T1B

Recruiting: Royal doesn't miss old days, but Switzer loved competition

Web Posted: 02/01/2006 12:00 AM CST

Dan McCarney
Express-News Staff Writer

On national signing day in 1986, Hempstead running back Harvey Williams headed to school with every intention of signing with Texas A&M.

Until ...

"I was walking down the hall and I heard this girl yell, 'A&M!' and two other people started singing the A&M fight song," Williams said at the time. "I got a little bit mad. I kind of cursed a little bit. I just said, 'Forget it; I'm going to LSU.'"

One can only imagine what it was about the "Aggie War Hymn" that provoked such a response from Williams, then the state's most coveted recruit.

Whatever the cause, the change of heart was merely business as usual for what used to be the most unpredictable day in college football.

"Singing day was like the Wild West," said recruiting guru Tom Lemming, who has followed the industry since 1979. "Anything went."

Fast forward to the present, where the trend of early commitments, not to mention NCAA legislation, has drained much of the thrill. Today, signing day dawns with only five of the Express-News State Top 100 still undecided.

There always will be the occasional surprise. Just last year, blue-chip quarterback Ryan Perrilloux remained committed to Texas before signing with LSU at the last minute.

But in contrast to years past, much of today's recruiting class is assembled before the new year arrives. In fact, Dallas Wilson linebacker Sergio Kindle, the No. 1 prospect in Texas, not only committed to UT last summer, he's already enrolled after graduating from high school early.

That's a far cry from when even high-profile coaches like UT's Darrell Royal couldn't count on a commitment until he signed. Even then, you weren't entirely sure a player was yours until he suited up and was ready to practice.

"Recruiting has changed dramatically, I think for the better," Royal said. "It's taken some of the drama out, but I don't think anybody enjoyed it the way it used to be. That was hard work. It's one of the reasons I retired pretty young."

This coming from a man who won far more recruiting battles than he lost.

One of Royal's most notable triumphs came with running back Earl Campbell.

According to Campbell's Web site, Royal stationed his East Texas recruiter at the Tyler Ramada Inn for 17-straight days leading up to signing day in 1974. Royal, still fearing a late swoop from Oklahoma's Barry Switzer, then insisted on being at Campbell's home at 8 a.m. sharp to collect his signature personally.

"You knew you'd signed a prize when we got Earl," Royal recalled. "That was pleasant. But it was all those that led you right up to signing day and changed their mind that took it out of you. They were just playing the game."

Even at 81, Royal still remembers the sting of losing a recruit in the 11th hour all too well.

He vividly recalls an instance in the 1960s when a player from Midland called to tell Royal he was ready to sign. Royal, who was at a speaking engagement in the Rio Grande Valley, flew to Midland immediately via private jet.

He arrived at the prospect's house to find it empty.

"That's when I knew we lost him," said Royal, who declined to identify the player. "Turns out Oklahoma had him off to the side, and they ended up getting him. If you want to call that fun and exciting ..."

One coach who enjoyed the recruiting roller coaster was Switzer.

A man who never met a mother he couldn't schmooze or a player he couldn't sway, Switzer had few peers when it came to luring prospects. For him, signing day was equivalent to the Super Bowl.

"I relished it," he said. "You're selling a school, a product, and you wanted to seal the deal. It was competitive. At times it even got personal."

Switzer's finest moment came in 1975, when he personally signed eight Texans — including Jay quarterback Thomas Lott — during a one-day whirlwind. A few days later, Switzer landed one of the greatest Sooners ever — Hooks running back Billy Sims, who went on to win the 1978 Heisman Trophy.

"I wanted another player, Kenny King, who I knew I could get if I was there in person, and I couldn't be both places at once," said Switzer, who made seven trips to watch Sims play during his senior year.

"So I convinced Billy that if he waited a few days, he'd get all the attention. Billy thought that was a hell of an idea."

Best known for his limitless reservoir of charm, Switzer also had a secret weapon.

The night before signing day, he often would sleep overnight on the couch of his No. 1 target, which was then legal. Not only did it give him an early start, but Switzer also was able to guard the phone against any last-ditch sales pitch from an opposing coach.

Once, Nebraska's Tom Osborne made such a call only to have Switzer answer. Osborne instantly hung up and crossed the player off his list.

"That's a true story," Switzer said.

So was the instance in the early 1980s when Switzer bounded from the house of Alvin Ross, a top-flight running back from Chicago, and through a group of stunned Big Ten coaches who were knocking on the door.

"He said, 'You're too late, boys,' and he walked off," Lemming said.

Such tales have diminished for many reasons, including scholarship limitations and the desire of coaches and players to finish the recruiting process as early as possible.

The biggest factor, however, was the so-called "death penalty" levied against SMU in 1987 for numerous rules violations.

In one fell swoop, the NCAA made it clear that college football's not-so-secret recruiting tool, the illegal payoff, no longer would be tolerated.

"It still goes on, but not nearly like it used to," Lemming said. "That was a huge part of recruiting, especially in your part of the country.

"You never knew who was going where because of all the money being thrown around. And the big money came out in the end. That's why you saw so much action."

Lemming remembers asking one coach how his school had let a particular recruit get away.

"I go, 'I thought you had him,'" Lemming said. "He puts his fingers up about an inch apart and says, 'We were only $30,000 away.'"

Like Royal, Lemming said he's happy recruiting has been cleaned up. Still, there's a part of him that longs for the old days.

"A lot of the excitement is gone," he said. "Signing day is anticlimactic. It was aggravating, but it was also a lot of fun. You never knew what was going to happen."

Left Seater wrote:No one needs a head coach sleeping in your house

Left Seater wrote:I still think the amount of contact from coaches is too much.

SunCoastSooner wrote: "I was walking down the hall and I heard this girl yell, 'A&M!' and two other people started singing the A&M fight song,"

Vito Corleone wrote:Nothing compares to recruiting in the 50's when there were no rules. These kids were going to the highest bidder and the schools could sign as many kids as they wanted.

campinfool wrote:

Vito Corleone wrote:Nothing compares to recruiting in the 50's when there were no rules. These kids were going to the highest bidder and the schools could sign as many kids as they wanted.

No wonder OU had their 47 game win streak during that time, always cheating. Come to think of it Stoops is responsible for the only non- cheating title they have ever won. 50's recruiting corruption and Switzer renegade program, you almost can't blame Okies for being too dumb to realize they should be ashamed of their past.

campinfool wrote:

Vito Corleone wrote:Nothing compares to recruiting in the 50's when there were no rules. These kids were going to the highest bidder and the schools could sign as many kids as they wanted.

No wonder OU had their 47 game win streak during that time, always cheating. Come to think of it Stoops is responsible for the only non- cheating title they have ever won. 50's recruiting corruption and Switzer renegade program, you almost can't blame Okies for being too dumb to realize they should be ashamed of their past.

SunCoastSooner wrote:

campinfool wrote:

Vito Corleone wrote:Nothing compares to recruiting in the 50's when there were no rules. These kids were going to the highest bidder and the schools could sign as many kids as they wanted.

No wonder OU had their 47 game win streak during that time, always cheating. Come to think of it Stoops is responsible for the only non- cheating title they have ever won. 50's recruiting corruption and Switzer renegade program, you almost can't blame Okies for being too dumb to realize they should be ashamed of their past.

Most of Oklahoma's players in the 50's were soldiers coming back from WWII. Many of them had served with Bud Wilkenson as well. Oklahoma dominated in the 50's because we had Military men playing against college age boys in many places.

Royal and Akers cheated as well. every team in the country were doing these things back then.

campinfool wrote:

Vito Corleone wrote:Nothing compares to recruiting in the 50's when there were no rules. These kids were going to the highest bidder and the schools could sign as many kids as they wanted.

No wonder OU had their 47 game win streak during that time, always cheating. Come to think of it Stoops is responsible for the only non- cheating title they have ever won. 50's recruiting corruption and Switzer renegade program, you almost can't blame Okies for being too dumb to realize they should be ashamed of their past.

campinfool wrote:Would rather lose with dignity than win by cheating. I know recruiting was pretty unethical during that time, but NO ONE can deny how much Okies are lowdown cheating peices of crap. Can't win jack when palying by the rules. I'm sure Stoops just hasn't been caught for illegal crap yet.

The night before signing day, he often would sleep overnight on the couch of his No. 1 target, which was then legal. Not only did it give him an early start, but Switzer also was able to guard the phone against any last-ditch sales pitch from an opposing coach.

King Crimson wrote:

campinfool wrote:Would rather lose with dignity than win by cheating. I know recruiting was pretty unethical during that time, but NO ONE can deny how much Okies are lowdown cheating peices of crap. Can't win jack when palying by the rules. I'm sure Stoops just hasn't been caught for illegal crap yet.

this guy is an embarrassment to the board or a troll. Froz already posted the Baylor fan thing he denied. and the continual insults are not a "take"....they are just insults.

my "lowdown lying cheating piece of crap" Okie grandfather has a Purple Heart and an Air Corps Medal of Honor, each of his 4 brothers returned from WW II decorated....and a black baseball player who made it to triple AAA under Tommy Lasorda....lived in my G-Dad's house as a son....while DKR was only playing white players. so, i deny it--or i take issue with your definition of "piece of crap".

if you want to make circle-jerk dumbfuck statements about people maybe hornfans.com is for you?

Jimmy Medalions wrote:

The night before signing day, he often would sleep overnight on the couch of his No. 1 target, which was then legal. Not only did it give him an early start, but Switzer also was able to guard the phone against any last-ditch sales pitch from an opposing coach.

Rack the fuck outta that. Recruiting was, and is, a dirty business. Rack Barry for gettin' er done.

Cornhusker wrote:

Jimmy Medalions wrote:

The night before signing day, he often would sleep overnight on the couch of his No. 1 target, which was then legal. Not only did it give him an early start, but Switzer also was able to guard the phone against any last-ditch sales pitch from an opposing coach.

Rack the fuck outta that. Recruiting was, and is, a dirty business. Rack Barry for gettin' er done.

Barry was Barry and holds an undying amount of respect with all Cornhusker fans.
But he did lose Turner Gill to the Doctor.

the_ouskull wrote:...oh, and just for you, campinfuck...

- Dec 19, 1988 University of Oklahoma Improper transportation; extra benefits; complimentary tickets; improper re ...
- Nov 11, 1980 University of Oklahoma Improper financial aid; improper recruiting contacts, entertainment and tra ...
- Sep 20, 1973 University of Oklahoma Extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements; lodging, publicity and tra ...
- Jan 11, 1960 University of Oklahoma Improper financial aid; improper recruiting inducements; outside fund; lack ...
- Jan 11, 1956 University of Oklahoma Improper transportation; extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements. ...

OU has won National Championships in 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, and 2000. That's seven... (Sorry, no Alabama math.)

We'll assume that "cheating" benefits a school for four years in the future... This would "taint" 2 of our seven, still giving us more than Tejas. Tejas, on the other hand, loses one (1969) of its four, giving it a total of 3, which IS less than five... hence my point, that, we're better than you at football, AND "cheating." Dipshit.

the_ouskull

the_ouskull wrote: we're better than you at football, AND "cheating."

the_ouskull

Vito Corleone wrote:

the_ouskull wrote:...oh, and just for you, campinfuck...

- Dec 19, 1988 University of Oklahoma Improper transportation; extra benefits; complimentary tickets; improper re ...
- Nov 11, 1980 University of Oklahoma Improper financial aid; improper recruiting contacts, entertainment and tra ...
- Sep 20, 1973 University of Oklahoma Extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements; lodging, publicity and tra ...
- Jan 11, 1960 University of Oklahoma Improper financial aid; improper recruiting inducements; outside fund; lack ...
- Jan 11, 1956 University of Oklahoma Improper transportation; extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements. ...

OU has won National Championships in 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, and 2000. That's seven... (Sorry, no Alabama math.)

We'll assume that "cheating" benefits a school for four years in the future... This would "taint" 2 of our seven, still giving us more than Tejas. Tejas, on the other hand, loses one (1969) of its four, giving it a total of 3, which IS less than five... hence my point, that, we're better than you at football, AND "cheating." Dipshit.

the_ouskull

You left off the spying on the Texas practice. POS

I wish switzer was here now I would kick him in the nuts.

Vito Corleone wrote:You left off the spying on the Texas practice. POS

I wish switzer was here now I would kick him in the nuts.