[fullmetal]

The Stanford connection is, of course, Andrus Peat, the #1 recruit this year from the state of Arizona.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/fo...index.html

[fullmetal]

The Stanford connection is, of course, Andrus Peat, the #1 recruit this year from the state of Arizona.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/fo...index.html

[washingtonismoney]

Could almost write the same story about Washington.

[washingtonismoney]

Could almost write the same story about Washington.

[Redrum]

Helped that Arizona program was run by a crazy man who had replaced a truly world-class crazy man.  ASU missed the boat.  They were right on the verge (with whatever recruits they used to build the team) but never made it to being the monster program they've always seemed capable of being.  Guess having lots and lots of really good looking women walking around in shorts and flip-flops doesn't have the power everyone thinks it should.  Personally,  I think Dennis Erickson's  Old Guy persona hurt.  Fair or unfair,  he just gave off a  mailing-it-in vibe.  Graham,  for whatever the flaws of his too-obvious ambition,  is more like Harbaugh.  Energy, player buy-in and performance seem to follow him.  (He's just not worthy of that kind of player loyalty,  but that's another story).

I've been glad to see two programs with some real recruiting potential underachieve.  Now, under the two-division system,  maybe strong Arizona schools that can chew up USC occasionally. 

[Redrum]

Helped that Arizona program was run by a crazy man who had replaced a truly world-class crazy man.  ASU missed the boat.  They were right on the verge (with whatever recruits they used to build the team) but never made it to being the monster program they've always seemed capable of being.  Guess having lots and lots of really good looking women walking around in shorts and flip-flops doesn't have the power everyone thinks it should.  Personally,  I think Dennis Erickson's  Old Guy persona hurt.  Fair or unfair,  he just gave off a  mailing-it-in vibe.  Graham,  for whatever the flaws of his too-obvious ambition,  is more like Harbaugh.  Energy, player buy-in and performance seem to follow him.  (He's just not worthy of that kind of player loyalty,  but that's another story).

I've been glad to see two programs with some real recruiting potential underachieve.  Now, under the two-division system,  maybe strong Arizona schools that can chew up USC occasionally. 

[pincemob]

I don't really understand how Arizona produces football talent.  The entire state is smaller than Los Angeles county.  The average temperature in August and September is 100 degrees.  What high school kid gets out of classes and wants to practice in that, in pads?  Is that even a safe activity?  Maybe the private schools all have indoor, air conditioned facilities, but what about the public school kids.  Do they hold practice at midnight (when it is only 80).  I would think after 4 years of that you'd want to get out of town, for sure.

[pincemob]

I don't really understand how Arizona produces football talent.  The entire state is smaller than Los Angeles county.  The average temperature in August and September is 100 degrees.  What high school kid gets out of classes and wants to practice in that, in pads?  Is that even a safe activity?  Maybe the private schools all have indoor, air conditioned facilities, but what about the public school kids.  Do they hold practice at midnight (when it is only 80).  I would think after 4 years of that you'd want to get out of town, for sure.

[fullmetal]

norcalcard:  the article does touch on that as well.

Arizona is a unique state to recruit.

For one thing, much of the top talent often is concentrated in a handful of programs. The state's top nine prospects in 2012 came from only five schools: Corona Del Sol, Scottsdale Saguaro, Chaparral, Chandler and Hamilton.

This also is a state where quality outweighs quantity.

"There are usually about 10 really talented kids in the state, and then there's a significant dropoff," said Adam Gorney, the West recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. "But those 10 kids are pretty much nationally recruited."

[fullmetal]

norcalcard:  the article does touch on that as well.

Arizona is a unique state to recruit.

For one thing, much of the top talent often is concentrated in a handful of programs. The state's top nine prospects in 2012 came from only five schools: Corona Del Sol, Scottsdale Saguaro, Chaparral, Chandler and Hamilton.

This also is a state where quality outweighs quantity.

"There are usually about 10 really talented kids in the state, and then there's a significant dropoff," said Adam Gorney, the West recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. "But those 10 kids are pretty much nationally recruited."

[terry]

Stanford pulled three players out of Arizona this year. In addition to Arizona's top recruit, Andrus Peat, Stanford also got Tucson's top player, Blake Martinez, as well as Zach Hoffpauir.

[terry]

Stanford pulled three players out of Arizona this year. In addition to Arizona's top recruit, Andrus Peat, Stanford also got Tucson's top player, Blake Martinez, as well as Zach Hoffpauir.