I am a B- school located within 50 miles of a perennial powerhouse in DII.  It is very frustrating to know that every season in recruiting that I will have to wait for the scraps from him to fill my scholarships.  I want to stay at my school since it is my alma mater.  What are some tips to catch up to his prestige so we are on an even playing field?  I have already switched defenses so I can focus on a different type of recruit.  I seem to have the same amount of scholarships each year which I know I could tweak but it may cost me in the short term.  Also, I am trying to find late bloomers that can develop but he continues to reload.  Any other ideas from someone who has faced a similar challenge?

You're overestimating the importance of prestige in DII, it really isn't that important.  Sure its something to take into account when determining whether or not to battle someone, but you have to look at the big picture.  In DII I took the following factors into account when considering a battle, in order of their importance:
1. Number of open scholarships
2. Distance advantage
3. Conference prestige (for postseason success/bonus recruiting money)
4. School prestige

If I felt like I had an advantage in those categories (in particular the first two), then I would go ahead and battle for the recruit.  As a B- prestige, if you have a distance and scholarship advantage, you can absolutely win a battle against an A+ team.

The real importance of prestige in DII is that A+ teams will have immediate access to better recruits right off the bat, while B- teams will have to pull those same players down (if they are even recruitable at all).

We are in the same conference and have the same amount of open scholarships so to win the battle I would have to outspend him.  What would the prestige differnce be worth in recruiting.  5 home visits? or more?

Posted by carter40 on 3/17/2015 2:42:00 PM (view original):
We are in the same conference and have the same amount of open scholarships so to win the battle I would have to outspend him.  What would the prestige differnce be worth in recruiting.  5 home visits? or more?

At D2? Not even close to that -- I would put it at less than 2 HV's, and even that's probably overestimating, assuming the two of you got on the recruit in identical cycles. 

If the player is worth it (this is the big IF), ponder sending a start or guaranteed minutes. One of the advantages of being a developing program is you have more freedom to make those sorts of moves. An established program has to think about the impact starting a freshman the entire regular season might have on the overall program. 

The first question you need to ask yourself is if the player is worth a battle. I say this because of mistakes I've made myself. All too often in the past I would battle for a player and then realize later another similar player could have been mine without battling and losing those extra recruiting dollars. If a player exists who is similar to the one you want, consider getting that guy instead and avoiding a battler. Sure, it's not your first choice, but if there's not a great deal of difference, is it worth battling for the guy? Even if you win, you'll have spent more money and possibly cost yourself other players.

Posted by bistiza on 3/17/2015 9:46:00 PM (view original):
The first question you need to ask yourself is if the player is worth a battle. I say this because of mistakes I've made myself. All too often in the past I would battle for a player and then realize later another similar player could have been mine without battling and losing those extra recruiting dollars. If a player exists who is similar to the one you want, consider getting that guy instead and avoiding a battler. Sure, it's not your first choice, but if there's not a great deal of difference, is it worth battling for the guy? Even if you win, you'll have spent more money and possibly cost yourself other players.

Of course, if you win you also deprive the school you beat of signing that nice player.  Maybe then it's him that has to waste recruiting dollars and end up chasing secondary targets.  Maybe he takes multiple walk-ons (which really isn't THAT big of a deal), but could cause him to have a less than stellar season, possibly dropping his prestige a level or two.  Also things to consider.