1980's EKU Party School And Football Recruiting

[Westside]

Do you all think EKU being ranked at various times in the 1980's in Playboy 's top party school rankings and EKU 's reputation as a party school in general in the 80's helped with recruiting?

[Colonel Grad]

I'm sure that helped for some people. Might have also turned off some mommas from letting their babies come to EKU.

I think what aided recruiting the most in the 80s was the difference in academic qualification between I-A and I-AA. I-AA schools were able to land talented players that did not meet the academic requirements of I-A. Those differences disappeared in the 90s.

[Sae]

the biggest difference is what other schools now have teams/are much better than they were.
Didn't have teams: South Florida, Fla Atlantic, FIU, GA. State, Coastal Carolina.

Teams that were not nearly as good as now: UCF, Ga Southern, Appy,

this is a very small list, we got a ton of kids from Florida and South Georgia. Now those kids have options closer to home and it has hurt us big time

[Eternal Colonel]

...doubt that it affected football recruiting anywhere near
as much as boosting enrollment from the Mountains and
rural counties that were "dry" through much of the '80's.

Tuition being affordable then didn't hurt draw enrollees
from Cinci, Louisville, etc., either.