Someone explain to me what happened after 2003

[bshea85]

What exactly happened after 2003 that caused Snyder to retire in the first place?  Like I know the team sucked with two losing records in 2004 and 2005, but how can you go from a top team like that to a loser so quickly?  Was it the same thing that happened after 2012 just a mass exodus of talent with no depth?

My questions are specifically targeted at people ITK.

[Trim]

Ell left.

[Mels Fish Bowl]

Bret Bielema left for Wisconsin.

[Winters]

Ell left.

[michigancat]

I would argue it started in 1999 when Stoops, Mangino, and Venables left

[michigancat]

I would argue it started in 1999 when Stoops, Mangino, and Venables left

because recruiting got worse if you couldn't tell

[MadCat]

Taco Bell introduced the Mountain Dew BAJA BLAST!

[michigancat]

I would argue it started in 1999 when Stoops, Mangino, and Venables left

because recruiting got worse if you couldn't tell

on a similar note, if you want to know what happened in 2011/2012, he walked into an elite QB leftover from Prince, some elite local transfers, and an NFL WR legacy recruit.

[michigancat]

it's always about the players

[bshea85]

it's always about the players

So where is Bill on the recruiting trail today?

[michigancat]

it's always about the players

So where is Bill on the recruiting trail today?

I'm told he's weighing his options

[Blackcats]

Someone convinced Bill that after 98 we could stop mining JuCo and start landing 4&5 star studs. So they started to go that direction. The blue blood helmet teams had already started to recruit the JuCos so there was less there anyway and Bill embraced the new recruiting philosophy.

Unfortunately, by the time we were supposed to have a big class in 2000, we whiffed on several and had to scramble. We were still winning 11 games a year so they continued down the same path. Whiffed again and an ensuing scramble began. The final year, 2003, Bill was all in on some real studs...didn't land one. the cupboard was bare. 

So Bill tried to fill with JuCos in 2004 but was behind the ball and got meh. 2005 we didn't have a full team. Bill saw that we weren't win to magically get guys so he hung it up with the hopes that new blood would help...and Prince's first class was Freeman and 2 million JuCo guys.

When Bill came back resolved not to chase 4&5 stars. Find the gems and coach 'em up. Well, he did great at coaching up Prince's recruits...but he's never brought in the talent that Prince did, and it shows on the field.

[chum1]

I remember an annual tradition of excitement/disappointment over one stud QB recruit per year that we were in on then ultimately never landed.

[dmartin]

I remember an annual tradition of excitement/disappointment over one stud QB recruit per year that we were in on then ultimately never landed.

Cam Newton..... 

[Katpappy]

YES exactly, I heard this from statements Snyder made after he came back.  Didn't he explain this in a book about him? 

[Blackcats]

YES exactly, I heard this from statements Snyder made after he came back.  Didn't he explain this in a book about him?

Not sure, but that wouldn’t surprise me. He told me why he hung it up at a Chamber dinner in South Central KS in 2007(?), and I remember him mentioning it when he came back.

[Cire]

The 01/02/03 recruiting classes were gigantic duds.

[MakeItRain]

Ell left.

Karna for what Bill did to Ell.

[michigancat]

I like the part where he blamed someone else for convincing him to recruit elite recruits. #leadership

[Cire]

Massive whiffs on Daniel DAvis, Marvin Simmons, Nick Patton, The Olineman that Stole the Baseballs,

[CHONGS]

Can you imagine how badly Bill would have imploded at a school like Alabama or USC?  Coaches like Saban never get enough credit for managing elite recruits.

[pissclams]

Can you imagine how badly Bill would have imploded at a school like Alabama or USC?  Coaches like Saban never get enough credit for managing elite recruits.

briles didn't either

[Steffy08]

Well, he did great at coaching up Prince's recruits...but he's never brought in the talent that Prince did, and it shows on the field.

I’m not sure you even believe this crap

[Steffy08]

Can you imagine how badly Bill would have imploded at a school like Alabama or USC?  Coaches like Saban never get enough credit for managing elite recruits.

briles didn't either

Snyder compared unfavorably to Prince and Briles in the same thread.   

Lots of despicable people on this board.

[WildcatPower]

YES exactly, I heard this from statements Snyder made after he came back.  Didn't he explain this in a book about him?

Not sure, but that wouldn’t surprise me. He told me why he hung it up at a Chamber dinner in South Central KS in 2007(?), and I remember him mentioning it when he came back.

I believe it was mentioned on the "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" book.  I don't have it here on my hand, but I'm certain it was mentioned there.