If you don't subscribe to The Athletic, I would offer my glowing endorsement. Great sports journalism. This morning, their Wisconsin football beat writer released a story on recruiting in the state of Wisconsin. Tim Polasek was a Wisconsin high school and college quarterback who recruited Wisconsin hard when he was at Iowa and most of the coaches quoted seemed to respect him (one didn't - really, really didn't). I wonder if we see recruiting in Wisconsin and the midwest pick up this off-season. Here is what Wisconsin high school coaches had to say about him:
Coach 7: The offensive line coach from Iowa, but he’s no longer there, Tim Polasek. I thought he did a really good job. He crossed his T’s and dotted his I’s very well. I thought he did a really good job. Another guy that doesn’t really blow smoke.
Coach 7: It’s probably a tie between Polasek and (Wisconsin linebackers coach) Bob Bostad. He was another guy who I thought did a good job.
Coach 8: I’ve talked to Bret Bielema quite a bit. He’s a guy I can always approach, can always ask. North Dakota State. Tim Polasek, who’s at Wyoming right now, has been a great resource for me when I talk to him. “Hey, what level do you think this kid is? Where do you think this kid could be and what do we need to do to get his name out there?” He’s always been one when he was at Iowa and now he’s at Wyoming. He’s done a tremendous job and has been a big influence on me and our program. I think he’s the No. 1 guy for me.
He recruited one of my quarterbacks once. This is when he was at North Dakota State. The coach asked him, “Where are you thinking?” The kid told him, “I’d like to go to maybe Wisconsin.” Regular North Dakota had been recruiting him and South Dakota State was in his top group as well. So he told him the schools. (Polasek) pulled out his championship ring, put it in his face and said, “You’ll never ****ing get one of these.” And he left. I was like, “Are you kidding me?” Those were some of my first D-I experiences, so I was just like, “Well, maybe this is just how it is.” And then obviously I experienced a lot more and learned like, “No, this guy is a butthole. I don’t want him around our kids.”
Coach 4: I would say Tim Polasek does an unbelievable job. Matt Simon, the current wide receiver coach at Minnesota, He was with P.J. at Western Michigan. I think he does an outstanding job as well. They both have different demeanors and different approaches. Tim Polasek is a little bit more high-energy kind of animated as opposed to Matt Simon is more of a laid-back type of approach. But I think they both use their personalities and they don’t try to be fake and they are who they are. I think kids and I appreciate that.
Coach 6: I would say Haering, Rudolph, Chryst. Tim Polasek from Iowa did his due diligence and he was very honest with us. We had a kid that camped down there and he was just straight-up honest and said he was not good enough to play for us. I always tell our players that. Be honest with the recruiters because they’re going to hopefully be honest with you. I appreciated that big-time.
Who does the best job recruiting your program outside the state?
Coach 1: Illinois is cracking. They are cracking in this state. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a school pump in like that before. They’re dominating right now. I think they’re really good. Iowa used to be really good and when Tim Polasek left, I haven’t heard a single word from Iowa.Coach 7: The offensive line coach from Iowa, but he’s no longer there, Tim Polasek. I thought he did a really good job. He crossed his T’s and dotted his I’s very well. I thought he did a really good job. Another guy that doesn’t really blow smoke.
Of all the coaches to recruit your program, who do you trust the most?
Coach 4: I would say Coach Haering and then I would say Tim Polasek, who’s out at Wyoming now. He was at North Dakota State and then Iowa. It’s the ability to have open and honest conversations and guys that shoot you straight. And then trust is built over time through relationships.Coach 7: It’s probably a tie between Polasek and (Wisconsin linebackers coach) Bob Bostad. He was another guy who I thought did a good job.
Coach 8: I’ve talked to Bret Bielema quite a bit. He’s a guy I can always approach, can always ask. North Dakota State. Tim Polasek, who’s at Wyoming right now, has been a great resource for me when I talk to him. “Hey, what level do you think this kid is? Where do you think this kid could be and what do we need to do to get his name out there?” He’s always been one when he was at Iowa and now he’s at Wyoming. He’s done a tremendous job and has been a big influence on me and our program. I think he’s the No. 1 guy for me.
Which coaches do you trust the least?
Coach 1: Tim Polasek, hands down. To me, he’s just a clown. And he’s gone now. He’s out in Wyoming, so he’s not really recruiting our guys. But when he was at Iowa and when he was at North Dakota State, he was probably one that I trusted the least. He’s kind of a jerk. And he’s a jerk to coaches, too. Only because I care about our kids getting to play, I’ll answer his calls and I’ll talk to him. But I’m taking this guy with a grain of salt. I’m not going to get all excited because a Division I coach is coming when it’s him.He recruited one of my quarterbacks once. This is when he was at North Dakota State. The coach asked him, “Where are you thinking?” The kid told him, “I’d like to go to maybe Wisconsin.” Regular North Dakota had been recruiting him and South Dakota State was in his top group as well. So he told him the schools. (Polasek) pulled out his championship ring, put it in his face and said, “You’ll never ****ing get one of these.” And he left. I was like, “Are you kidding me?” Those were some of my first D-I experiences, so I was just like, “Well, maybe this is just how it is.” And then obviously I experienced a lot more and learned like, “No, this guy is a butthole. I don’t want him around our kids.”
Who are the best individual recruiters in your time?
Coach 3: I think Jason Eck at South Dakota State. I think Tim Polasek is up there.Coach 4: I would say Tim Polasek does an unbelievable job. Matt Simon, the current wide receiver coach at Minnesota, He was with P.J. at Western Michigan. I think he does an outstanding job as well. They both have different demeanors and different approaches. Tim Polasek is a little bit more high-energy kind of animated as opposed to Matt Simon is more of a laid-back type of approach. But I think they both use their personalities and they don’t try to be fake and they are who they are. I think kids and I appreciate that.
Coach 6: I would say Haering, Rudolph, Chryst. Tim Polasek from Iowa did his due diligence and he was very honest with us. We had a kid that camped down there and he was just straight-up honest and said he was not good enough to play for us. I always tell our players that. Be honest with the recruiters because they’re going to hopefully be honest with you. I appreciated that big-time.
