Montana State's 2013 recruiting class began officially forming early Wednesday
Photo by: Daryn Hendrickson
Waiting (for Letters) and Watching (the Fax Machine) Mark Signing Day
2/6/2013 7:19:00 AM | Football
Bobcat coaches mark National Signing Day with anxiety, relief
Like an election or a big game, the worst part is the waiting. And there is a lot of that - sprinkled with anxiety and eventually relief - for college football coaches on National Signing Day.
Montana State's football staff is no exception.
With members of the Bobcat coaching and video staff on hand before dawn - high school student-athletes are allowed to sign and fax letters at 7 am in whatever time zone they reside - the letters began rolling in, and the excitement began to build.
"It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of organization, a lot of time on the road," said first-year MSU recruiting coordinator Bo Beck, who coaches Bobcat defensive linemen. "The coaching staff works extremely hard during the recruiting season, and it's a very intense process. But it's a year-round process. Recruiting never really begins or ends, it's constant."
If high school coaches and players felt bombarded by MSU during the just-completed recruiting cycle, they should have, Beck says. "We feel like we really attacked Montana this year," he said of the 10 in-state players expected to apply ink to paper for MSU today. Another, Tanner Roderick, transferred to the Bobcat program at the start of the spring semester. "We always want to recruit well in our state, but this was a good year in Montana and we worked very hard here."
Beck said he encountered some surprises during his first year directing the program's recruiting efforts, none more than the logistics and associated costs. "That was really an eye-opener for me," he said. "And I'll say this much, without our Quarterback Club's help with recruiting costs we'd be dead in the water. That organization is a life-saver."
As 7 am came and went in the Bobcat Football office complex, the fax machine began whirring. Running back Nick Lasane's letter made him the first official member of the recruiting class of 2013, with letters from Folabi Akanbi (offensive lineman) and Jaylen Price (cornerback), all from Texas. At 7 am Mountain Time, receiver Jake Stanton from Billings Central became the first in-state player to join.
By the end of the day, it's likely that 18 new high school players join the two transfers already enrolled to give what those in the Bobcat football program believe will be an excellent class capable of building on the success of recent years.
And it's definite that the waiting will be over, and a tired but relieved coaching staff will relax for a few hours, then begin the 2014 recruiting cycle.
Montana State's football staff is no exception.
With members of the Bobcat coaching and video staff on hand before dawn - high school student-athletes are allowed to sign and fax letters at 7 am in whatever time zone they reside - the letters began rolling in, and the excitement began to build.
"It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of organization, a lot of time on the road," said first-year MSU recruiting coordinator Bo Beck, who coaches Bobcat defensive linemen. "The coaching staff works extremely hard during the recruiting season, and it's a very intense process. But it's a year-round process. Recruiting never really begins or ends, it's constant."
If high school coaches and players felt bombarded by MSU during the just-completed recruiting cycle, they should have, Beck says. "We feel like we really attacked Montana this year," he said of the 10 in-state players expected to apply ink to paper for MSU today. Another, Tanner Roderick, transferred to the Bobcat program at the start of the spring semester. "We always want to recruit well in our state, but this was a good year in Montana and we worked very hard here."
Beck said he encountered some surprises during his first year directing the program's recruiting efforts, none more than the logistics and associated costs. "That was really an eye-opener for me," he said. "And I'll say this much, without our Quarterback Club's help with recruiting costs we'd be dead in the water. That organization is a life-saver."
As 7 am came and went in the Bobcat Football office complex, the fax machine began whirring. Running back Nick Lasane's letter made him the first official member of the recruiting class of 2013, with letters from Folabi Akanbi (offensive lineman) and Jaylen Price (cornerback), all from Texas. At 7 am Mountain Time, receiver Jake Stanton from Billings Central became the first in-state player to join.
By the end of the day, it's likely that 18 new high school players join the two transfers already enrolled to give what those in the Bobcat football program believe will be an excellent class capable of building on the success of recent years.
And it's definite that the waiting will be over, and a tired but relieved coaching staff will relax for a few hours, then begin the 2014 recruiting cycle.
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