Breaking Through the Mist of the Recruiting Wars

This time of year is a very important time in the evaluating process of recruiting. Staffs have thrown out tons of scholarship offers and already schools are fighting it out for top prospects.

With the new prospects of 2009 beginning to enroll for the next football season (some already attend classes), several different trends have arisen in this decade. Coincidentally, they have revolved around the most talked about programs in the country.

Mad SEC Scrambles and Squabbles

As the decade has continued, and more high-profile recruiters moving south, fights for talent have become more intense and fiery.

Currently, the SEC has four former NFL coaches and four that have won National Championships. Thus, competition is high.

Lane Kiffin has been the latest person to stoke the rivalry fires. From calling out Urban Meyer over an misinterpretation of rules to telling a recruit that if they went to South Carolina they would "end up pumping gas," he has brought excitement and notoriety to the program.

In addition, Kiffin made a very late push and locked up a good class.

The SEC has a reputation for recruiting dirty and high-stakes wars. Auburn's Limo-gate is one of only many numerous stories of tactics to gain interest and attention.

It's part of a nasty war of rivalries, but it's what makes SEC football so entertaining and full or stories.

Notre Dame Tries to Rebuild Reputation

One of the most prestigious programs in college football history, Notre Dame, has fallen on hard times performance-wise.

A program which has its own TV network and heritage has hardly proved worthy of that reputation, though they have tried hard.

Under Charlie Weis, the Irish made two straight BCS games, but then went into free-fall mode.

Regardless, the program continues to recruit well, landing recruits from Big Ten rivals and from the home of their biggest rival in USC.

Obviously, their product gets out so well with all their games carried on NBC and the tradition that follows the name.

Only time will tell if the Irish can return to glory. They might even improve dramatically heading into 2009.

But the Irish still have a while to go to be considered among the elites in the game. Great recruiting could help expedite the process.

USC and OSU Dominate Conference Recruiting

No two programs have had recruiting dominance over their conferences like USC and Ohio State, especially in recent years.

Pete Carroll is probably the best recruiter and has a nearly infinite talent pool in California to choose from. Plus the reputation of Southern California and the spotlight is also a huge draw.

But don't overlook Jim Tressel, who seemingly puts monopolies on the best talent in the Ohio football factory.

But in recent years, his reach has extended deeper South, dipping into SEC territory and landing some top-flight talent.

And as evidence shows, some of those Southern kids don't mind playing in the North.

There are some philosophical differences between the two:
Carroll goes for the best players and uses a large amount of offers; Tressel is more selective and wants more personable players.

Both do things the right way, and work hard not to rub players the wrong way. It's hard to find parents talk badly about either coach in the process.

However, in recent years, both teams have seen their rivals dip into their home states for talent. But don't doubt that Carroll or Tressel can't land whoever they really want.

As recruiting gets tighter, the wars continue and will intensify more and more. But in an era where freshmen become superstars right away, everyone is looking for the next Terrelle Pryor or Julio Jones.

Thus, it means much more than it has in a long time in an era of parity.