get to see the facilities and the campus.  Check out their school of interest, be it business, engineering, education, medical or whatever their fancy.  They get to see the dorms and where they can eat if they are awarded a meal card.  They also meet current players who's job is to host them and answer questions they might have.


Here at Weber State some of the entertainment or activities are tubing and surfing.  This obviously is to provide fun and entertainment.

But it also gives Jay an opportunity to see the recruits toughness, ability to overcome fears (surprising how many kids are afraid of water, snow, cold, new unfamiliar things)

And it is very entertaining for the spectators :)

Here is a room full of recruits, their parents, players, coaches and a few wives.

 This was just before one of the recruits stood up, hushed the room and announced his commitment to Weber State.  There is such electricity and excitement that surrounds a kid who valiantly pledges to a school.  It's not often it is announced like this but I have heard it many times as I am near Jays phone when a recruit calls to commit.  I love it!

Jay is often stopped to meet or visit with fans.  

I imagine that at sometimes my "Jay Pride" gets annoying but he is just so good at what he does.  I absolutely love watching him.  He has always requested I come to the dinners with the recruits to talk to the parents.  Many times all I was able to get in was a "hello how are you" and was super shy to talk to them.  Felt like I was just there adding to the restaurants total bill.  Until I stepped out of my shell and had a fantastic conversation with the parents.  Their son committed the next day and I dubbed myself the closer.  And with that mindset I have closed many deals....(LOL) Not really BUT the symphony of coaches, their wives, the players who host, the athletic department and support staff who all give endless time, energy and love to be in those saturday fights to win 12 games. 

City Creek, the Happiest Birthday place.

I have such a hard time when it comes to gifts for Jay.

Last year, shortly before his birthday, we went together to Sportsman Warehouse and looked at fishing poles. We spent a good 2 hours looking and talking to a salesman. When we left there was a basic nonverbal agreement that I was to get it for his birthday.

Well, the day before his big day I was complaining to my sister that He was so hard to buy for and I never knew what to get him and blah, blah, blah. I ended up getting him some lame rib rack and junk for the grill. It wasn't until a week later when he I was taking him to the airport, it hit me, I was supposed to get him the 'carrot stick' fishing pole for his birthday.

I didn't even remember when he opened his birthday cards and took the checks out and said, I guess I'll get my fishing pole with this money.

I am such a dork.

He did get the pole and he did lose it on the bottom of the Teton river.... :/

Bottom line, I can plan a party way better than buy a gift.

I like to do more than dinner and a movie, especially for special occasions like a birthday. Although dinner and movie takes way less effort :) I thought maybe I could get an amazing race put together. But wanted to be with the people we had invited so the next idea was a mall scavenger hunt.

AND It just so happened that City Creek Mall was opening the this exact weekend.

Perfect timing!

When I told my sister about it, she laughed and said I did that in 6th grade.

When I asked Jay if he was excited, the night before the party, his response made me wonder if we should just go to dinner and a movie :/

I browsed through pinterest for ideas and inspiration.

I found this site where I purchased the 'Amazing mall scavenger hunt' and modified it for our group and mall. It had great ideas.

Here's how the night went...

We had 7 couples divided into 2 teams.

The clock started at 8:04pm

They had 45 minutes to find as many items as possible on their lists

The team with the most points wins.

To decide the winner of the trophy and $100 cupcake the couple within the winning team to discretely pick up the most items from different stores won. (There was some discrepancy in the judging that led to drawing a couples name from the bag and it confirmed the winner)

It was so fun to watch everyone getting their pics and items

Picture with strangers kissing 10 pts

Picture of someone trying on the tackiest outfit 20 points

Picture of something your grandma would NOT want for Christmas 5 points

Picture with a security guard giving a peace sign 5 points

Picture with strangers spelling out YMCA with their bodies 15 points

The best part is they had YMC but then had to get red shirt girl to join in for the A

Awesome teamwork!

The hunt ended at Hagemanns Bakehouse and Cafe where the Judges (My babysitter, nephew and his friend) tallied points and we ate delicious cupcakes. Blake and Josie were the winners and we all had a good laugh.

The night was made by great friends and family that we love hanging out with!

Thanks!

**I forgot to post one of the best parts. Ty dressed like Waldo, the team to catch and get a pic got 30 points. Picture to come later.... A big thanks to Ty for subjecting himself to hearing people say "found him" all night.

I put my modified hunt here on google docs

Fairies

Alayna has a very special relationship with the tooth fairy.

She leaves the T.F. notes, playgrounds, houses and of course, teeth.

She tells me that the T.F. uses those teeth. They are ground down to make their bread.

But then she read Junie B. First Grader; toothless wonder.

And according to Junie when you lose a tooth it goes to a baby who grows a new one.

The best part about this very special relationship is

it is so real to her.

We pulled off the freeway and there was a man with

a cardboard sign asking for money.

She asked, "why he doesn't just get a hammer and

knock out all his teeth and have the Tooth Fairy

bring him$32? Then he could buy some food."

BUT...She is not the only one in this family who believes in Fairies....

Maybe it's genetic, but Jay believes in Fairies

In the Sock Fairy

A lovely little fairy, that picks up his socks since he can't walk barefoot on the carpet before bed.

So every night he gets in bed, pulls his socks off and tosses them to the side and magically by the time he gets in bed the next night they are gone and he pulls his socks off again and tosses them to the side.

He also believes in the T.P. Fairy.

This fairy is a little more popular, You know the one that takes the used cardboard roll of toilet paper off the holder and replaces it with the one sitting on top.

As for me, I keep hoping the weeding fairy and the cleaning fairy visit me.....soon.