Great Schafer Interview (Topher Scott confirmed as 2nd Assistant)

pfibiger · June 30, 2011, 08:44:07 PM

http://1160espn.com/podcasts/

First link on the page.

Talks about recruiting schedules, where scoring will come from (never had a top 30 ushl scoring come in, this year we have 2 top 10), Ferlin "fell in love with Cornell after seeing us at the Florida tournament," that Topher is the 2nd assistant, Financial Aid and that "8 of 10 of our new recruits couldn't have afforded to come to Cornell under the old financial aid rules."

CAS · June 30, 2011, 09:15:40 PM

Agree, great interview! Coach Schafer sounded very excited in talking about what he called his best recruiting class in all his Cornell years.

jeff '84 · June 30, 2011, 09:50:25 PM

Great, thanks!

Trotsky · July 01, 2011, 09:43:44 AM

Schafer himself has improved tremendously over the years as a speaker for both the program specifically and Cornell in general. He's always been sincere and funny, but he would not have made such cogent and organized responses even a few years ago.

This was a pleasure to listen to; thanks for posting it.

Trotsky · July 01, 2011, 09:45:27 AM

Quote from: CASCoach Schafer sounded very excited in talking about what he called his best recruiting class in all his Cornell years.

He's *really* high on them. "It wasn't so bad the last few years, but this is just a different level of talent."

The 8 out of 10 quote was stunning. It makes you wonder (a little) who we missed out on in 2007 through 2010. But hopefully the gap has been closed now.

pfibiger · July 01, 2011, 09:49:37 AM

Quote from: TrotskyThe 8 out of 10 quote was stunning. It makes you wonder (a little) who we missed out on in 2007 through 2010. But hopefully the gap has been closed now.

There's a part of the interview where Schafer says something very close to "If our fans and boosters found out the players we missed on because they couldn't afford to come to Cornell under the old financial aid rules, they would go ballistic."

He seemed confident that the type of recruit represented by this incoming class is the New World Order. The early look at the next two years looks really promising, I guess we'll have to see what happens with the same financial aid policies and two new recruiters.

ithacat · July 01, 2011, 11:51:30 AM

Interesting comment also on Brekke leaving because he thought Cornell could no longer compete at that financial disadvantage.

KeithK · July 01, 2011, 02:45:47 PM

I enjoyed the discussion of the age of various players. Cornell had a lot of older players about 10 years ago (e.g. Denis Ladouceur). I hadn't really been paying attention to the ages of late since I'm no longer putting together rosters but I think it's a god sign that the team is one of the youngest in the league, as Schafer mentions. An old team can be good but there's probably more uncertainty as a rule because you have to be looking for diamonds in the rough as opposed to blue chippers.

KeithK · July 01, 2011, 02:52:18 PM

Since I obviously haven't been paying attention can anyone point me to a story or press release about the new financial aid policies?

kaelistus · July 01, 2011, 03:18:57 PM

No link but essentially Cornell will now match any financial aid offers from other Ivys as well as make Cornell free for families earning less than 75k.

The latter is great but the former... It actually makes me a little bit angry because in my mind that is absolutely a financial aid policy based on merit as opposed to need. AKA If you can get into Princeton you will be getting more financial aid than if you can't (or don't apply).

CAS · July 01, 2011, 03:51:17 PM

The former is great too. Matching awards of other Ivies helps some students and disadvantages no one. It is additive to Cornell's financial aid budget.
Please remember to sign your gift checks to Cornell.

kaelistus · July 01, 2011, 03:59:27 PM

It absolutely disadvantages. I'm assuming that Cornell has a fixed amount of money to spread around. By adding a merit based component they are decreasing the amount of general money pool for use in other things (Such as keeping the actual tuition costs, or to improve financial aid across all people, not just the ones that got into Princeton).

Plus, need and no merit based financial aid has been an Ivy tenet for years. I feel Cornell is betraying itself.

CAS · July 01, 2011, 04:10:39 PM

If we want to compete for the best [students and athletes], I believe it is necessary. We are just trying to compete on an equal financial playing field.

Ken711 · July 01, 2011, 04:21:05 PM

Quote from: CASIf we want to compete for the best [students and athletes], I believe it is necessary. We are just trying to compete on an equal financial playing field.

Kent Austin said it was the main reason they were able to bring in such a strong recruiting class in football as well, not losing kids to the financial packages offered by HYP.

min · July 02, 2011, 07:44:59 AM

It was also interesting that Coach Schafer offered some very high praise for Athletic Director Andy Noel.