" There's nothing cooler than a guy who does what we dream of doing, and then enjoys it as much as we dream we would enjoy it. " -- Scott Ostler on Tim Lincecum
Posts: 1318 | Location: Monterey, California | Registered: May 28, 2004
Bum: USF was a number one choice for a couple of reasons. It's a great school. Small classes. Great reputation. We live in San Francisco so we're very familiar with the campus and neighborhood. Son has attended many camps at USF and plays in their fall ball league. We feel like we got to know the place really well over the past year. Main reason: the coaching staff has to be one of the nicest, most honest bunch of guys I've met. Their recruiting process takes a long time. According to them, they've been evaluating my son for over a year. They carefully consider each player. Kind of nervewracking..if you've seen any of my posts for the last year, you'll know what I mean. You should have your son attend a camp..see if he likes the campus and the staff.
Posts: 473 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: October 14, 2005
Good job! Son just got a letter from USF ('08). What made you choose them?
Bum, the USF staff has wonderful reputation locally concerning it's ability to identify players and then to develop those players when they get on campus. For many years, they were taking players who "flew under the radar" so to speak. Those players improved when they got to USF, the program improved and last year made the NCAA Regionals for the first time. They have shown they can coach players to compete with Pepperdine, Loyola and San Diego and they are the first WCC program North of LA to have that success. They have also had good success with summer league placement and increasing the number of guys getting drafted every June. O'44 knows more. I am posting on what I read and what I have seen on the field. They now have a program that competes with the best. IMO, absent the field itself, they are right behind Stanford in the quality of program.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2407 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
I once asked a D1 coach that I know...why are they getting so good?
His answer was that they are terrific and finding the players that "fit" their program. (A little reversal of roles - huh? ). He said while other programs (in the WCC for example) take their shot at the high profile guys, USF quietly figures out who the guy is that competes at 110% but may not have gotten himself highly visible on the radar screen.
Its a nice tribute to Newcomer's son to be identified by them. And Bum...its a nice tribute to yours too having gotten a letter from them. Mine never did.
Posts: 4208 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003
Congratulations! Wonderful program and school, and I think some very fine coaches. Greg Moore is a class act, and a very good recruiter. I hope its a wonderful experience for your son.
Posts: 1478 | Location: California | Registered: January 10, 2004
Congrats to Sonny (and you) on this commitment. Our son's school always competed with USF in their pre-conference games, which I think was due to a relationship between coaches, and it was fun to watch them improve each year ('02-'04). The coaches seem like 'gentlemen' and as others have said, they have done a good job of identifying players that other West Coast schools are letting slip thru the cracks.
Have fun. Personally, I love San Francisco (despite the traffic and narrow roads) as it reminds me so much of my hometown back east, and wouldn't have minded a bit had they recruited our son back in the days ... and I am sure Sonny will have a great time in a conference that is getting stronger each season.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Newcomer - huge congrats to Sonny and your family I am sure it was a team effort.
ktktj - has a son attending USF. Also, my son has an ex-hs teammate who plays for USF. I have heard nothing but great things about them from the likes of justbb, ob44 and infielddad no less
, After dealing with them pretty extensively with my own two recruits(3 years)...
...and to a person everyone I have talked to (travel coaches, players, parents, scouts,...) has nothing but admiration and respect for the intergrity, the coaches, the feel of the program, the players they get, the direction of the program, the development of players...
...IMO the people end of it is about as good as it gets!
44 .
Posts: 2575 | Location: CA | Registered: May 15, 2005
Thank you all, for the information on USF. Based on this thread, we're definitely going to take a good look at that school. I lived in SF for a few years many moons back and it is a great area. Thanks again.
"Thanks for the memories"-- The Carol Burnett Show
Posts: 1856 | Location: Las Vegas | Registered: July 11, 2005
). He said while other programs (in the WCC for example) take their shot at the high profile guys, USF quietly figures out who the guy is that competes at 110% but may not have gotten himself highly visible on the radar screen.
44
