Thoughts on recruiting news
by Louhawk on Jan 7, 2012 4:09 PM PST
Email
Print
I've noticed lately that there have been more than a few fan shots/posts announcing recruiting info for the Cougs. I think getting information is great but there is a slight problem with this. I am not a writer on this site or a moderator or anything like that, so it may be wrong for me to post this, and I hope I don't offend anyone with this, but the truth is, we have a writer who's whole focus is on reporting recruiting news. He is pretty good at it, so maybe instead of posting a link to a "new recruit", wait a little while because Kyle probably already knows about it and is planning a piece on it. Like I said, I could be wrong for posting this, but if I was working on recruiting news, all the posts might start to irritate me. One last time, I am not trying to be rude or high and mighty or anything like that, I just think we should show a little more respect for Kyle and his work.
This FanPost does not necessarily reflect the views of the site's writers or editors, who may not have verified its accuracy. It does, however, reflect the views of this particular fan, which is just as important as the views of our writers or editors.
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Hah thanks for this.
You’re right about me knowing. I hear about them as soon as everyone else (sometimes sooner). It gets frustrating sometimes when new people sign up just to break the news, but for the most part, the community understands I’ll be along shortly with an evaluation. I think the FanShots are ok, but I tend to agree about the FanPosts.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 7, 2012 5:11 PM PST via Android app reply actions
I TOTALLY disagree.
A semi-informed piece can still be written after the news is broken even if you were awesome enough to be so cool that you found it before everyone else. Your “importance” isn’t being undermined when an enthusiastic fan breaks some news.
You should want people to sign up and break news. You should want to expand the popularity of this site.
That’s what FanShots are for- quick hits of what fans (the community of this site) find. That’s the point of having a fan-ran site. The more people there are sharing what they find the better.
BlazersEdge is a perfect example of that. You should be encouraging the community to post and use their finds/input like they do to make OUR site better instead of worrying that someone is stealing your thunder.
"I love Pluto. Everybody loves Pluto."
Agree with both.
Looking at the recent spout of FanShots and FanPosts it seems that there is a heavy mix of skimming headlines from CougFan involving new commitments as well as players expressing interest. Kyle tends to only do a write-up when a player commits which seems perfectly fine to me.
Given that the first community guideline is that this is not a message board I’m guessing that there won’t be many write-ups about guys with WSU high on their list, taking a visit, or having an offer. This kind of news would fit a FanShot perfectly to me. Everyone could go “Omgs this guy would be awesome, sign him up ASAP!” while saving Kyle’s write-ups or FanPosts for write-ups and evaluations of actual commits.
I think an idea for a good FanPost would be someone who disagrees with Kyle’s write-up. Give some insight as to why, what exactly you’re looking at that differs, and other things of the sort.
I’m new here myself so maybe this is all worth less than the 10 seconds of your time it took read it.
by klokkins on Jan 9, 2012 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm not worring that someone else is stealing my thunder.
I never said my importance was being undermined. Also, I agree about the FanShot thing — that’s why I said it. You’re missing the point, though. People have been posting them incorrectly in FanPosts.
Finally, BlazersEdge has nothing to do with CougCenter.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 9, 2012 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Also
even if you were awesome enough to be so cool that you found it before everyone else.
Don’t be a dick.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 9, 2012 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
What does it sound like when you read other people's writing in your head?
I didn’t think that sounded too dickish, but then it wasn’t critical of me.
Actually, my question above could be an interesting off-topic post.
Carry on.
I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh
I was being a thunder stealing dick.
I should have known better than to post my opinion before Kyle had a chance to post it for me. Go Cougs.
"I love Pluto. Everybody loves Pluto."
Thanks for clarifying
I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh
Your point was seemingly not well taken
(see new FanPost).
I wouldn’t mind seeing the occasional recruiting discussion involving recruits who have yet to commit. Also, thoughts on the class in general, particular recruits we may be getting, or really want to get…etc. Essentially trying to occasionally expand the recruiting discussion further.
I like the recruit write-ups, if he can take it further I’d enjoy reading it. Just a thought.
I've been working on a recruiting primer
that talks about all of our recruits, which ones I think are the best, etc.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 8, 2012 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
Yes.
So you think you might cut me some slack? It’s pretty tough to find faults watching a video that’s designed to make the kid look like a million bucks. I take a lot of stuff into account. I don’t just say things like “OMG he’s so fast he runs a 4.5 he can play RB too I love him”, I try and look at his hands, feet, separation, technique, etc. I don’t have access to all of the tape the coaches do, but I do have access to some private video, that I won’t post, from some of the kid’s families. I give my analysis, which is far from concrete. All I try to do is be fair and unbiased.
I stopped using the “standard caveat: this is a youtube highlight video” disclaimer at the beginning of my evaluation posts because I thought it was well known what my job here entails.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 8, 2012 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
It's a good question.
I don’t know what kind of football background you have for being able to tell the difference between good techniques or if a kid just relies on his size or speed.
You did interview a commit recently. Scouts will often talk to kids’s coaches about things that they do good and bad since they often only get to see the highlight reel that rarely contains bad hands, feet, separation, technique, etc.
Keep in mind that even if a kid has bad technique, depending on the position, technique can always be tweaked and changed while size and speed cannot be taught.
Questioning my background in football is kind of pointless.
If I tell you my background, and you don’t find it sufficient, therefore think my opinion doesn’t matter, why should anyone listen to your opinion of me? What’s your background on evaluating talent evaluators? You see how it’s a slippery slope?
I never claimed to be an expert, but I trust in Nuss, Craig, Grady, and Brian, and I don’t think they would have asked me to come on had they, in turn, not believed in me. (I don’t list Mark because he was brought on after me. It’s pretty clear Mark and I are BFFs.)
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 8, 2012 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
Amazing...
I wish I had photoshop.
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @TheSoCalCoug
by SoCalCoug on Jan 9, 2012 9:45 AM PST up reply actions 4 recs
Kyle makes an important point
Did any of the authors here play sports at its highest levels? Nope.
Does that disqualify us from making an informed opinion? Nope.
One thing we do better than most everyone else is we simply pay attention – to an extreme degree. It doesn’t matter how “lay” a person is, if you spend enough time studying something, you’re going to learn it. We’ve all spent ungodly amounts of time paying attention to the things we’re passionate about. For Kyle, that’s watching hours and hours of videos of recruits. I know coaches want you to believe that the only qualified opinion on certain subjects — namely player evaluation and scheme — is that of the initiated, that of a coach. But I find that to be little more than a power play, and the influx of statistical analysis division in professional sports franchises are evidence of that.
If not having a background in the highest levels of the sport was the prerequisite for having an opinion, we wouldn’t have the head football coach we have. As he would tell you, sometimes it’s a real asset to not be constrained by conventional wisdom that so many coaches fall victim to.
Anyone who doesn’t find us qualified to write what we write certainly has numerous other options for finding information they do find credible, and I would encourage them to go there.
by Jeff Nusser on Jan 9, 2012 4:17 PM PST up reply actions 8 recs
Jim Walden disagrees with you
and Puckett doesn’t know anything because he has never coached D1 football.
The thought that
users contributing news is something to be discouraged is ridiculous. We all know an in-depth evaluation is coming, there’s nothing wrong with a fanshot announcement.
by WinOrLoseCougsBooze on Jan 9, 2012 11:51 AM PST reply actions
"The thought that users contributing news is something to be discouraged is ridiculous"
I agree 100% Good thing that was not the point of the post.
Did you actually read the post?
That’s now what Louhawk suggest. That’s also not what I said in my initial comment. I don’t want to discourage anyone, rather, I want to encourage them to channel their creativity towards the correct avenue (FanPost vs. FanShot).
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 9, 2012 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
Just of a thought and off topic for this reply
As someone who is new and has read most of the recent FanPosts along with the inevitable response from yourself stating that it should be a FanShot, I have a suggestion. One thing I noticed is when you are in an article the FanPost section(on the right) is linked twice before getting to the FanShot section below it. It currently shows FanPosts then RecentPosts, FanPosts (again) then the Fanshots. I for one read the new article for the day and then look at the unread FanPosts linked on the side, for a while i had no idea that the FanShots were even there because i only noticed the FanPosts linked next to article.
I know part of the reason people post incorrectly is because they are new and really don’t know the difference ( I didn’t when i first came here, but was reluctant to post anything other then comments on articles). However I think they just want to involve themselves in the community and see that the FanPosts get a much larger response from people then FanShots.
This is just my observation from a new set of eyes on what seems to be a recurring theme among FanPosts vs FanShots and figured it would shoot the suggestion your way.
Fixed it
The FanPosts was built into a different widget, and then I had the FanPosts widget in there, too. Took out the second widget.
by Jeff Nusser on Jan 11, 2012 10:06 AM PST up reply actions
Personally, I don't think more voices is ever a bad thing.
I think it’s great that people love to come here and post news – says something about what we’ve become that they want to participate in the site and become a part of what we do. My only caveat is the same as Kyle’s — just know the difference between a FanPost and FanShot and use the correct one.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
