Yes, I know we have 18,000ish threads on HB, but with zero hour approaching I wanted to help provide some prospective from someone who has been through the recruiting game and lost a highly targeted recruit by our program. Its a punch in the stomach and it hurts when you invest as much time as coaches do in recruits. You end up treating them like sons to try and get them to your school and then they do become your sons once they get on campus. It is a very hard thing to try to stay emotionally unattached, but at the end of the day, these 17, 18, 19, 20 year old kids hold your job and your future in their hands, so its not hard to become attached.
I do want to make one statement though. HB's recruiting saga has been something that has not been seen for sometime at Iowa State. He has developed some very good and close relationships with all of the players and the coaching staff. This has been a total program recruitment. Its going to be difficult for some to focus on the game tonight with HB's impending anouncement.
One of two things could possibly happen tonight at the game, with the team. As stated before this has been a total program involvement. Very few of the players have been through the recruiting wars of a very big target for the program as a coach has. I'm not talking highly ranked, but someone the staff highly values for the future of the program.
With that said the team can look one of two ways tonight. If HB does happpen to choose ISU, you will see an extra bounce in every one's step. A lot more adrenaline and excitement with everyone involved in the program. The other thing to think about is what if HB chooses someone else? With the amount of friendships that have been created through his recruitment, some players may feel like they have been punched in the stomach. They could come out flat and struggle in the beginning.
My biggest thing is this, Mr. Barnes cannot play a game for ISU until next year. No matter what his decision is, the fans need to show the team and the program that one player does not make a program. We need to be loud and proud tonight, especially if he doesn't choose I-State. The program is going to feel a lot more hurt than any of us can ever imagine. We need to show everyone that yes we care about the future, but we are way more concerned with the present and A TEAM THAT IS POSSIBLY ON THE VERGE OF A VERY SPECIAL SEASON. Something that we have not had in a few years.
I ask all of you, good news or bad news, show up and pack Hilton tonight. Show your appreciation for the players and the coaching staff, because no matter what HB's decision is, I guarantee the program did everything they possibly could to land Harrison Barnes. Be loud and proud no matter what.
NOTE: I am not calling any one out for not showing up before or anything in regards to that. I just want people to know, that no matter what, Iowa State will have a 2009-2010 basketball season and it has a very good opportunity to be a very good one. No matter what Mr. Barnes' decision is, this could be a defining year for ISU MBB for the next several years. Remain supportive of the staff and players because in the end, it is a team game and one person will not make a program.
I do want to make one statement though. HB's recruiting saga has been something that has not been seen for sometime at Iowa State. He has developed some very good and close relationships with all of the players and the coaching staff. This has been a total program recruitment. Its going to be difficult for some to focus on the game tonight with HB's impending anouncement.
One of two things could possibly happen tonight at the game, with the team. As stated before this has been a total program involvement. Very few of the players have been through the recruiting wars of a very big target for the program as a coach has. I'm not talking highly ranked, but someone the staff highly values for the future of the program.
With that said the team can look one of two ways tonight. If HB does happpen to choose ISU, you will see an extra bounce in every one's step. A lot more adrenaline and excitement with everyone involved in the program. The other thing to think about is what if HB chooses someone else? With the amount of friendships that have been created through his recruitment, some players may feel like they have been punched in the stomach. They could come out flat and struggle in the beginning.
My biggest thing is this, Mr. Barnes cannot play a game for ISU until next year. No matter what his decision is, the fans need to show the team and the program that one player does not make a program. We need to be loud and proud tonight, especially if he doesn't choose I-State. The program is going to feel a lot more hurt than any of us can ever imagine. We need to show everyone that yes we care about the future, but we are way more concerned with the present and A TEAM THAT IS POSSIBLY ON THE VERGE OF A VERY SPECIAL SEASON. Something that we have not had in a few years.
I ask all of you, good news or bad news, show up and pack Hilton tonight. Show your appreciation for the players and the coaching staff, because no matter what HB's decision is, I guarantee the program did everything they possibly could to land Harrison Barnes. Be loud and proud no matter what.
NOTE: I am not calling any one out for not showing up before or anything in regards to that. I just want people to know, that no matter what, Iowa State will have a 2009-2010 basketball season and it has a very good opportunity to be a very good one. No matter what Mr. Barnes' decision is, this could be a defining year for ISU MBB for the next several years. Remain supportive of the staff and players because in the end, it is a team game and one person will not make a program.
