1) Miami is a blue blood, but they've always been cash strapped with lousy facilities, and they've suffered for it, but they can always land some top talent. Their worst classes outstrip our best. So how do they do it? Brand and location, neither of which do we have.

2) Conversely, consider Nebraska. a blue blood if there ever was one, they have brand, massive fan following, and a huge budget, but they never recruited all that well even in their heyday. They succeeded with an amazing system of loyal walk-ons and offensive style. Money wasn't the key for them then, and it isn't helping them all that much now.

3) Florida State, a "new money" program. A relatively new brand built in the 80's by Bobby Bowden going on the road and winning at the highest levels. They did that as an independent! Money didn't build FSU either.

If it was just about money, we should expect all the schools you listed to out recruit us routinely. But they don't. Only PSU does, and its because they're PSU, a program with a legendary tradition and brand, not just because they have more money.

Would we do "better" with another 40M? Sure, maybe a little, that seems intuitive, but its not a sea change. More than anything else, recruiting at a high level is about brand, tradition, and prestige. Those are intangible things that you cannot buy. You have to win them.

It doesn't matter that Toyota makes a car equal in quality as Mercedes. One is elite, and the other is not, and never will be. Toyota has to use the alias of "Lexus" just to compete in that market to attract that type of buyer.

That is the analogy to coaching. If we want to change the perception of the program without the wins, we've got to slap another brand on the product. I made the point in another post. A name brand coach people recognize is the shortcut, but certainly no guarantee. How much does it cost to land that guy?that's where money can have a bigger impact.

Look no further than UNC.a program that can't get out of its own way despite always being rich. They hire a has been big name brand coach in Mack Brown with a giant ring on his finger, and boomthey're recruiting in the top 10 overnight.

No amount of money on its own however is going to make VT a blue blood program.

[Post edited by Techsupport at 06/19/2019 11:10AM]