BCS Vs. FCS Schools
While there are several areas where these schools vary in the conduct their recruiting programs, one of the main differences between these levels of NCAA football programs is the contrast in the resources.
The BCS schools have the funding and must offer every football player a full ride scholarship while the FCS schools because they have fewer recruiting dollars will offer more partial football scholarships.
The Division I-AA or FCS schools will typically not offer a scholarship before the summer of the athlete’s senior year. Why? If an FCS school makes a formal offer to an athlete early in the recruiting process, the D-IA or BCS programs will immediately be interested in checking out the prospect thinking they may have missed a potential star prospect. For this reason, the FCS schools wait as long as possible to make offers.
Since BCS schools have more money, they can typically land the cream of the crop as far as recruits go. The FCS schools are at a definite disadvantage when it comes to signing the top prospects in the country.
Backup Option Time
If you have not been recruited by now, it is definitely time to consider Div. III and JUCO schools as an alternative the the higher levels of competition.
Division III schools are not as tightly regulated by the NCAA in a number of areas. As examples, the Div. III coaches can start calling you anytime and they can call as many times as they want. If they are interested in you as a prospect, they will want to talk to you and get you into their summer football camps and on campus too.
By NCAA rules, they can offer official visits where they pick up the tab. Three free tickets to an event, transportation, meals and so forth are common. You may also participate in a workout as long as the coaches are not around.
The D-III college football coaches may not contact you or your family off campus until after your junior year.
If you do not yet have an offer, also consider playing for a JUCO school and then transferring later on. If you go this route, be sure to keep your grades up as they will count during the admittance process.
Making The Transition From High School To College
There are many differences between high school and college. Many students find the changes difficult. In fact, over one third of students do not complete their freshman year. College is not just a continuation of high school but a whole new experience. Below are some suggestions that may help smooth out the transition.
1. Academics are much more difficult than in high school. You will have to work harder and longer. You should expect to work 2 to 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class. Do the math. If you are taking 15 credit hours of classes, you should expect to spend 30 to 45 hours a week studying outside of class.
2. In high school, you had to attend every class session. In college, many college teachers don’t even take attendance. That may make it very tempting not to go to class. However, students who attend classes make better grades than those who don’t.
3. In college, you are expected to be an independent learner. Your teachers may not check to see that you are keeping up with reading or doing papers. It will be up to you to keep up with deadlines and the workload.
4. Classes in college will be spread out more than in most high schools. High school classes typically meet every day. In college, classes may meet two to three times a week. Some classes may meet only once a week. It is up to you to plan and implement a study schedule.
5. Tests in high school often are given frequently and cover small amounts of information. In college, tests are not frequent and may cover a great deal of information. You may only have a final exam in some classes. Make up tests are scarce as is extra credit work. You must take good notes in class and use good study skills to succeed.
How To Get Off the College Wait List
So you kept your grades up, wrote your college essays, completed all applications, got the FAFSA done and in on time, got all your recommendations submitted. Now what? You wait. And wait. And wait…
Sometimes you will get a letter of rejection. This won’t feel good at all. Sometimes you get a letter of acceptance. Great! And sometimes you get a letter that tells you that you are on a waiting list. This may feel like total limbo. You may feel your future is totally out of your control. Below are some suggestions for dealing with being wait listed:
1. Remember more students are applying to the top schools so being wait listed for some schools should be expected. Also students are applying to more schools which means they will say “no” to some of those schools leaving room for students on the wait list.
2. If you are wait listed by a college, respond quickly to the school. Complete any forms they ask for. Schools do consider this as a sign of your eagerness to attend.
3. If the school is your first choice, make sure they know it. Schools want students who want them.
4. If you get a new set of grades be sure to send them right away. If they are great that may help your chances.
5. If you have a relationship with a coach or teacher at the school, get in touch with them and ask for advice.
6. Keep in touch but don’t bug them.
7. Be sure the school knows what you can pay. The decision may be a financial one and knowing the bottom line can be helpful.
8. Above all, BE PATIENT.
Developing The Will To Win
Everyone acknowledges the importance of being a team player, but we all also know there are times when you must decide to step up and be singularly demonstrate the unstoppable urge to win?
While there is no “I” in “Team”, there is a definite “I” in “Win”, and in the game of football, it takes a team of individual players; all of them having the will to “Win” to out score opponents game after game.
We have all seen games where an athlete hangs back hoping that a teammate will step up and make the play. This usually does nothing to win the game and typically contributes to a loss.
Do you have the will to win? What are some of the things you can to summon the courage to display the will to win?
Give yourself permission to win, to excel, to demonstrate your talents even if it does make those around you envious. Did you know that when you show your will to win you encourage those around you to behave like winners also. You actually give them courage to win. The will to win is contagious!
Use rejection, judgment and jealousy to help you aspire to greatness. Regardless of how uncomfortable you make your teammates, you will never be happy or enjoy real success downplaying your skills, talents, and accomplishments in an effort to make others feel more comfortable.
When people put you down and say you can’t do something, channel your frustration and anger and let it spearhead your drive into the elite levels of competition.
Develop a winning attitude. It is simple to cultivate a winning mindset, simply determine to complete every task, regardless of what it is, to the very best of your ability. Deciding to aspire to do your very best, regardless of the nature of the job, will almost automatically give you the inclination to succeed in everything.
Arkansas Football Coach Fired
The recent firing of Bobby Patrino, head football coach for Arkansas, should give all potential football recruits reason to take pause and consider what should be the reasons why they want to be recruited by a certain football program.
It is a well-known fact that many recruits are enamored by the idea of playing football for a famous coach, but as is evidenced by the doubt and confusion among the 25 newly signed 2012 Arkansas recruits, the loss of a head football coach for any reason could prove disastrous to the program depending upon several factors including how long it takes to hire a new head coach and who is actually hired.
Many of the 25 recruits were attracted to Arkansas because the football program, coached by Patrino, was said to be in position to win the National Championship next year. Without a head coach, the Razorbacks may not fair so well. In addition, if Jeff Long, the AD, doesn’t fill the position soon, 2013 recruiting will also be hurt.
What Can You Learn From This?
Avoid signing with a school based on a certain coach being there. Remember, you are accepting an athletic scholarship from the school, not the head coach. Do not let all your hopes and dreams be smashed with the fate of a coach.
Sign with a school that will give you an education that you can plan a career around besides football. Overwhelmingly, college football players do not go on to the pros.
Sign with a school where you will feel comfortable attending even if you get injured, the head coach leaves or the football program goes south.
Your top priority should be to use your football scholarship to pay for your college degree. Regardless of how alluring the limelight is for any college level football player, that should be secondary to your education. You will be in college for 4 to 5 years, but the preparation you make in those years can prepare you for a life’s career.
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