They seemed like natural questions. With Northwest High star quarterback Ike Whitaker choosing Virginia Tech over Maryland just four days after the Hokies’ 55-6 whipping of the Terrapins, did that game make a difference in Whitaker’s decision-making? And how much, if any, will that loss affect Maryland’s recruiting efforts?
The two schools regularly compete for the same players. And if a recruit deems the schools comparable, will such a lopsided score have an impact?
According to Whitaker and Northwest Coach Randy Trivers, the Virginia Tech-Maryland game played no role in Whitaker’s decision or its timing.
“If it was the other way around, my decision would still be the same,” Whitaker said. “Good teams lose. Good teams win. Miami lost to North Carolina. Whoever thought Miami would lose to North Carolina? Teams lose all the time. That’s really not a factor.”
Maryland recruiting coordinator James Franklin said he, too, does not think one game can change a team’s recruiting fortunes. However, several local high school coaches said they think Maryland might take a slight hit from the outcome.
“It could just be a temporary thing,” Eleanor Roosevelt Coach Rick Houchens said. “But I think kids will be influenced by that.”
Said Trivers: “One school could say, ‘Look what happened on the field. Look at the result.’ I would imagine in some cases it has some effect. But I wouldn’t say it’s a major factor where they’re going to lose a bunch of recruits. I think their overall record is more important than one lopsided loss.”
Even if there is an impact, it will not be felt for some time. Most of the teams in college football’s six power conferences are nearly through with their recruiting of high school seniors. Only a handful of top prospects remain uncommitted, though that group includes Randallstown defensive end Melvin Alaeze, who is considering Maryland and Virginia Tech. Besides, the rout to Virginia Tech came less than three weeks after Maryland’s 20-17 victory over Florida State, one that some players called the biggest in the program’s history.
With three consecutive 10-win seasons before this one, the Terrapins believe they have built a foundation that will not shake after one bad game, Franklin said.
“One win is not going to turn a program around,” Franklin said. “One loss is not going to hurt a program either.
“I think you can look at it from a couple different perspectives. It’s not like losses in years in the past because of what we’ve done the last three years. We’re a proven winner. It’s not like people are going to panic now because of what we’ve accomplished the last three years. … I think coaches worry about it more than the players.”
Whitaker said his decision was based on a gut feeling and his comfort level with Virginia Tech’s coaching staff. He said the fact that the Hokies were the first school to offer him a scholarship – after his sophomore season – was “a big deal.”
Immediate playing time was less of a factor, Whitaker said. With Bryan Randall completing his eligibility this season, the Hokies will be looking for a new starter next season, though it remains unclear if Marcus Vick will return to Blacksburg in the fall of 2005 after his suspension for off-field problems. If Vick does not return, Whitaker figures to compete with freshman Sean Glennon (an All-Met last season at Westfield High) and redshirt freshman Cory Holt for the starting job.
“I think every freshman would want to play, but as quarterback it might be difficult,” Whitaker said. “Me playing my first year or redshirting my first year, it doesn’t matter. I’m just going to work hard. … I’m never scared of competition. I love competition. You get better playing against people your ability and better.”
After averaging 9.2 points per game last winter for the Northwest basketball team, Whitaker said he plans to run indoor track instead this winter in an attempt to better prepare for next football season.
Spurrier No Stranger to D.C. Area
With Steve Spurrier returning to the sidelines at South Carolina, there figures to be one more player in local recruiting circles. Although the Gamecocks traditionally have not done much recruiting in the Washington area, given Spurrier’s time with the Redskins and the fact that his son has played wide receiver for Loudoun County the past two seasons, it would not be surprising to see South Carolina contact local players.
“You’ve got to listen” if Spurrier comes calling, Whitaker said. “I’m not saying you have to hop on there, but you have to listen. Any quarterback would say the same thing.”
Eleanor Roosevelt star Derrick Williams plans to visit Tennessee this weekend and make a decision in the next few weeks so he can enroll in college for the spring semester. While time is running low on that schedule, Houchens said he expects to hear from Spurrier or his assistants.
“I would think we would hear something from them,” Houchens said. “I think [Derrick] would listen. He’s still at the point right now where he’s going to listen to any opportunity that definitely is in his best interests for the future.
“With [Spurrier’s] track record, any good recruit would definitely listen, even if they had a stronger viewpoint about [somewhere] else. They should say, ‘Okay, this guy brings so much to the table,’ that you would at least sit down and see what this guy has to offer.”
