Another factor in Wake recruiting is that Wake needs to get guys who are able and willing to take on the Wake academic workload. I suspect there are many more who would be able to handle the Wake academics than there are those who are willing to do so.
After all, they can hear something like: "43 zebra green hot" and know that the line is in zone blocking, the QB will roll right, the tight end will stay in to block, the slot receiver will run a five yard square out route, the right side wide receiver will run a 10 yard hitch and go post route, the left wide receiver will run a fly route down the left hash marks and the running back will safety valve to the left.
If you put some of the kids in the following scenario:
Freshman student in classroom in math building, handed a sheet of paper with the following:
Geospatial Concepts Course Synopsis
This course will be a rigorous treatment of the concepts of space and position, using 20 or more variables in both constrained and unconstrained configurations. Static positioning, microtranslocations, macrotranslocations and the transitions between static and dynamic operational constructs will be included. There will be standard algorithms for use in predicting behavior of some of the variables in some configurations. Students will need to recognize when these standard algorithms are the appropriate ones and when non-standard approaches to the problems may be required. Students will be expected to use two dimensional spatial models to explain and understand variable placement and dynamics in three dimensional space. Concepts from other disciplines such as meteorology, geology, physics, agronomy and materials sciences will be incorporated into some situations, and may provide additional constraints on some variables. Students will also be expected to make liberal use of our extensive audiovisual laboratory. There will be practicums and group projects in which student groups will demonstrate their understanding of class concepts.
Textbook: Geospatial Concepts: Multivariate Treatment of Static and Dynamic Configurations.
Prof announces that there will be a quiz on the material in chapter 1 at the end of next week.
Some will be in shock, with their eyes saucer sized and jaws on the floor. Wondering what they got themselves into and wondering how to get out quick.
versus this
Position Coach’s office, 8 AM, newly arrived freshman football player
Coach, "Here is your playbook. Here is your list of signals and calls. Learn the first 10 plays by tomorrow. I will see you in the film room at 2 PM. First practice is at 7 tomorrow morning. It is supposed to rain. Wear long cleats."
players response: "got it coach. See you at 2."
The two scenarios are actually equivalent, just that I attempted to employ polysyllabic descriptive terminology in scenario one and used few short words in scenario 2.
The first is the perception of Wake Forest. And it carries far and wide. When Ish Smith met with the Washington area Wake alums after the Hawks Wizards game, even he referred to Wake as "Work Forest."
Clawson and company have to find the kids who would see scenario 1 as an opportunity, not an obstacle.