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DEL.ICIO.USBobby Bowden’s five tips for sealing the deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/05/07 6:00 PM
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With 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. And 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.
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