Without pretending that I know everything, I want to make a couple observations that may help milk & red:

To milk's point: with some obfuscation, the responses that recruits give to phone calls, letters or coach calls fall into only 3 categories: (a) available to be recruited, (b) backup option, or (c) no chance.  It is important to correctly identify which messages are in which category without ascribing any significance to the content of the message itself.  If you get a "no chance" response, then that will never change!   Perhaps unfairly, some recruits will give a backup message to a lower prestige school.   Although I have read many forum posts on this point, I have not seen anything to contradict my sense that this is simply random and you cannot influence the likelihood of an initial "no chance" message.   (To more expert players: I don't care whether it should or shouldn't be this way, but I wouldn't mind a clarification on this if I am wrong).

To red's question: I get buyer's remorse whenever I sign a recruit that didn't reject a visit or two at first!  As long as you have ascertained that the recruit is either available or backup option, then you may send scouting reports to get some recruiting credit/advantage.  Clearly, recruits slightly lower their standards with each successive cycle that a higher division/prestige school is not putting in recruiting effort.  At some point, your school's prestige + the credit you have received for non-rejected recruiting efforts to that cycle mean that the recruit will, first, accept visits and, later or simultaneously, show as considering your school.   Several times, I have pulled down recruits, by sending 5 or 10 scouting trips plus a home visit and campus visit in the same cycle, only to have the visits rejected, but show up as considering my school anyway!  The thing that you cannot tell is whether some higher division or higher prestige school had put in recruiting effort during the same cycle that you attempted the visits, but not enough to get on the considering list (or without offering a schollie).  If so, then that may explain the rejection at that time, but it is not a final no (as in the response to milk's point).

It's just like trying to score with women:  Sometimes no means no and sometimes no means she needs to be convinced by the subtle application of humor, ostentation, or tequila (probably all three).   As long as you are aware that you may be subject to prosecution on an allegation of date rape either way its all good!  

 

Thanks rogelio I never knew you could make a recruit drop with scouting trips. I never wanted to send many scouting trips because when I've done that in the past I got the same report twice and I thought it was a waste of funds. I honestly am not upset about player 1 as another school of the same prestige pulled him down first and I'm willing to bet my next paycheck that he knew what you just explained. But with player 2 I just find it weird that he would decline a HV or CV when he is clearly a D2 guy now. I eventually got the recruit but it seems like with him rejecting me in at least 2 cycles it leaves room for other coaches who may not have been paying close attention to just come in and snatch the guy. Maybe this is the purpose but it makes me feel prestige isn't as important as I initially thought. (not including battles) 

evals are a key part - at least used to be - a key part of pulling down a recruit. If you were not using evals and the other guy was, he had a big edge in tactics

yeah... that plus he was within 500 miles. Well, now i know from here on out and maybe that will help me take advantage of the prestige I've worked to build. 

Posted by rogelio on 12/27/2011 10:35:00 AM (view original):
Without pretending that I know everything, I want to make a couple observations that may help milk & red:

To milk's point: with some obfuscation, the responses that recruits give to phone calls, letters or coach calls fall into only 3 categories: (a) available to be recruited, (b) backup option, or (c) no chance.  It is important to correctly identify which messages are in which category without ascribing any significance to the content of the message itself.  If you get a "no chance" response, then that will never change!   Perhaps unfairly, some recruits will give a backup message to a lower prestige school.   Although I have read many forum posts on this point, I have not seen anything to contradict my sense that this is simply random and you cannot influence the likelihood of an initial "no chance" message.   (To more expert players: I don't care whether it should or shouldn't be this way, but I wouldn't mind a clarification on this if I am wrong).

To red's question: I get buyer's remorse whenever I sign a recruit that didn't reject a visit or two at first!  As long as you have ascertained that the recruit is either available or backup option, then you may send scouting reports to get some recruiting credit/advantage.  Clearly, recruits slightly lower their standards with each successive cycle that a higher division/prestige school is not putting in recruiting effort.  At some point, your school's prestige + the credit you have received for non-rejected recruiting efforts to that cycle mean that the recruit will, first, accept visits and, later or simultaneously, show as considering your school.   Several times, I have pulled down recruits, by sending 5 or 10 scouting trips plus a home visit and campus visit in the same cycle, only to have the visits rejected, but show up as considering my school anyway!  The thing that you cannot tell is whether some higher division or higher prestige school had put in recruiting effort during the same cycle that you attempted the visits, but not enough to get on the considering list (or without offering a schollie).  If so, then that may explain the rejection at that time, but it is not a final no (as in the response to milk's point).

It's just like trying to score with women:  Sometimes no means no and sometimes no means she needs to be convinced by the subtle application of humor, ostentation, or tequila (probably all three).   As long as you are aware that you may be subject to prosecution on an allegation of date rape either way its all good!  

This was extremely helpful, thanks.