Quote: Originally Posted By taz21 on 8/23/2007The question is how to change it for the betterment of all. Less drop downs would be a start. I'd say more kids start out being open to D3/D2 schools that are currently classified as a D2/D1 kid w/ the potential to drop down. This would allow newbs taking over crappy programs the ability to at least recruit the intial (lets say 35%) of drop downs on equal grounds as the rest of D3 coaches. They'd see them at the same time as everyone else. Perhaps make the next 15% or so to drop at the same time to all D3 programs, then the last 50% would drop as they currently do to give coaches w/ longer tenure and prestige some of the advantage that they've earned.
I really don't think the problem is with the number or distribution of drop downs. It's with learning to recruit. There have been several coaches who have made successes of crappy teams under the current system. (See Naismith, DIII Freedom Conference, King's College).
Face it, there's a learning curve to recruiting. A newbie isn't going to 'get it', no matter how much easier you make it to 'accidently' sign a good recruit. My first team in Allen World ended up 2-25. (This was before drop downs) But I hung in there and each season learned more.
Changing the recruiting process to the detriment of the coaches who've learned it isn't the answer.