This time of year is large when talking to a male high school senior. Homecoming celebrations let them cut it up on the dance floor. Midterms give them an opportunity to shape up before semester finals. Some of these youngsters are even fortunate enough to have game on the hardwood. And for several of them, that means the opportunity to go to the next level by choosing their future college.
Two coaches that will be hard on the recruitment trail have to be Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg and Miami's Frank Haith.
It's only been a few weeks, but the refurbished ACC looks to be a success on the football field. The new-blood Hurricanes and Hokies are standing on their own, with a 3-1 conference record to boot (all right, one of those victories was against Duke).
University presidents Donna Shalala (UM) and Charles Steger (VT) must be patting themselves on the back. They've shown that their schools can hang with the tradition of the Atlantic Coast. That is, at least in one sport.
But ACC tradition is bigger than it's record in BCS bowl games mainly held by Florida State. It involves programs with a leg up in smaller athletics, such as golf, tennis, and a dominant program in women's soccer. Most of all, though, it's men's basketball that exudes that most pride in this collection of Eastern Seaboard schools.
Carolina and Duke blue, Fear the Turtle, the Wahoos of Charlottesville, and the rest of Tobacco Road help make up 50 years of coaching legends, intense rivalry, and championship ball.
Call me crazy, but I don't think Coach Greenberg bull rushes to the front of my brain when you talk ACC pride. Neither does Coach Haith, who's in his first year fronting the Hurricane program. So, if you were a parent looking to send your boy to one of these average-at-best teams, what would he have to gain?
Now, sure, the coach can come to your house and pitch to you, "We won't get beat up by Syracuse and Connecticut this year." Instead, you get to hear, "These days, we get basted by Duke, UNC, Maryland, and Georgia Tech." Not very comforting words for dads everywhere.
Okay, what else do you two have to sell?
Both teams have the backing of Big East experience. Unfortunately, that big name recognition hasn't yielded much success, especially when it comes to NCAA tournament berths.
Then there are the nit-picky excuses for why your choice isn't with them. Coral Gables is too close to South Beach, an educational distraction if you've ever heard of one. Blacksburg's winters aren't very human-friendly; with recent seasons containing postponed and cancelled games due to blizzards.
It looks like the interest is fading for these two fine institutions. Then, out of nowhere, the coaches pull out their big guns.
Football.
Huh?
The athletic department works together, so football helps basketball, and vice-versa, to an extent. Just think of it, added exposure to the football-crazy masses, as well as first dibs on prime seats for big-time games. In a way, they're an extended part of the ACC football family.
This tactic starts turning your head around. It shows the resourcefulness of the coaches to use their biggest asset. Plus, that would give you a shot to visit your son, while conveniently watching one of those classic gridiron battles.
And there you have it, another victory for the newbie coaches of the ACC. Sure, this is a hypothetical situation, but the question begs to be asked.
What would you do in their shoes?
Leave a Comment