2019 SMSU Mustangs: Let's ride!

[UMary1]

Kid has some zip to his throw, its looking like the SEC is full throttle for this upcoming fall. It will be interesting to see how the NSIC plays out heres to hoping we can turn on the game on a crisp fall day with a bourbon ready to go.

[Stanger86]

This 2020 class for SMSU might b special! Theres a video on twitter with SMSU incoming receiver Mo Hampton from Nevada workin out with incoming QB Nick Arvay in Arizona! Thats the initiative you need to b successful. Driving to Az to work out with your qb is impressive. I love the effort . And they both looked really good! You should check out video on Maurice Hampton's twitter. might b on nick arvay 7 twitter too. They are gettin hard workin players with talent! Cant wait for this year! (If we even play this year)

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[SMSU fan]

This 2020 class for SMSU might b special! Theres a video on twitter with SMSU incoming receiver Mo Hampton from Nevada workin out with incoming QB Nick Arvay in Arizona! Thats the initiative you need to b successful. Driving to Az to work out with your qb is impressive. I love the effort . And they both looked really good! You should check out video on Maurice Hampton's twitter. might b on nick arvay 7 twitter too. They are gettin hard workin players with talent! Cant wait for this year! (If we even play this year)

[UMary1]

I think one of the biggest variables in recruiting is having coaches that are trusted in different regions. High School programs see their athletes like their own kids and want the best for them, a kids coach has a major influence on their decision. A great example is Wiese at Duluth, hes been able to pull some play makers out of Wis on a consistent basis. Once a relationship is fostered over the years sky is the limit. Really looking forward to Sept 19th when Mary visits Marshall. Should be a great game,

[SW_Mustang]

*snip*

I agree.

Obviously this applies to every program, but staying healthy is the key. That's been our biggest struggle. Last year probably would have been different had we not had injuries. It's football, it's unavoidable, but still...

[SMSU fan]

I agree, rural and local kids are an important part of recriuting. Not only for their ability on field , but for fan base. The local and rural kids help get fans in seats and having the support of surrounding communities is big deal . .winning also helps with recruiting and local support. I like the fact that they are still rercruiting rural Iowa, Dakotas, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Arizona Cali Texas. and Nevada. They have kids from Marshall on roster and offered another kid from Marshall for 2021. From what i have seen so far in last 2 years its a nice mix of rural semi local kids and kids from big time programs . I think its gonna start to pay off. I really think 2020 class is most talented class they have brought in in last ten years. The QB from Arizona might b most talented qb. out of high school they ever got(just watch film and you will see what i mean.)Also receivers Hornsby (cali)and Hampton( nevada) might b most promising receiver duo they have had in a while. Throw in a couple stud olineman , really good def tackle, stud linebacker and a really good cover corner as well as more speed than any other recent class. If these young guys can get on field as freshman and get some experience, i think they will have winningest 4 years in Sauters history, maybe 7 or 8 wins a year for next four years. Hopefully in mix for playoffs in next couple years.When camp starts (hopefully) in early august you will see what i mean, i am traveling there in aug if safe enough to watch practice for a few days. Lets hope these kids live up to hype, i think its gonna b really interesting next few years in nsic!

[SW_Mustang]

Coincidentally, all of the rest of those guys were on the 2008 team that finished above .500 for the first time since 1999 and only the second time since the days of Loots, Ashley, and Co. I know it isn't a high-water mark, but it was seen as the start of a new era with the opening of the Regional Event Center and it was right in the middle of my college years, so I think those are reasons why those guys are so memorable for me.

I would have been in 9th grade that year. I remember visiting the REC as it was being built. I miss the bunting that they hung from the second level. I know that's a weird thing to miss, but it was a nice pop of color on the earthy tones of the stadium.

Someone sent me an article on Noethlich his senior season. He's probably the closest we've gotten to landing someone on a 40-man roster, besides Wayne Hawkins and the guy the school doesn't acknowledge.

It was the Moorhead game with the bonkers stat lines that got me to pay attention to the team. I went to the MSU game that year since they were ranked #1 that week. I had a blast even though Jon Wolf and the boys ran us over. Had to go to the Concordia game. It was one of my last times in the Metrodome. Mike Max's film crew was there, I remember watching the episode on TV. Finished the season off with the Winona game that ended with the Twedt INT in overtime. Didn't realize the stadium could get that loud. Now every time I see John Brown on TV I wonder what could have been...

Ha, wow - didn't mean to take a long trip down memory lane. Anyway, to your point - that was a special group of guys and a very exciting time. 2008-2016 had some fun years.

[Stanger86]

I agree though. Tonderum is the only one of those guys I saw play. He was something else. Him, Charlie Football, Anthony Dean, etc got me into the Stangs back in '13.

Coincidentally, all of the rest of those guys were on the 2008 team that finished above .500 for the first time since 1999 and only the second time since the days of Loots, Ashley, and Co. I know it isn't a high-water mark, but it was seen as the start of a new era with the opening of the Regional Event Center and it was right in the middle of my college years, so I think those are reasons why those guys are so memorable for me.

[SW_Mustang]

One of the things I kinda miss from the Eidsness days is the underrecruited rural kids that used to come here and ball out.....Noethlich, Bullerman, Wysong, Klinkner, Tonderum, Wilson. Don't get as many of these types anymore. It's great our recruiting profile is improving in the Twin Cities and other parts of the country, but to me these types of kids were the heart and soul of our teams and that's been missing the past few seasons.

I wonder how these guys are going to adjust to the weather. Odds are, if they've ever experienced weather like this, it's only been brief. I know guys do it all the time, so hopefully it goes well. I've lived here my entire life and it can be hard to adjust to it.

I agree though. Tonderum is the only one of those guys I saw play. He was something else. Him, Charlie Football, Anthony Dean, etc got me into the Stangs back in '13.

[Stanger86]

I think you're absolutely right. Better to start for 4-5 years at the D2 level than ride the bench at the FBS level. Guys who want to play football come to D2, guys on the fringe who want a snazzy uniform for the Instagram photo go D1 - even if it means all they really get is a warm seat on the sidelines. NFL scouts know the difference.

SMSU has a hard time recruiting in their namesake. We're sandwiched between SDSU and MSU for one thing, and the allure of the MIAC for another. Marshall is our only "big" high school. All the other schools in the area are smaller-class co-op schools. Also - most members of the thread will disagree with me, but I don't think we have a great reputation academically in SWMN. We're a good school, but most people don't see it that way.

Our saving grace is our facilities. Our stadium is probably nicer than a handful of FCS stadiums. We also do a decent job drawing a crowd too. SMSU football is the show on Saturday nights in town. I really wish we could get a guy to the league, that would obviously help a bit with recruiting.

I was really hoping to catch these guys in action. Our QB for part of last year, Nava, was out of California and showed some real promise before he got injured. He almost slayed the mighty beast that is the Mavericks. I hope this new crop of southwestern kids can get us there.

One of the things I kinda miss from the Eidsness days is the underrecruited rural kids that used to come here and ball out.....Noethlich, Bullerman, Wysong, Klinkner, Tonderum, Wilson. Don't get as many of these types anymore. It's great our recruiting profile is improving in the Twin Cities and other parts of the country, but to me these types of kids were the heart and soul of our teams and that's been missing the past few seasons.

[SW_Mustang]

A lot of these borderline d1 and fcs kids are realizing that they have a chance to play 3 or 4 years at d2 level and start 30 or 40 games as opposed to maybe playin their senior year at d1 school. Just reaching out to these kids goes a long way. All the coaches have out of region and in region areas(Sauter is minnesota and texas) bullerman is Az and Nebraska.etc...they are gettin smsu name out there and recognizable in Arizona, Nevada, California and Texas and once kids see a another kid from big school(Arvay from Hamilton) go somewhere it makes it more appealing to them. Now u get receivers from Henderson Nevada and Bishop Gorman wantin to play with him and its a domino effect. Now they are offering kids from Chandler High in Arizona (top ten in country) goin into 2021 and have good chance to get them

I think you're absolutely right. Better to start for 4-5 years at the D2 level than ride the bench at the FBS level. Guys who want to play football come to D2, guys on the fringe who want a snazzy uniform for the Instagram photo go D1 - even if it means all they really get is a warm seat on the sidelines. NFL scouts know the difference.

SMSU has a hard time recruiting in their namesake. We're sandwiched between SDSU and MSU for one thing, and the allure of the MIAC for another. Marshall is our only "big" high school. All the other schools in the area are smaller-class co-op schools. Also - most members of the thread will disagree with me, but I don't think we have a great reputation academically in SWMN. We're a good school, but most people don't see it that way.

Our saving grace is our facilities. Our stadium is probably nicer than a handful of FCS stadiums. We also do a decent job drawing a crowd too. SMSU football is the show on Saturday nights in town. I really wish we could get a guy to the league, that would obviously help a bit with recruiting.

I was really hoping to catch these guys in action. Our QB for part of last year, Nava, was out of California and showed some real promise before he got injured. He almost slayed the mighty beast that is the Mavericks. I hope this new crop of southwestern kids can get us there.

[SMSU fan]

A lot of these borderline d1 and fcs kids are realizing that they have a chance to play 3 or 4 years at d2 level and start 30 or 40 games as opposed to maybe playin their senior year at d1 school. Just reaching out to these kids goes a long way. All the coaches have out of region and in region areas(Sauter is minnesota and texas) bullerman is Az and Nebraska.etc...they are gettin smsu name out there and recognizable in Arizona, Nevada, California and Texas and once kids see a another kid from big school(Arvay from Hamilton) go somewhere it makes it more appealing to them. Now u get receivers from Henderson Nevada and Bishop Gorman wantin to play with him and its a domino effect. Now they are offering kids from Chandler High in Arizona (top ten in country) goin into 2021 and have good chance to get them

[SW_Mustang]

McClure certainly seems to be paying dividends as a recruiter

I think I posted it already, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal published an article on McClure bringing talent to SMSU. It's weird to read a Las Vegas newspaper article about a small college in Minnesota.

We'll have to wait and see how it plays out, but I'm pretty satisfied thus far with his recruiting abilities. I can't imagine it's any easy sell to guys from Nevada and Arizona on coming to play in Marshall, so he's gotta be one hell of a sales guy.

[Stanger86]

SMSU is offering and getting better players last two years. Hope it shows with more wins this year and next. They have 15 offers out in Az already for 2021, which is more than ever before in Az. Offered two top recruits in SDakota, and some top recruits in Minn, California, Texas and Nevada. A lot of these kids are on top teams in state. Really expanding their recruiting footprint the last couple years and targeting really good players. It only takes a few studs (in right positions) on both sides of ball to get to playoffs!

McClure certainly seems to be paying dividends as a recruiter

[SMSU fan]

SMSU is offering and getting better players last two years. Hope it shows with more wins this year and next. They have 15 offers out in Az already for 2021, which is more than ever before in Az. Offered two top recruits in SDakota, and some top recruits in Minn, California, Texas and Nevada. A lot of these kids are on top teams in state. Really expanding their recruiting footprint the last couple years and targeting really good players. It only takes a few studs (in right positions) on both sides of ball to get to playoffs!