Large Support Staffs Give Edge To Big Schools
Thanks to TN contributor FSU (Ms) for the heads up on this post. She wrote: "Not FSU specific, but just passing this along as a part of the look at the machine in a CFB office that's required to stay ahead of the competition, for those who hadn't seen it." Excerpt from the story, as it relates to our rival down south located near Micanopy: At Florida, he had a support staff at his fingertips that rivaled any program in the country. In Denton, Texas, he has less than one-sixth of that budget ($3.5 million) for his support staff and administration, a difference of $18.2 million. "At Florida it was like it is at Alabama," McCarney explained. "[Urban] Meyer loved having a lot of people around, whether it's another set of eyes, another set of feet, two more hands, two more opinions. We had lots of people, whether it was helping in the weight room, whether it was the recruiting office, whether it was just the front office meeting and greeting people and sending a message about Gator Nation." McCarney remembered the sheer volume of the staff at Florida fondly, laughing as he recalled the interview process. "The first time I actually went into the offices, the introductions seemed like they were endless," McCarney said. "It wasn't just the defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, strength coach. It was all those other people that help out. For me, it was really neat to see." The support staff pays off immensely in the recruiting process, McCarney said. Since coaches aren't allowed to have direct contact with recruits during unofficial visits, it's the job of others to show them around the campus and make a positive impression. At Florida, McCarney recalled having recruits chauffeured around in an oversized golf cart by, "good young people that have a loyalty and a love for the university."

