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One additional topic I asked at the outing was the Zips heavy reliance on transfer players, and if that was going to change as time goes on. The general response was - The balance will be a little more towards the traditional Freshman recruit as the program continues to mature. But the "wave of the future" is transfers. Not just for the Zips, but for a lot of programs. Most kids today don't want to sit for 3 years, with the expectation to start in their Junior and Senior seasons. Kids want to play immediately. And, they're also internet savvy. Unhappy student athletes will look around at prospective "target schools" to see if they have a better opportunity to see the field. If, for example, they are a big RB, and they see the Zips don't have a big RB on their roster, they may target the Zips. The coaching staffs of various schools also communicate among each other. If P5 schools have a player that's not going to see the field in his Junior or senior season, they'll put the word out to their buddies to see if one has a need. The Bowden staff casts a wide net when it comes to networking within the P5 football staffs. So we get a better "line" on available transfer talent than many other schools. Lastly - The security of taking a Junior or Senior that's 6'4", 265 lbs is pretty appealing when compared to the gamble that a 6' 4" 218 lb kid will mature into that type of player by his 4th or 5th year. That weighs into the decision process too. So in summary - don't expect the Zips to have any 23 Freshman recruiting classes anytime soon. The Frosh/Transfer balance may shift a little now that we don't have as many gaping holes in our depth chart. But transfers recruits will remain very important to the Zips.

Every 6 months my company gets a new set of UA Engineering co-op's. Usually three or four. Without exception, the kids are sharp, energetic and well-prepared. After their graduation, many have been retained, and are doing quite well. I am impressed with the level of graduates UA Engineering is churning out. People can latch on to whatever negative stuff they want. Good for them. I see with my own eyes there's still a great crop of kids at UA, getting a great education, and being very well prepared for their professional careers.