| 07 June 2011
Yakman is a very solid poster on Bucknuts. He has picked up something that Ohio State may not wait until the end of the season to name Luke Fickell the new head coach.
I have been beating the drum strongly to name Fickell the head coach. Last blog I mentioned the John Wooden saying, "Be quick but don't hurry." I would not have a problem with naming him head coach right now but I don't think we need to. Why not take a peek first if you can? I think Fickell will take this audition and run with it. I think he will be the next Buckeye coach but I think we can afford to take the time to give him that audition first.
The Buckeyes big visit games this year are going to be Wisconsin on October 29th, which is game 8, and Penn State on November 19th, game 11. Those are the games we would have hosted players if JT were here. Why would we change them now? No matter whether Fickell is the next coach or not we would want to host the best recruits on those ldates which are later in the year. It is always best to get them in as late as possible no matter the coaching situationIf Fickell is the next head coach players are still likely going to want to see the team play anyway. If Ohio State is going with someone else you want to postpone those visits as long as possible to get the new coach in place. Taking an official visit with a coach who is not going to be here means the new coach does not get the chance to impress the recruit. The recruit does not get a chance to meet the new coach.
The earliest game you would want to bring in prime recruits is Michigan State. That still gives four games to take a look at Fickell before making a decision.
I think it could have an even greater impact to wait until we see him coach a few games. Everybody is going to be so focused on Fickell. He comes out smoking and a few weeks later he is named coach while his visibility is at its peak. Think back to the drama with recruiting after Meyer retired the first time. His visibility was so high at that point that so many recruits were calling to commit that they nearly blew up a cell tower. Fickell proved last week what kind of recruiter he is when Kyle Kalis called to de-commit but an hour later coach Fickell had talked him into sticking with his commitment. Give him the kind of platform that would come from being named head coach right before those bigtime recruits come in and we could see a very special instate class turn into a very special Ohio State class.
Are the Buckeyes in a hurry? Too big a hurry? There is no need to be.
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