NMBuff - think you came a little strong there when all you had was that in your experience most kids from southeast New Mexico are Oklahoma fans and that they've got a better team. CU was early to offer Landry Jones and even got an unofficial visit during his junior year, we were leading in his recruitment after his official visit to CU during his senior year, we won our game against Oklahoma in 2007 and we beat out Texas for Darrell Scott & Oklahoma for Lynn Katoa and Jon Major during that recruiting cycle.
But it's laughable to say that we lost out on him because he didn't like our depth chart? :wow:
To each his own, but I grew up in southern NM. I know the people and the culture and Norman (near where my brother lives) reminds me of southern NM. It was a factor, regardless if you want to admit it or not. The weather is also similar too.
Recruiting wars are definitely one of those things where there are too many factors to take into consideration. Some kids want to play for the elite schools while others look for immediate PT; some look at academics while others want a "party" school.
LBs don't need protection and as long as the DTs can chew up some blocks they'll be fine. Depth isn't a problem there. Scott saw the potential for the OL and run blocking should always be easier than pass blocking. It also helped that Texas changed their RB coach just before NLOI or the fact that his nephew was also on the team. But there always seems to be more blue chip LBs and RBs than QBs and most blue chip QBs don't mind going into a SYSTEM (see Meyer's or Caroll's) and maybe sitting out for a couple of years while they wait to get their turn. Look at the QB depth of Cal or USC. The top CO prospect is going to Cal even though he'll sit on the bench for 2 years, but they can put guys in the league.
Oh and about OU, yeah, we beat them out for some recruits, but we won some battles, not the war. The year we beat OU they still went on to win the Big 12 while we went to the Independence Bowl. Promising things loomed, but you don't become a powerhouse with promise. You become a powerhouse over time with consistency and a commitment to winning from the administration to the AD to the coaching staff to recruitment.
Cody being on the team has definitely been a factor, but the staff has failed to get and develop a 3* QB (see Bradford, McCoy, Flacco, Ryan). A 3* QB is going to expect to redshirt and yet the staff still can't land one? Ballenger left because he felt he wasn't getting a good shot with Hansen and Cody? 2 QBs on the depth chart and he gives up? How many QBs did UW have last year that went down? How many scholarship QBs do most teams have?
Why would Tebow #2 or the next Barkley be interested in joining this team? BJax couldn't throw accurate passes over 10 yards down the field in year 1. We ran a solid offense in year 2, but abandoned in year 3 for the latest fad. Year 4 has yet another new offense. I'd see TEs that are solid, but graduating soon. I'd see undersized WRs that while they can catch can't get any YAC or fail to get separation meaning I'm going to throw the ball OOB or take a hit. I'd see an OL that is getting dominated. Yeah....those aren't factors.
Oh and if you say OU isn't a better team than CU then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'm willing to sell you. They've won the Big 12 more than all of the teams in the North combined (not verified). Yeah, we might beat them on the field, but they get up for every game in conference and get better as the season progresses, not worse like we have under Hawk just about every year.
