Dominic Raiola’s recent comments about ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit telling him his son, 5-star QB Dylan Raiola, has “gotta do it” when talking about flipping from Georgia to Nebraska has become social media fodder, and rightfully so. And while we aren’t truly sure who said what, it’s not a good look for Herbstreit.
I’m not going to be dramatic like our friend at Blue Bloods Bias with his clickbait, shock jock accusations of tampering…
🚨 WOW: Kirk Herbstreit was allegedly TAMPERING with a star recruit to convince him to go to Nebraska…
The father of 5🌟 QB Dylan Raiola revealed that the ESPN Analyst called his son, & Kirk specifically advocated for Dylan to commit to the Huskers…
🎙️ | Father: "I'll bring… pic.twitter.com/Kk1KiVoeh2
— Blue Bloods Bias (@bluebloodsbias) February 8, 2024
His account is obviously a joke and irresponsible and he has no idea what tampering is as we’ve all learned. But I also won’t go the way of 247’s Josh Pate…
My official statement RE: Herbie/Raiola/UGA pic.twitter.com/b1OOaMpJpG
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) February 8, 2024
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If you haven’t seen the interview, here it is…
Kirk Herbstreit 🤝 Dylan Raiola flipping to Nebraska@NebraskaRivals | @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/IFE7m6F4mi
— Rivals High School (@Rivals_HS) February 7, 2024
Herbstreit has since spoken about the interaction and it seems harmless.
Paul thanks your time today and our talk. Was very surprised people took this the wrong way and again appreciate you giving me a chance to clear the air.
Talk soon. https://t.co/8kZSC8kElR— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 8, 2024
But is it?
Is it a big deal? It kinda is to me. I like Herbsteit as I’ve said before and think he gets a lot of crap for no reason especially recently from the FSU fan base for obvious reasons. And Georgia fans aren’t losing their minds over this because they are far more secure in their team’s success than Seminoles fans and seem happy with their QB in this class, 4-star Ryan Puglisi. But if Herbie did this it’s just not something he should be doing.
For more than 25 years I worked at the top of the recruiting game and could have EASILY influenced hundreds of highly ranked high school prospects as to where they should go to school. If I had a quarter for every time a highly regarded kid asked me where he should go to school, I’d legit be rich. Not only did we have a “code of ethics”, not always followed of course by everyone, but I just couldn’t do it. Who am I to advise anyone on what school they attend? Heck, even in my new business of social media promotion and VIP targeting of schools I NEVER tell anyone where they should go. Why? It’s not only unethical but what if they hate it? What if it’s the wrong fit? What if they never get the legit shot they need? Nah, that’s never gonna be on me for someone else’s kid.
And the unethical part? How could I look Kirby Smart or his staff in the face after they recruited a kid like Raiola for years and explain I told the kid’s father he needed to go to Nebraska? How could I ever talk to Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or others who recruit directly against Nebraska after pushing a kid to their rival? How could I have any sense of impartiality with anyone if I did that?
It’s overstepping as a media member to do this and it’s kind of a big deal to me. Maybe we will hear more from Herbsteit or maybe Dominic Raiola will back off his statements. Or maybe neither side gives a crap. But if Herbstreit did this it flies in the face of everything I stand for as a recruiting analyst. I see us as documentarians who watch and report on the process but never, ever get involved as the recruiting ecosystem has to play out on its own.
If I’m Smart and his staff I’m pretty ticked off at Herbstreit despite the fact that I’m happy with my QB recruit. If I’m a Big Ten program I’m wondering why he’s getting involved and if I’m an Ohio State fan I’m wondering if he had anything to do with Raiola’s initial commitment to the Buckeyes and his subsequent decommitment.
But just as just a random recruiting analyst, I’m kinda ticked off he’d interject himself in the system as I’ve held off for ethical reasons for years and years often at my own disadvantage. I could be besties with parents as I push them to certain schools and I could be pals with Matt Rhule for pushing this kid to the Huskers. But do I need that ego stroke? Do I need to feel that important? Herbstreit gets a ton of crap for stuff he doesn’t deserve but if he did this one, he might need to listen to the hate.
