Article

Jamrog sees importance of area programs

December 24th, 2004
By Chad Courrier
Free Press

Coach Jeff Jamrog is convinced that he can build a national championship team at Minnesota State, but he can't do that with only Mankato players, or even exclusively south-central Minnesota players.

However, he can't ignore this area and its improving high school football, either. Which is why Jamrog and his staff didn't waste any time getting to know the programs and personnel at Mankato West, Mankato East and Mankato Loyola.

"The first day he was hired, right after his press conference, he gave me a call, just to introduce himself," Loyola coach Jim Neyers said. "That was impressive."

This will be Jamrog's first true test as a recruiter at Minnesota State. After being hired last summer, he scrambled to put together a staff that was able to find enough junior college talent to complement the prep prospects that coach Clarence Holley had signed during the winter.

So Jamrog has spent a lot of time learning about Minnesota and its high schools as he tries to build on last season's improbable 6-5 record.

"I'm excited about the response we're getting, locally and throughout the state," he said. "We're trying to get around to as many schools as possible and visit with the young men, and we're getting a great response. We've put a lot of miles on a couple of cars."

Jamrog said he has met with high school coaches who had seen very little of the Minnesota State staff in the past. East coach Eric Davis said he didn't speak once with Holley in the two years he was here.

"We've had a very positive relationship (with Jamrog), and it started the first day he was here," Davis said.

Jamrog's task is to properly blend the local players with state and national talent. Too many local players, and the Mavericks won't be big or fast enough. Too few local players - well that was always a complaint heard near the end of former coach Dan Runkle's era.

"You hope that you can evaluate the talent locally, and you might want to get them into the program now with no scholarship, but if they work hard and improve themselves, they might get a scholarship in the future," Jamrog said. "There are others (locally) who might deserve a scholarship, then you compare them to players in the state or other states.

"You hope to have local flavor on the team because that helps with fan support."

There are some Mankato players who might be scholarship-worthy. Jamrog has reportedly shown interest in Mankato West tight end Lewis Radcliff, Mankato Loyola end/kicker Jon Miller and three players from Mankato East: lineman Brad Diel, running back Jesse Graves and receiver/cornerback David Petersen.

Whether any of these players end up wearing purple is uncertain; NCAA rules prohibit Jamrog from discussing possible recruits. But it's always better to take a chance on a local kids rather than risk having that player come back some Saturday as an opponent and light up the home team.

"This staff is making a commitment to recruiting Mankato and south-central Minnesota, which is a big change from four years ago," West coach Rick Sutton said. "With the success they had, it's an easier sell. It forces kids to consider MSU."

Which is what Jamrog wants to hear.

Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 344-6353