KingDavid
1/12/2008, 12:58 PM
I think this is pretty interesting, and possibly something we should consider doing. Not only does it potentially mitigate the "stupid" factor (e.g. see Bomar, Broyles, Granger, et. al.), but it might put an extra "recruiter" in the field. Note the interesting title for the position.
This is from the Statesman (http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/01/12//0112rucker.html):
Horns join Arkansas, Georgia as schools with high school director positions
By Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Seven suspensions, numerous arrests and overall embarrassment last offseason led Mack Brown and the Texas football team to create a new position.
This offseason, it will be Ken Rucker's job to make sure those events don't happen again.
Rucker, Texas' current running backs coach, is the Longhorns' new director of high school relations and player development.
"There are a lot of issues with young people throughout the country, and we want to address them," Brown said Friday. "It certainly doesn't mean that we're not going to have any more issues," he said. "When you've got 130 kids in society, you're going to have problems because they're at a learning stage in their life. They're at a decision-making point in their life and they make poor decisions sometimes.
"What we felt was we wanted to take an aggressive approach to our problems we had over the summer."
Rucker won't have much time to get acclimated to his new position. His first job was helping Texas' eight early enrollees get adjusted to their first night as college students. The Longhorns expect another recruit to be on campus on Monday.
Austin High offensive lineman Mark Buchanan, Allen receiver Dan Buckner, Giddings athlete Brock Fitzhenry, Leander safety Blake Gideon, Nederland linebacker Dravannti Johnson, Southlake Carroll running back Tré Newton, Gilmer offensive lineman David Snow and Westlake kicker Justin Tucker arrived on campus Friday, and Rucker was planning on calling them Friday night to make sure they were comfortable, settled and out of trouble.
Texas isn't the first school to implement this position. Both Arkansas and Georgia already have created similar jobs, which do not count against the nine assistant coaches allowed by the NCAA.
Rucker, who will remain in his current position and continue recruiting until Brown finds a replacement, is excited about his new opportunity to connect with the Longhorns on a deeper level.
"It's very important. They have needs just like your own children do," said Rucker, who has coached for 28 years, including the past three with the Longhorns. "To have an extra set of eyes and someone to be there for them 24/7 is something that's very important to us."
Rucker, who successfully battled prostate cancer this season, also will deal with high school coaches, summer camps and recruits' unofficial visits. One of his main duties will be maintaining the team's new curfew.
At the beginning of last season, Brown stated a curfew wouldn't be a viable option to keep his team in check. He changed his mind after the November loss to Texas A&M and enforced a midnight curfew leading up to the Holiday Bowl victory over Arizona State.
Brown liked the results and decided to continue the curfew throughout the year.
This is from the Statesman (http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/01/12//0112rucker.html):
Horns join Arkansas, Georgia as schools with high school director positions
By Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Seven suspensions, numerous arrests and overall embarrassment last offseason led Mack Brown and the Texas football team to create a new position.
This offseason, it will be Ken Rucker's job to make sure those events don't happen again.
Rucker, Texas' current running backs coach, is the Longhorns' new director of high school relations and player development.
"There are a lot of issues with young people throughout the country, and we want to address them," Brown said Friday. "It certainly doesn't mean that we're not going to have any more issues," he said. "When you've got 130 kids in society, you're going to have problems because they're at a learning stage in their life. They're at a decision-making point in their life and they make poor decisions sometimes.
"What we felt was we wanted to take an aggressive approach to our problems we had over the summer."
Rucker won't have much time to get acclimated to his new position. His first job was helping Texas' eight early enrollees get adjusted to their first night as college students. The Longhorns expect another recruit to be on campus on Monday.
Austin High offensive lineman Mark Buchanan, Allen receiver Dan Buckner, Giddings athlete Brock Fitzhenry, Leander safety Blake Gideon, Nederland linebacker Dravannti Johnson, Southlake Carroll running back Tré Newton, Gilmer offensive lineman David Snow and Westlake kicker Justin Tucker arrived on campus Friday, and Rucker was planning on calling them Friday night to make sure they were comfortable, settled and out of trouble.
Texas isn't the first school to implement this position. Both Arkansas and Georgia already have created similar jobs, which do not count against the nine assistant coaches allowed by the NCAA.
Rucker, who will remain in his current position and continue recruiting until Brown finds a replacement, is excited about his new opportunity to connect with the Longhorns on a deeper level.
"It's very important. They have needs just like your own children do," said Rucker, who has coached for 28 years, including the past three with the Longhorns. "To have an extra set of eyes and someone to be there for them 24/7 is something that's very important to us."
Rucker, who successfully battled prostate cancer this season, also will deal with high school coaches, summer camps and recruits' unofficial visits. One of his main duties will be maintaining the team's new curfew.
At the beginning of last season, Brown stated a curfew wouldn't be a viable option to keep his team in check. He changed his mind after the November loss to Texas A&M and enforced a midnight curfew leading up to the Holiday Bowl victory over Arizona State.
Brown liked the results and decided to continue the curfew throughout the year.