7. Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State Bulldogs
Something that stuck out to me in reviewing Fresno's sterling 9-3 regular season was that the Bulldogs had only one 10-plus-win season in Pat Hill's 15 as coach. Just one. And DeRuyter, whom many coaches I know respected greatly as a defensive coordinator, can get there in just one year with a bowl victory against outmatched SMU.

Fresno is in a sense a difficult place to win, because it's difficult to draw high-end talent to that part of the state. At the same time, it's not the toughest place, because the academic standards are less stringent. Regardless of where that balance falls, DeRuyter inherited an excellent talent in quarterback Derek Carr, the younger brother of former Fresno star David Carr. After 36 TDs and five picks, Carr appears NFL-ready even if he has indicated he might stay for his senior season.

Beyond Carr, the same sort of question extends to DeRuyter. How long can Fresno keep him? He seems to have far more earmarks as an up-and-comer, compared to Hill, who was content to stay and help the program build over time. The 2012 season, the immediate turnaround to go from four wins to perhaps double digits, was impressive regardless of what the future holds.

PJLazy wrote: Huh? Our standards are lower. Relax, dude.

PJLazy wrote: Huh? Our standards are lower. Relax, dude.

PleasewintheWAC2006 wrote: The comment about it being a difficult part of the state to recruit is a joke too. The only thing that makes it difficult to recruit is there are four BCS school recruiting in the same state. Location has nothing to do with it. If that we're the case San Diego State would be a power.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

1IvyDog wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- PJLazy wrote:

Huh? Our standards are lower. Relax, dude.

---------------------------------------------

Our standards for athletes are the same as the PAC-12. So you are misinformed.

PleasewintheWAC2006 wrote: The comment about it being a difficult part of the state to recruit is a joke too. The only thing that makes it difficult to recruit is there are four BCS school recruiting in the same state. Location has nothing to do with it. If that we're the case San Diego State would be a power.

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

ZK686 wrote: Two things:


1) You're kidding yourself if you think Fresno is in a "great" recruitment area. Because it's not. It's Fresno, it has a bad rep and it's in a very undesireable area of California. No one outside of the Central Valley comes to Fresno just because it's a nice city. Talented high school players want to come to California to play football by the coast, or by the big city. That's why the PAC is so successful at getting great players to come out here.


2) We're a Cal State school, our academic standards are lower.

CSU's function: undergraduate through master's level instruction.
UC's function: undergraduate through doctrine level instruction.

It's harder to get into a UC because there are more highly qualified students applying.



Those are just facts guys.

ZK686 wrote: Two things:


1) You're kidding yourself if you think Fresno is in a "great" recruitment area. Because it's not. It's Fresno, it has a bad rep and it's in a very undesireable area of California. No one outside of the Central Valley comes to Fresno just because it's a nice city. Talented high school players want to come to California to play football by the coast, or by the big city. That's why the PAC is so successful at getting great players to come out here.


2) We're a Cal State school, our academic standards are lower.

CSU's function: undergraduate through master's level instruction.
UC's function: undergraduate through doctrine level instruction.

It's harder to get into a UC because there are more highly qualified students applying.



Those are just facts guys.

arx162218 wrote: Link... ?

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

PleasewintheWAC2006 wrote: Exactly, Doom. The location is perfect. It's a reasonable drive from the Bay or LA, plus a lot of the best players in the state come from the valley.

I wish these writers would do their research.

ZK686 wrote: Two things:


1) You're kidding yourself if you think Fresno is in a "great" recruitment area. Because it's not. It's Fresno, it has a bad rep and it's in a very undesireable area of California. No one outside of the Central Valley comes to Fresno just because it's a nice city. Talented high school players want to come to California to play football by the coast, or by the big city. That's why the PAC is so successful at getting great players to come out here.


2) We're a Cal State school, our academic standards are lower.

CSU's function: undergraduate through master's level instruction.
UC's function: undergraduate through doctrine level instruction.

It's harder to get into a UC because there are more highly qualified students applying.



Those are just facts guys.

Fangdog wrote: In terms of recruiting football players, ask any Fresno assistant coach who has or had the responsibility recruiting players for Fresno. Fresno being central, is the most ideal location in the State of California. Coaches can be home most nights and can have more personal eye-ball to eye-ball with recruits North and South. 

The Fresno location excuse may had worked well for Pat Hill followers, but it won't fly with DeRyuter championship-caliber Fresno State football teams.

Fresneckistani wrote:

Fangdog wrote: In terms of recruiting football players, ask any Fresno assistant coach who has or had the responsibility recruiting players for Fresno. Fresno being central, is the most ideal location in the State of California. Coaches can be home most nights and can have more personal eye-ball to eye-ball with recruits North and South. 

The Fresno location excuse may had worked well for Pat Hill followers, but it won't fly with DeRyuter championship-caliber Fresno State football teams.

Hyrim wrote: It is harder to get into a UC than CSU in general, but there are many exceptions (Cal Poly has one of the top Architectural Schools in the country and many other CSU programs can say the same). Overall though, CU gets a lot more support. The CSU system is (more) for the people that don't have the silver spoon in their mouth upon birth but still have great abilities.

Of course, this is completely separate from the argument that a football player might go to a CSU program instead of a CU program because they can't meet the minimum requirements. That's hogwash. The minimum requirements are the same. If we were talking walk-ons, that would be different, but I don't think that is what this conversation is about. It seems to be about scholarship receiving athletes that CU can't sign because they don't meet the minimum requirements.

LuDog70 wrote:

ZK686 wrote: Two things:


1) You're kidding yourself if you think Fresno is in a "great" recruitment area. Because it's not. It's Fresno, it has a bad rep and it's in a very undesireable area of California. No one outside of the Central Valley comes to Fresno just because it's a nice city. Talented high school players want to come to California to play football by the coast, or by the big city. That's why the PAC is so successful at getting great players to come out here.


2) We're a Cal State school, our academic standards are lower.

CSU's function: undergraduate through master's level instruction.
UC's function: undergraduate through doctrine level instruction.

It's harder to get into a UC because there are more highly qualified students applying.



Those are just facts guys.

No they aren't the facts.  Have you applied lately?  My kid has applied and I know what she faced.  The BSN program at State is a 3 year wait and you don't even get in line if you're less than a 4.0.  There are multi-year waiting periods for the Educational Dept's 5th year Credential Program.  There are other examples.  

I know kids who have played at Pac-12 Schools and whose grades were <2.85 GPA and wouldn't be admitted as a regular student anywhere but a JC. 

Cut out the inferiority crap.  There are a lot of kids who are just as academically talented who go to State for their BA/BS, MA/MS and go on to be as or more successful than their UC counteparts.  As far as desirability goes, I'll the proximity to the Sierras anyday over a downtown L.A. slum.  By your rationale, Long Beach State or UC Stanta Barbara should be Football Powerhouses.

Hyrim wrote: Also, the silver spoon doesn't only mean being born rich, it also applies to having caring parents that strive to make sure their kids are well prepared for life. I imagine a much lower percentage of single parent, inter-city and low-income kids go to CSU instead of CU (of those that even go to college).

I don't think it means they aren't as intelligent or capable, but they haven't had the support that those from more well to do families can provide. There are many examples of "over-achievers" going beyond their circumstances, but it's not the norm.

LuDog70 wrote:

Hyrim wrote: Also, the silver spoon doesn't only mean being born rich, it also applies to having caring parents that strive to make sure their kids are well prepared for life. I imagine a much lower percentage of single parent, inter-city and low-income kids go to CSU instead of CU (of those that even go to college).

I don't think it means they aren't as intelligent or capable, but they haven't had the support that those from more well to do families can provide. There are many examples of "over-achievers" going beyond their circumstances, but it's not the norm.

My UC and Private School Grad employees constantly remind me that I'm intellectually inferior due to my CSU pedigree, I then tell them to get back to work.  

Fresneckistani wrote: Since 100% legit/accurate numbers are not kept, here are two links for you:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/...otball/1656329/

http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/aprRelease.jsp

arx162218 wrote: Link... ?

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

Fresneckistani wrote: Since 100% legit/accurate numbers are not kept, here are two links for you:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/...otball/1656329/

http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/aprRelease.jsp

arx162218 wrote: Link... ?

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

Fresneckistani wrote: Since 100% legit/accurate numbers are not kept, here are two links for you:
www.usatoday.com/story/...otball/1656329/

web1.ncaa.org/maps/aprRelease.jsp

arx162218 wrote: Link... ?

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

Bulld0g8588 wrote:

Fresneckistani wrote: Since 100% legit/accurate numbers are not kept, here are two links for you:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/...otball/1656329/

http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/aprRelease.jsp

arx162218 wrote: Link... ?

Fresneckistani wrote: Regardless of where his comments are placed, the facts remain the same.

21Dog wrote:
The author can stick his "academics standards" comments up his ill-informed ###.

Boise State is #4 on that list. Argument over. You lose.