- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,449
- 59,476
The first step is admitting there's a problem! Signing only 4 of the top 60 recruits in your own state SCREAMS "there's a problem"! Glad to see McElwain sees this.
.McElwain making re-opening doors to high schools a priority
TAMPA -- Florida coach Jim McElwain made no bones about it on national signing day a few months ago: The Gators got beat recruiting in the state, and that can't happen going forward.
In the 2016 recruiting class, Florida signed just four of the Top 50 players in the state according to the 247Composite, while rivals Florida State and Miami signed eight and 10, respectively.
McElwain and his staff have rededicated themselves to taking back the state of late, starting with a massive push to get high school coaches on campus with their players so they can familiarize themselves with everything Florida has to offer. Particularly since McElwain has been pushing for all kinds of upgrades for the Gators.
"I think the biggest thing for us is to make sure we get them on our campus and they can see all the really good things that we have," McElwain said. "And yet, it's not for everybody. That's just the way it is. But our first and foremost, our emphasis is keeping the guys in-state. And that's what we're trying to do."
The Gators have done several things to boost perception across the state, from hosting a high school day during spring practice (dozens of coaches showed up and toured the facilities after watching practice), to decking out a rental bus with Gators logos and designs as McElwain tours the state on his spring speaking tour.
No detail is too small.
McElwain has also made a point of getting back to the grassroots work of rebuilding relationships in high schools across the state.
"According to the coaches and the way we're blitzing areas -- and then we'll go back out and redo some solo stuff basically -- it's been fantastic," McElwain said. "The reception from the high school coaches in what we're doing to open our doors to them is something that's been really well-received.
For McElwain, it's not doing anything out of the ordinary. Like with his players, he wants everyone to understand he has an open-door policy.
His genuine nature and the turnaround he's working to bring about at Florida should sell themselves.
"And yet that's kind of how I run business," he said. "It's nothing special, and yet they feel very comfortable any time they come up, spend time with us. Really, our ability to learn things from them and maybe they pick up a few things from us, that's what makes this profession so good."
http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/M...ing-doors-to-high-schools-a-priority-45057124
.McElwain making re-opening doors to high schools a priority
TAMPA -- Florida coach Jim McElwain made no bones about it on national signing day a few months ago: The Gators got beat recruiting in the state, and that can't happen going forward.
In the 2016 recruiting class, Florida signed just four of the Top 50 players in the state according to the 247Composite, while rivals Florida State and Miami signed eight and 10, respectively.
McElwain and his staff have rededicated themselves to taking back the state of late, starting with a massive push to get high school coaches on campus with their players so they can familiarize themselves with everything Florida has to offer. Particularly since McElwain has been pushing for all kinds of upgrades for the Gators.
"I think the biggest thing for us is to make sure we get them on our campus and they can see all the really good things that we have," McElwain said. "And yet, it's not for everybody. That's just the way it is. But our first and foremost, our emphasis is keeping the guys in-state. And that's what we're trying to do."
The Gators have done several things to boost perception across the state, from hosting a high school day during spring practice (dozens of coaches showed up and toured the facilities after watching practice), to decking out a rental bus with Gators logos and designs as McElwain tours the state on his spring speaking tour.
No detail is too small.
McElwain has also made a point of getting back to the grassroots work of rebuilding relationships in high schools across the state.
"According to the coaches and the way we're blitzing areas -- and then we'll go back out and redo some solo stuff basically -- it's been fantastic," McElwain said. "The reception from the high school coaches in what we're doing to open our doors to them is something that's been really well-received.
For McElwain, it's not doing anything out of the ordinary. Like with his players, he wants everyone to understand he has an open-door policy.
His genuine nature and the turnaround he's working to bring about at Florida should sell themselves.
"And yet that's kind of how I run business," he said. "It's nothing special, and yet they feel very comfortable any time they come up, spend time with us. Really, our ability to learn things from them and maybe they pick up a few things from us, that's what makes this profession so good."
http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/M...ing-doors-to-high-schools-a-priority-45057124
