In light of the recent recruiting success, I’ve been having some thoughts about the near future.

Perusing the current 2009 recruiting stats at DTI:

http://dottingthei.com/index.php/know-thy-enemy/

I wonder if the early singings is more of a sign of modern recruiting, than simply good getting better for the Buckeyes. The recruiting game gets more and more competitive as time goes on. This can only lead to earlier and earlier contacting, and contacting mechanisms, to attract the attention of star recruits. Recruiting has always been competitive, but it seems to be reaching higher and higher degrees of difficulty. Texas and the Buckeyes seem to be leading the way here (with Texas recruiting almost entirely instate). But the national recruiting stage is a ferocious competition.

As good recruits commit earlier and earlier, the competition to get decommits, should evolve to a higher level too. While this is nothing new, I would expect it to become more and more prevalent as time goes on. Essentially, Robinhood (or shall we now coin the term “ZookerHood”?) tactics of robbing the rich to give to the poor may become the dominant recruiting method. If a lower tier school cannot compete with the upper tier schools, I would expect them to curtail their early recruiting efforts, and then target potential commits as their *primary* means of getting good recruits. It seems logical, if only a bit theoretical, at this point.

Measure/Countermeasures the chase will continue….

You need a good ol’ IBM Model M keyboard, and if necessary, an Adesso ADP-PU21 USB/PS2 adapter (I’m typing on this combination right now). Manufactured in the late ’80s, they’re rated for millions of keystrokes using the “Buckling Spring” technology developed by the old IBM typewriter division. It has the feel of an old IBM Selectric. It’s the only keyboard I’ll use. I have about 30 of them (but one lasts a lifetime). They’re loud and obnoxious, but that’s part of their charm. I say we make these the Official Keyboard of The Ohio State University!