I know there have been several similar threads, but I’m going to start another one anyway. Sue me! 😀😀😀
I started following MU football upon the arrival of Dan Devine in 1958. I attained the ripe old age of 9 years old around the first game of that season.
Recruiting was nothing at all then like it is now.
during the Devine years and probably Onofrio, too, you learned about the class when it was reported in the paper after signing day.
Later, there were newsletters like Max Emfinger’s and a few others; it was exciting when two or three prospects even mentioned Mizzou.
The Rivals era has changed so much of what it means to follow recruiting. And of course, recruiting itself has changed immeasurably.
But here’s the thing, historically, for me:
I cannot recall any back to back classes that come close to what Drink is doing. I thought the ‘21 class was outstanding, but it looks like the ‘22 edition might surpass it by a lot.
Yes, Devine, Onofrio, Powers, and Pinkel had many recruiting successes. But they never pulled in this many top-rated kids from both in and out of state, one on top of the other. In all my years we’ve had 3 (I think) players from Nebraska. It was not unusual for 3 Missouri players to sign with the nubs in a single year!
Names like Wistrom, Rucker, Brooks, Davis, and Compton come easily to mind. It was galling, to say the least.
Yes, the recruiting success MUST translate to wins and championships, but right now we have recruiting at an unprecedented level. Let’s enjoy it to the hilt. I, for one, don’t have another 63 years for it to come around again. 😀
I started following MU football upon the arrival of Dan Devine in 1958. I attained the ripe old age of 9 years old around the first game of that season.
Recruiting was nothing at all then like it is now.
during the Devine years and probably Onofrio, too, you learned about the class when it was reported in the paper after signing day.
Later, there were newsletters like Max Emfinger’s and a few others; it was exciting when two or three prospects even mentioned Mizzou.
The Rivals era has changed so much of what it means to follow recruiting. And of course, recruiting itself has changed immeasurably.
But here’s the thing, historically, for me:
I cannot recall any back to back classes that come close to what Drink is doing. I thought the ‘21 class was outstanding, but it looks like the ‘22 edition might surpass it by a lot.
Yes, Devine, Onofrio, Powers, and Pinkel had many recruiting successes. But they never pulled in this many top-rated kids from both in and out of state, one on top of the other. In all my years we’ve had 3 (I think) players from Nebraska. It was not unusual for 3 Missouri players to sign with the nubs in a single year!
Names like Wistrom, Rucker, Brooks, Davis, and Compton come easily to mind. It was galling, to say the least.
Yes, the recruiting success MUST translate to wins and championships, but right now we have recruiting at an unprecedented level. Let’s enjoy it to the hilt. I, for one, don’t have another 63 years for it to come around again. 😀
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