Recruiting…

You live in the flyover states. No wonder the bitterness. 

I actually don’t disagree with a lot of that.  I think many also just have unrealistic expectations.  We have been P5 for 7 years now and are already outperforming/recruiting more than half of those teams.  I think it takes more time than some fans are willing to allow.  The last several recruiting classes have been very solid, add that with this year’s class and transfers and I feel we are still on an upward projection.  

Utah rarely recruits kids from the midwest, so not sure how the perceptions of Utah’s weather in the midwest matter (and it is no surprise they don’t complain about Utah weather… because Utah’s weather is typically better than in the midwest).

Utah largely recruits kids from California, Texas, and Florida. Those are warm weather states. People in warm weather states DO complain about living in snow and cold weather. All other things being equal, if I have the option of living in Westwood or SLC, I am choosing Westwood almost everytime because it is amazing to go to the beach in December and January. Is that the only obstacle for Utah’s recruiting? No, but it is an obstacle for some.

Then there is the metropolitan size. Some kids want to be in big cities, near media centers. Some do not. But for those that want to be on the biggest stages, they will prefer LA (and to a lesser extent Seattle and Bay Area). Some kids prefer the college town environment (ala Eugene, Tucson, Boulder, or Pullman). SLC is midsize – not a college town, and not major metro area. As a midsize city, it has its own appeal, but it is not for everyone.

Some kids like the idea of playing close to home, but many do not want to attend the “local” school. They want to get away from home. That is an obstacle for many in-state recruits. As a high school kid, it is often far sexier to tell your friends that you are going to (name any big out of state school in the Pac 12) versus going to the same school where most of your classmates are headed. The grass is not always greener, but there is the perception that it is. 

Does mormon “culture” pose an obstacle to some? Sure, but I think you are far far overstating. Why does Colorado not out-recruit Utah every year? Utah outrecruits at least 1/2 of the Pac 12. Is there a culture in those areas that keeps recruits away? You are so blinded by your disdain for mormons that you lose rationality. Most people in the west are not as scared of mormons as you and your echo chamber are (hence the reason SLC is one of the fastest growing metros in the country – those aren’t all mormons moving there).

Also, a B- for Whit this year? Utah played one of the hardest schedules in the Pac 12, lost its starting running back, starting QB, and top receiver, yet won the South Division and was a close loss away from the Rose Bowl. How does that result in a B- coaching job?

This is where your prejudices and bitterness really manifest themselves. And why your credibility suffers on this board. You are unable to see things objectively because you have some massive chip on your shoulder toward mormons (and by extension, Whitt). 

We are rated #26 over the last 5 years in FBS.  Look at all the teams behind us, we’ve passed many of them over the last several years.  We are doing pretty well overall as a program, but there is some room to grow.

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2019/2/5/18211679/college-football-rankings-last-five-years-florida-state-pac-12

How would you propose fixing the situation?

Pace – when was the last time you were in the state of Utah?

I disagree on your 98% number. While that is a factor, there are others. I think the climate, as in snow, is a large factor. That’s why they built the tunnel to the Huntsman from the basketball facility.