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Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports and I have been friends since the late 1970s. We agree on most subjects, especially the recruiting process, but we agree to disagree on three issues that are frequent topics of conversation on the Internet.
1. Lemming predicts that Notre Dame will once again be a national power in a year or two.
I have serious doubts.
2. We agree that the Big Ten has hit a low point in comparison to other major conferences in the country.
But Lemming believes the Big Ten will rebound quickly.
I'm not so sure.
3. Based on the decreasing number of All-America and All-Big Ten players being developed in Illinois in recent years, I believe the talent level of Illinois high school football players is overrated.
Based on the number of Illinois products in the NFL, more than any other region of the country outside Los Angeles, Lemming insists the talent in Illinois is surpassed only by Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Your thoughts?
If you watched some college football games last weekend (how could you miss them?), you have to admit the Big Ten isn't ready to play USC or Oklahoma. The conference lacks athleticism, speed on defense and skilled players and it doesn't figure to get better by playing Montana State, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana/Lafayette, Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Temple.
But Lemming insists it will happen, as it did in the SEC, Big 12 and Pac-10.
"The Big Ten didn't have great recruiting in recent years," Lemming said. "But Ohio State has great players, a lot of NFL draftees, and Michigan has good players who simply don't fit into coach Rich Rodriguez' new spread offense.
"With outstanding recruiters such as Ron Zook, Tim Brewster and Danny Hope, the Big Ten will experience a resurgence. But you need four good recruiting classes in a row before you can become a dominant program.
"Look what Zook did in one year at Illinois. You must have an aggressive recruiting staff, a relentless style and a winning personality to attract talented players, not just one or two coaches but an entire staff. You need more than just a good ole boy coach. You need relentless recruiting like the entire SEC has."
Lemming points out the Big Ten is beginning to attract the cream of the crop. Ohio State got Terrelle Pryor, the nation's No. 1 player last year. Illinois got Arrelious Benn, the nation's top-rated receiver in his class. And Minnesota signed the best players in Indiana, the Tidewater of Virginia and Dallas, Texas.
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Ok, I hate to break it down like this but I believe it is necessary! First, my creditentials, I am a former late 90's SEC football player and track athlete, I finished High School in Georgia, I have family member's who have played for a South Carolina High School state powerhouse. I am a fanatic about college football period, I have read Southern Fried Football, Every saturday in autumn etc.I have recruiting list from as far back as 84 in basketball and football.
Here's the fact's traditionally the big ten has always been a talented conference. The SEC has gotten overall better in the last 8 years. My point is Lemming is correct! The only reason the SEC is Better now is because the Caliber of players that on a national and local level were going to FSU and MIAMI in the last 7-8 began to
attend SEC schools, if you don't believe me look at the downturn years that both FSU and MIAMI have had during the this decade-magically at the sametime Da SEC became a deeper conference. How can two teams talent benefit a whole conference you ask, well if you look at the record posted by both of those teams against sec opponents and there average rankings usually in the top 3 during the early 90's to 2003 you will see that these teams were leaps and bounds better than most if not all SEC teams..especially Miami. Now with the emergence of USF, UCF along with Miami's new success with their rejuvenated recruiting approach the SEC will be getting less and less of its share of the best players in the south. Which in 3 years they will be back to being the consistant 2 or 3 national quality team conference as it was when I played in the late 90's. The SEC west didn't even matter until 2000 when LSU had a breakout year. Still the east has more Championships. How does this translate to the BIG TEN?
Let me explain. Talent in general is cyclical so as the big ten over the last 20-25 years have been at least a solid 5 teams that could compete on a national level (until the last 2 years although during the 2006-07 bowl season they were 2-1 agianst the SEC) so shall it be again and like lemming said it will happen quickly. Alot of guys who have football talent in the midwest either went out of the region to play college ball or focused on basketball. If anyone is questioning the athletes in the midwest lets look at the fact that the state of Illinois had the highest percentage of players in the NBA with 24 two years ago and the only states that had higher were California and New York both with 25 and double the Illinois state population. Keep in mind that the kids start playing hoops on at least a competitive neighborhood level at 7 and 8 in some inner cities in the region and the sport of basketball develops agility and other athletic qualities at an early age for kids in the region which is why I believe that alot of SEC skill players don't pan out in the pro's because they posses speed only. And By the way these hoop guys become great football players with height like Plaxico Buress at 6'5. And look at the fact that the Big Ten has the all time wins lead vs. SEC including bowl games and not just with the same teams every year(Florida,Tennesee, Georgia, Lsu of recent) like when Michigan state beat Florida. So, the Big Ten hasn't fell to far, they just haven't had enthusiastic coaches and consistency in recruiting. Now with more getting media attention and often winning you can get a Terrel Prior to play football instead of Hoops. Bottom line the league has had alot of teams with young players who are now maturing along with good recruiting that will only get better. Lastly, with all the inner cities in the region: Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit, Minn-st.Paul, Pittsburg, KC, St.Louis, Indy and Cincy there should be no shortage of depth of talent for the conference and those kids much as those in the southern region that are and will be going to Miami and FSU, are returning home to The BIG 10. I could go on giving more stats but I am at work and I been on here to long cause I type slow..bottom though the BIG 10 will be back as will ND and College Football will be better for it!! But right now my oppinion is that the Big 12 is the best conference..The Man is OUT