Downtown_Skill t1_jcjahbo wrote on March 17, 2023 at 6:19 AM

Reply to comment by ShadyCrow in No. 15 Princeton shocks No. 2 Arizona with come-from-behind upset by okgusto

My high school coach used to say this. We were a team who had 8 players go to NAIA schools, D3 or played for a community college including myself (although I'm far from D1 talent). My coach used to tell us, for encouragement, the difference between a D3 player and a D1 player is usually 3 or 4 inches for every position. The skill is still the same.

Maybe it's not entirely true but there is some truth to it. There's also usually a big difference in athleticism but he didn't mention that haha.

jack_spankin t1_jcjphy3 wrote on March 17, 2023 at 9:54 AM

It’s absolutely true. I spent years in higher education from BIG10 and Big12 down to naia. Of those 1/2 were spent in athletics focused residential halls.

But there is also huge small school bias or bias against states not known for producing high level talent at that sport.

But your point is spot on. Coaches are often obsessed with height. Hell you’ll see absolute trash players get recruited with zero skill because they hover at near 7’

munchies777 t1_jck439k wrote on March 17, 2023 at 12:36 PM

Probably because they have a bias towards their own coaching abilities. They think they can teach skill, but obviously no one can teach height.

littlesymphonicdispl t1_jcledi6 wrote on March 17, 2023 at 5:55 PM

Guy i played high school football with got recruited by Pitt to play LT, because in high school he was 6'6 and 300lbs or so.

He was also absolute dogshit and never played in college. I was a backup linebacker and during our practices I'd line up at Defensive End against him specifically because I knew it'd increase my chances of playing, because I'd burn him off the snap every. Single. Play.

You can't coach size, so coaches go nuts for it, but having size doesn't mean they'll ever be able to coach you into becoming a decent player