What Does an "Offer" Mean?

[Tugg Speedman]

What exactly does it mean when a school offers someone?  What I'm asking is I often see lists that a school (like MU) has 12 to 15 "offers" outstanding.  What happens if all of them said yes on the same day?  Obviously they cannot all get a schollie.

When I think of an offer (like a work offer) it means "you're in" and space is saved for you and all you have to do is say yes (by a certain time deadline).  This cannot be the case with a schollie offer as most schools hand out way more than available spots.

Why hand out more than spots you have?  What happens if a wave of kids with offers say yes?  They you offer, they say yes, and you turn around and tell them "sorry?"

[Jay Bee]

What exactly does it mean when a school offers someone?  What I'm asking is I often see lists that a school (like MU) has 12 to 15 "offers" outstanding.  What happens if all of them said yes on the same day?  Obviously they cannot all get a schollie.

When I think of an offer (like a work offer) it means "you're in" and space is saved for you and all you have to do is say yes (by a certain time deadline).  This cannot be the case with a schollie offer as most schools hand out way more than available spots.

Why hand out more than spots you have?  What happens if a wave of kids with offers say yes?  They you offer, they say yes, and you turn around and tell them "sorry?"

An offer is generally a conditional scholarship offer, subject to the ever-changing and very fluid recruiting landscape.

From a school's perspective: It indicates interest in a kid.

From a kid's perspective: It indicates a school might give you a scholarship if you tell them you'd like one.

In the majority of cases, it is nothing more than that.

"We have interest in you and if a number of variables work out, we'd give you a scholarship. So, if and when you're interested, let us know and we'll see where things are at."

There are certainly those unique situations where you may tell a kid that, "no matter what, there's always a spot for you here", but that is rare.

[4everwarriors]

Once had an offer to show me a good time in Vegas from a great lookin' chick. Interest wasn't mutual so I'm guessin' that was kinda conditional, hey?

[bilsu]

Supposedly, Crean would not not take a player until he officially visited and the the team gave the player a thumbs up.
Buzz had several players commit before they ever visited.
It would seem that Crean was more worried about whether a player actually fit in.
I think in general an offer means that a school is inviting you in for an official visit, which of course is paid by the school. Then it depends on if both parties still like each other after the visit. However, local players do not really need an official visit as they often times can just come to the Al and play with the team. A player is limited to 5 or 6 (?) official visits. I suspect Ellenson will narrow his list to the 5 or 6 schools he will take official visits to. I would not expect MU or UW to be on this list, since there is no reason for him to take an official visit to either school.
Generally a player only commits after an in home visit and an official visit. However, a player of course can say he will commit at anytime, but I think a top coach would not take a player until an in home and an at least an unofficial visit has happen.
I think the biggest risk is an instate player accepting an offer and then not getting a scholarship. That can piss off the local high school coaches and have negative longtime effects.

[dgies9156]

Generally a player only commits after an in home visit and an official visit. However, a player of course can say he will commit at anytime, but I think a top coach would not take a player until an in home and an at least an unofficial visit has happen.

North Carolina Coach Dean Smith also noted that getting a player to commit also requires buy-in from the parents. He knew he had a player he wanted when the student-athlete's parents came with him to visit campus.

Maybe that's quaint in today's world, but the parents have a load of influence and if you have the parents checking a place out, you know....

[muwarrior69]

An offer is generally a conditional scholarship offer, subject to the ever-changing and very fluid recruiting landscape.

From a school's perspective: It indicates interest in a kid.

From a kid's perspective: It indicates a school might give you a scholarship if you tell them you'd like one.

In the majority of cases, it is nothing more than that.

"We have interest in you and if a number of variables work out, we'd give you a scholarship. So, if and when you're interested, let us know and we'll see where things are at."

There are certainly those unique situations where you may tell a kid that, "no matter what, there's always a spot for you here", but that is rare.

Jamil Wilson? Yes , I know he was a transfer.

[swoopem]

North Carolina Coach Dean Smith also noted that getting a player to commit also requires buy-in from the parents. He knew he had a player he wanted when the student-athlete's parents came with him to visit campus.

Maybe that's quaint in today's world, but the parents have a load of influence and if you have the parents checking a place out, you know....

Wasn't one of Al's great recruiting tactics telling the parents that their kid would receive this wonderful Catholic education and the Jesuits were going to take care of their son? Most of the times the players weren't Catholic, but it worked anyways.

That and showing up to recruits houses via the NYC subway.

[4everwarriors]

Heard if you show up at midnight in a chauffeured limo, that works every time, guaranteed.

[Brewtown Andy]

And on a related topic, how does the conversation about verbal commitments go?  Let's say a kid calls up Wojo (or whoever) and says, "Coach, I'd like to verbally commit to your school," and it turns out that the coach isn't willing to accept the commitment at that point?

Is the kid going to go somewhere else for sure?  Is he going to sit around and wait for the coach to accept the verbal commitment?

There's a lot of weird gray areas.

[keefe]

Heard if you show up at midnight in a chauffeured limo, that works every time, guaranteed.

Only on high school kids standing less than 6' 6"

[Warrior Code]

At what point do you offer the kid a Corvette you wear on your wrist?

[Tugg Speedman]

An offer is generally a conditional scholarship offer, subject to the ever-changing and very fluid recruiting landscape.

From a school's perspective: It indicates interest in a kid.

From a kid's perspective: It indicates a school might give you a scholarship if you tell them you'd like one.

In the majority of cases, it is nothing more than that.

"We have interest in you and if a number of variables work out, we'd give you a scholarship. So, if and when you're interested, let us know and we'll see where things are at."

There are certainly those unique situations where you may tell a kid that, "no matter what, there's always a spot for you here", but that is rare.

Is an offer a formal document sent to a kid or something verbal the coach tells him?

[Newsdreams]

Once had an offer to show me a good time in Vegas from a great lookin' chick. Interest wasn't mutual so I'm guessin' that was kinda conditional, hey?

Couldn't agree on a budget, hey?

[keefe]

Couldn't agree on a budget, hey?

She offered her honor
He honored her offer
And all night long
He was on her and off her

[Jay Bee]

Is an offer a formal document sent to a kid or something verbal the coach tells him?

Kids often believe there is an offer when there isn't, but can come in any form... written helps make it clear. Not a form, not standardize. VERY common to have "subject to change in circumstances / availability of a spot / (in football - availability of a position)"...

No matter the format, it's generally a "you have an offer if it works out for us... could change at any moment"

[keefe]

Kids often believe there is an offer when there isn't, but can come in any form... written helps make it clear. Not a form, not standardize. VERY common to have "subject to change in circumstances / availability of a spot / (in football - availability of a position)"...

No matter the format, it's generally a "you have an offer if it works out for us... could change at any moment"

Sounds crooked

[Jay Bee]

Sounds crooked

Not at all.

Crooked... check the many (closer to 50% than 30%) of those who divorce. Til death do us part? Hmmmph. Marriages should have such "depends on other stuff" clauses. SINNERS!!!!

[Tugg Speedman]

Sounds crooked

Sounds like a pre-teen relationship where both play hard to get.

[Texas Western]

We have some personal experience in our family with the D1 recruiting  and the "offer process", in other sports, but the same principles apply. The offers are strictly verbal until July 1st Preceding the Senior Year, at which point written communication is allowed. Still nothing is "binding" until the NLI is signed. Our own experience was that if the player verbally committed to the offer it was honored. The coaches don't want to get a reputation for not keeping their word. Even if the kid gets injured they honor the commitment. We found that the Blue Bloods of the sport for the most part also had the highest ethics and were the most truthful about things. In general we were given a finite time to act on the offer

It gets a little dicey when there are coaching changes. The new coach generally honors the old coaches commitments but will often times make it clear if a particular kid does or doesn't fit into their plans. Over recruiting is prevalent though and coaches who have a reputation for that have a limited shelf life as the best quality kids will eventually go in different directions. The over recruiters are frequently left with kids with questionable character etc. Over recruiting is also a sign the coach is not secure in their job.

My advice is if a kid has an offer he likes they should go ahead and lock it in.  The system works in your favor that way. We did that an never looked back.

[HutchwasClutch]

An offer is generally a conditional scholarship offer, subject to the ever-changing and very fluid recruiting landscape.

From a school's perspective: It indicates interest in a kid.

From a kid's perspective: It indicates a school might give you a scholarship if you tell them you'd like one.

In the majority of cases, it is nothing more than that.

"We have interest in you and if a number of variables work out, we'd give you a scholarship. So, if and when you're interested, let us know and we'll see where things are at."

There are certainly those unique situations where you may tell a kid that, "no matter what, there's always a spot for you here", but that is rare.

I think you properly summarized the Buzz Williams approach to recruiting, based on what we saw with kids like Brett Roseboro and DJ Newbill. 

I think an offer is pretty self explanatory in terms of meaning however to the vast majority of coaches out there, Buzz is hardly the norm in his approach.

Let's not over complicate this simple five letter, everyday word, geez.