February 6, 2007
Bobby Bowden: Who's your daddy?
Former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden relates a recruiting story for Yahoo, detailing the planning & preparation that goes in to recruiting top athletes -- only to end with a "Who's your daddy?" moment.
I made up my mind that Thursday night was do-or-die time with this recruit.I booked the flight to Fort Lauderdale and rented a nice Lincoln Town Car in order to impress him when I drove up. As I met him and his mother on the front porch, I immediately hugged his mom and told her how much I loved her and turned to Martavius and said, "Son, you're going to win a Heisman Trophy at Auburn University."
I followed them into the house and proceeded to sing his praises – nonstop – for an hour and a half. I said, "Son, you are the No. 1 recruit on my list, the best player I've ever seen, I'm going to make you my star, I'm going to make you my captain, and you're going to win two Heisman trophies at Auburn. Only Archie Griffin at Ohio State has ever done that." The more I talked, the bigger his eyes got, and the more he started leaning off the front of that chair. As most coaches will tell you, when you get a "leaner" you need to seal the deal right then and there. I wanted to stick my cell phone in his face and say, "you call that Bobby Bowden right now and tell him you don't want to go to FSU, that you want to be an Auburn Tiger."
However, high school coaches do a great job of prepping these young men by telling them not to get pressured into making a decision in front of the head coach but instead to wait until they can be alone with their family and loved ones so they can make a rational decision. So although he didn't verbally commit right there, I believed I had done the best selling job ever – I knew I had him.
As we walked back out onto the front porch, before I said goodbye, I turned to his mom one last time, hugged her neck and reminded her how much I loved her. Then, with all the sincerity I could muster, I looked that young man directly in the eyes and said, "I have never told anybody this before, but you're gonna win three Heisman trophies at Auburn. You'd win four, but you're gonna be in the NFL by then."
As I turned to leave, a long black, stretch limousine pulled up in front of the house. A little, short driver with one of those driver's caps and half-jackets on got out, walked all the way around the back of the limousine and opened the back door next to the curb.
Out stepped my ol' man.
He had scheduled his official visit for 7:30 p.m. on the same night.
As he waddled up that sidewalk wearing that silly-looking safari hat and those red/yellow/green sunglasses that he always wears, my eyes got as big as saucers and my jaw dropped.
My ol' man stepped up on the porch, said hello to that mama, shook Martavius' hand, turned to me, patted me on the head (in front of both of them) and said, "Terry, when you get home, your mama wants you to call her."
That's all he said!
You talk about dirty recruiting – it doesn't get any dirtier. Nobody has ever been "who's your daddy-ed" worse than that.
Great story. Read the whole thing.
Sounds just like BOWDEN THE CLOSER that's outlined in the AJC.
THE CLOSERWith national signing day less than 24 hours away, we asked the best "closer" in the business for five tips on how to seal the deal with recruits. Here's what Florida State's Bobby Bowden had to say:
1. The last 4-5 years we've gone into the last day of recruiting really not knowing where we stood, but we have managed to finish real strong. I get a lot of the credit, but the truth is the assistants do all the work. Maybe I get the credit because I'm so sweet.2. A lot of schools like to lock in all 24 or 25 guys before signing day. They kind of want to know that all the hay is in the barn. We don't like to do that. I like to leave at least eight or more spots open until signing day to give us a chance to get those special guys who decide late. We usually offer 16 guys to get those final eight.
3. Patience is important. I heard Joe Paterno say one time that he felt like he was taking too many early commitments. He would be done in recruiting during the spring before the season. You can't get too nervous in recruiting. Being patient is the best way to avoid mistakes. Mistakes in recruiting can just kill you.
4. We have an advantage because we're in the state of Florida, so the worst we should ever do is good. Look at it this way: There are usually at least 20 wide receivers who can play at this level in Florida, and we can only sign two or three. So no matter what happens, we should get good players. You really can't be bad in recruiting in this state. At least you shouldn't be.
5. We're in the same situation this year in that we don't know how we're going to finish. But what's different this time is that I've got a lot of new coaches, and that put us behind a little bit. Is that going to affect the way we close? I don't know, but we're sure going to find out on Wednesday. There is no magical formula to being a good closer. And if there were, I don't believe I'd be telling everybody about it.
Comments:
AU03 said:
posted on February 6, 2007 3:04 PM — 205.255.224.10 — link — abuse?
Good story, Kev (I don't why, but as soon as I read Ft. Lauderdale, I knew who the recruit was).
I cannot believe that Terry told him those things, though (multiple Heismans, etc). Especially since the recruit was a defensive player.
accnole said:
posted on February 6, 2007 10:42 PM — 71.30.29.236 — link — abuse?
Jimmy Bones
Why don't you get in your rattle trap truck leave Gainesville drive to Ttown and say that to any FSU fan-Don't know the way? Here ya go
Drive north on I75 until you can't see it anymore then west on I10 until you can't smell it.Yellow Hammer said:
posted on February 7, 2007 10:48 AM — 199.89.170.92 — link — abuse?
I am a diehard Bama fan but...If Bobby Bowden were to recruit me, I think I would have to go to FSU. The man is already a legand. I have been fortunate enough to listen to him speak at an event and let me say this...It's a wonder the man doesn't have THE #1 recruiting class every year.
I dread the day when he retires. It will be sad for all of Colllege Football.
Of all the games on our schedule next year, I can't wait for Sept 29, 2007.
My best friend is probably the biggest Nole Fan you will ever meet. So in Sept of 07 we will both be in J'ville watching the game we have anticipated for a long time. I dread the ride home if Bama loses.
BTW- I've never been to J'ville. Are the women hot???
ROLL TIDE
Go NOLES (except for Sept,29)
posted on February 7, 2007 3:27 PM — 152.163.100.201 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta said:
You have to read the whole story because certain parts are left out. The player in question, Martavius Houston, ended up going to Auburn and played safety for three years before being booted from the team by Bowden himself. At the end of the complete article, Bowden goes on to say that Houston "...went on to have a great career at Auburn." I wonder how great it could have been if he got dismissed from the team. Not long after that, Bowden himself got booted. Hmmmm...
It's a hell of a story though!!!!
mblackburn6 said:
posted on February 7, 2007 3:29 PM — 169.139.112.9 — link — abuse?
Jimmy Bones,
Crawl back into your swamp and leave this sight to people who have some class.
It will be fun to see what Bobby can pull off today.
MB
ou1973 said:
posted on February 7, 2007 3:37 PM — 63.170.35.88 — link — abuse?
Jimmy is right if Bobby is so good than why did he put his poor excuse for a coach son in to the mix to screw things up. FSU or any of you defending him do not want to talk about that its time to move on you had a great program and you will again but not under him. Do not keep posting for people to come down there and say things to your Bobby's face grow up and give your own address and maybe they will come down then, I do not think that you will do that by your remarks you are a p$&%$.
clemson1981 said:
posted on February 7, 2007 4:17 PM — 74.242.88.77 — link — abuse?
i agree with fsu.fan. bobby b is the winningest coach EVER in d 1-a, i dont care who you are you gotta respect that, that encludes the bear fans, and the joe pa boys, hes a great coach and you dont win that many games if you cant recruit.
TampaGator said:
posted on February 8, 2007 6:11 PM — 64.12.116.75 — link — abuse?
I'm with FSU Fan on this one--Bowden is clearly one of the best recruiters of all time. That's not even subject to debate.
FYI: It doesn't appear that jimmy bones is a Gator; here's a prior post indicating otherwise:
jimmy bones says:
posted on February 7, 2007 11:15 PM — IP: 68.19.149.163 — linkconference usa is a better confrence than the sec.
...doesn't sound like a Gator to me, so quit telling him to go back to the Swamp; we don't want him there either.
GO GATORS!!
Gatorboy 40 said:
posted on February 11, 2007 3:18 AM — 220.150.42.53 — link — abuse?
I am not an FSU fan, but to run a guy out of town because he had a couple of down seasons, is WRONG. He is still the winningest coach in college football, and has more 10 win seasons than any active coach. He at least deserves a chance to turn the program back around. I guess when you are use to 10 wins a year, it is hard face the reality that things can go wrong. Even though he has made FSU one of the winningest programs, then he have 2 or three adverage season (not losing season) and they are ready to shit can him. What ungratful, fair-weather, disloyal, SOB.
fsu.fan said:
posted on February 12, 2007 7:03 PM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse?
People making lame ass one line comments/"insults" with no factual or even imaginary data to back up their weak and lame claims just need to shut up. Leaving the posting to people with actual thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Maybe Kevin should provide a link to a preschool blog - some people on here look lost.
clemson1981 said:
posted on February 12, 2007 8:06 PM — 70.153.18.224 — link — abuse?
JD post 16:
how can you say Bobby Bowden sucks? thats like saying michael jordan was a joke. hes the winningest coach in d 1-a hitory and has 2 nc's and 12 con titles, i think that qualifies bowden under the category of greatest coach in the history of the college game, right behind eddie robinson (grambling) and (as much as i hate the university) bear bryant (bama)Gatorboy 40 said:
posted on February 13, 2007 6:04 AM — 220.150.42.53 — link — abuse?
jd post 16, You apparently have a hard time with fact. I'm personally not a Nole fan, but I am a realist. I was going to call you an IDIOT, but I don't want to over-rate you. You get your as# on here and make one stupid post like (post 16) Get a life. I bet you are too much of a candy a#$ to say what team you support, What a COWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jimmy bones said:
posted on February 6, 2007 2:27 PM — 68.19.149.163 — link — abuse?bobby bowden needs to be in a nursing home.