the final impact of the free COVID year

Grown Ask Men!

A huge thing people are overlooking is the nucleus of talent and leadership were guys that big programs did not want and started at JMU

The announcers last night said that Cignetti values production over potential.

BigN--00 said:

---

The announcers last night said that Cignetti values production over potential.

---

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

This is no doubt a major factor to Indiana's success, but I bet the result of it is it artificially drives up the cost of fifth year seniors in the portal because a bunch of copycat coaches and wealthy alumni convince themselves they should only have older players on their team. A lot of other factors to evaluate in recruiting, too.

Don't forget that our O-line's average age was 23 this year. And 21-year-old Rueben Bain looked pretty good against them. And 18-year-old Malachi Toney scored the winning touchdown against us.

If Oregon's average age is really 19 and they made it to the semifinals, that suggests to me that they are going to be a dangerous team down the road. Because they've got a good coach to develop them and the resources to keep those players in the program while they develop.

itsyourboypookie said:

---

Is 23. They get grown men out of the portal. Not underclassmen with years of eligibility left.

The average age of the Duck's starters was 19.

Their portal strategy seems too be different than every other programs

---

I saw an article that suggests Oregon starters average age was closer to 22. Not sure where valid data is, but I would be surprised if it was really 19.

From the beginning I've thought that NIL and the portal would lead to the top tier of college football practically abandoning high school football players. Eventually the top tier will recruit their roster from the 2nd tier of the D1 schools and the D2/D3 schools. You will eventually get a division between JR High and SR High football at the college level. Don't know how long it will take but this is a step in that direction.

Failed NFL players will come back to school and take a psychology class and become players and break the bones of skinny freshman.

That is coming.

They'll have to sue the NCAA for a return of their eligibility first, but yeah.

JournoAG said:

---

This is no doubt a major factor to Indiana's success, but I bet the result of it is it artificially drives up the cost of fifth year seniors in the portal because a bunch of copycat coaches and wealthy alumni convince themselves they should only have older players on their team. A lot of other factors to evaluate in recruiting, too.

Don't forget that our O-line's average age was 23 this year. And 21-year-old Rueben Bain looked pretty good against them. And 18-year-old Malachi Toney scored the winning touchdown against us.

If Oregon's average age is really 19 and they made it to the semifinals, that suggests to me that they are going to be a dangerous team down the road. Because they've got a good coach to develop them and the resources to keep those players in the program while they develop.

---

Problem is.....Oregon wont keep em and will probably be just as young next year. Why HS recruiting are more and more meaningless. Look at Texas with their #1 class. A lot have transferred out.

I disagree. Oregon has a strong coach, a record of success and all the money it needs to keep its best players. You don't see a lot of star players transferring out of teams like that. They should be able to keep that very talented base and plug in the holes they have with real talent from the portal.

Cignetti is a freakin unicorn. His system is amazing for him. But I think a lot of teams that try to replicate it are going to end up with a Mike Norvell situation on their hands, where a lack of continuity and poor evaluation of talent lead to disaster without a clear path out.

I may be wrong. But I think just looking at a once-in-a-lifetime season and saying, "Let's just do what they did" is a lot harder than it seems. Ohio State won the championship last year with a completely different blueprint.

JohnClark929 said:

---

BigN--00 said:

---

The announcers last night said that Cignetti values production over potential.

---

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

---

My buddy's wife used to say that as well before he divorced her

jb6092 said:

---

itsyourboypookie said:

---

Is 23. They get grown men out of the portal. Not underclassmen with years of eligibility left.

The average age of the Duck's starters was 19.

Their portal strategy seems too be different than every other programs

---

I saw an article that suggests Oregon starters average age was closer to 22. Not sure where valid data is, but I would be surprised if it was really 19.

---

This. It's pretty much a mathematical impossibility for the average to be only 19 with as many portal starters as they have on their team. People will believe anything...

Quote:

---

I saw an article that suggests Oregon starters average age was closer to 22. Not sure where valid data is, but I would be surprised if it was really 19.

---

Yeah, if Oregon's average was really 19, that would be the more surprising factoid.

Unless they had some 15- year old homeschool prodigy bringing down the average

When it started you needed great high school recruits and supplement with portal. Now you need a portal roster with a few younger guys. Most programs are scared of to much portal. They have to much pride to bring in guys that bump recruited guys. Not a real program until you bring in a portal 1 year qb. Everyone makes fun of dabo but almost everyone is Dabo choosing 19yr Olds they have put 3 years recruiting over 23 years they didn't know last year.. pride sunk cost..Cig showing how it's done. Even if it's for 1 year is worth it.