[cardcrimson]

It comes down to a person's definition of a mistake.

If 124 people in a group of 130 trained and experienced people cannot correctly answer a question n their area of considerable training and experience, it's far more reasonable to conclude that the question was unusually difficult than to conclude that those 124 people somehow failed or in some way fell short of even the median requirements for success in that field.

We didn't offer Burr-Kirven because at 6'0, 200 pounds, we felt he was too slow to play safety (he is) and too small ever to play linebacker (he was.).  Ours was an opinion very widely shared.   It was similar to the recruitment, years earlier, of AJ Tarpley, although Tarp was bigger than BBK in high school. 

What made Tarp outstanding were his instincts, and it is very hard to scout for them.  Similar deal with Luke Kuechly, who got more offers but certainly could be used, if a casual fan wished, to indict the coaches of 24 of the best 25 teams in the country.  Coaches, with very few exceptions, didn't want Luke, AJ, or Ben  Happens all the time.

It comes down to effort.

The kid was a two time defensive player of the year and had grades good enough to get in. Yet, according to the posters here, our coaches never saw him play, because on paper he was too small or too slow. To your point, it's hard to scout for instincts. Impossible I'd argue if you don't see a kid play.

Even the Mercury News thought the kid was the best defensive player in the area for two years. How hard would it have been for someone to drive 8 miles away to see the kid play. Too hard, apparently, and we lost out on a pretty special kid.

[cardcrimson]

It comes down to a person's definition of a mistake.

If 124 people in a group of 130 trained and experienced people cannot correctly answer a question n their area of considerable training and experience, it's far more reasonable to conclude that the question was unusually difficult than to conclude that those 124 people somehow failed or in some way fell short of even the median requirements for success in that field.

We didn't offer Burr-Kirven because at 6'0, 200 pounds, we felt he was too slow to play safety (he is) and too small ever to play linebacker (he was.).  Ours was an opinion very widely shared.   It was similar to the recruitment, years earlier, of AJ Tarpley, although Tarp was bigger than BBK in high school. 

What made Tarp outstanding were his instincts, and it is very hard to scout for them.  Similar deal with Luke Kuechly, who got more offers but certainly could be used, if a casual fan wished, to indict the coaches of 24 of the best 25 teams in the country.  Coaches, with very few exceptions, didn't want Luke, AJ, or Ben  Happens all the time.

It comes down to effort.

The kid was a two time defensive player of the year and had grades good enough to get in. Yet, according to the posters here, our coaches never saw him play, because on paper he was too small or too slow. To your point, it's hard to scout for instincts. Impossible I'd argue if you don't see a kid play.

Even the Mercury News thought the kid was the best defensive player in the area for two years. How hard would it have been for someone to drive 8 miles away to see the kid play. Too hard, apparently, and we lost out on a pretty special kid.