Update: We’ve been able to confirm that Missy visited Georgia last weekend, and will be at USC in two weeks.
Missy Franklin is making the next stop on her national recruiting tour, as tonight she is wheels-down in Austin, Texas where she will visit Carol Capitani’s Texas Longhorns.
This is the third official stop on Franklin’s recruiting tour, with Texas coming on late in the party as sort of a darkhorse choice. Missy’s boyfriend John Martens swims for the Texas men, but it would be flippant to presume that this was enough of a reason for her to add the Longhorns to her itinerary. In fact, the late addition probably has as much, if not more, to do with Captiani’s addition.
Capitani is in her first season at Texas after coming over from the Georgia Bulldogs, who Missy has identified as a front-runner since the very beginning of her recruiting escapades.
A swimmer as good as Franklin will bring huge value regardless of where she ends up. At Texas, however, she won’t be needed quite as much immediately as she would be at two of her stops (USC and Georgia), though certainly more than the defending champion Cal women. That’s because Texas already has some good backstrokers in their arsenal in Lily Moldenhauer and Sarah Denninghoff, both of whom would be seniors next fall. Cal probably has the 3 best backstrokers in the country, whereas Georgia and USC both could use another one (not that either is devoid of backstroke talent, either).
For what it’s worth, the campus in Austin could be a little quiet this weekend. That’s because Texas will be at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas playing against their arch-rivals Oklahoma (though as one of our readers astutely pointed out, with the Austin City Limits music festival in town, Austin will still be jammed with visitors).
Just curious. Does anyone know if Michigan or Virginia were ever in the mix?
wondering if you have information ontop male recruits ryan murphy and Conger, such as where they are visiting, both will certainly help any team
We do, but have been asked in some cases to keep their travels more on the downlow until they commit.
off topic: but according to twitter and the georgia bulldog roster chase kalisz is not yet on campus…any scoop as to why braden?
There was an issue with one of his classes that he took in his home-schooled program. Something *like* it was once accredited, but then wasn’t any longer. The plan is for him to be ready to go by January.
Does anyone have a sense that Missy would prefer to be coached by a woman (Carol / Teri) or a male (Jack / Dave) – is this a non-factor in her process? Also, any truth to the rumor that Schmitz comes with MF as an assistant coach package deal? Seems so unlike our sport and more in line with UAA basketball. Also also how soon after the USC visit (10/25) should we expect the decision think? I believe I speak for the entire swimming-nerd-nation when I declare that this anticipation is killing us. Missy, if I may, you should go burnt orange: Carol is so ready for greatness.
Todd is an awesome coach. No doubt about that. However, how many coaching staffs have room to add an assistant, and how many of those coaches (the schools she is visiting) would be willing to share the credit/ spotlight with Todd?
I understand having a balanced, fantastic college career. It is too bad Missy and Todd can’t go the route that Bob and Michael went when Michael was an “assistant” at UM. I have no doubt that Todd could lead a women’s team to outstanding performances.
Good point. I would counter that coaching in college is more than just producing athlete performances (whatever that means). Remember that recruiting, balancing budgets, scholarship decisions, as well as countless other tasks are part of a college coach’s job. All of this takes years of on-the-job experience to develop and gain proficiency. No doubt Todd can coach but it would take a while for him to lead in the same way that Teri & Jack do / have done.
Also, remember that Bob’s time wearing the maize in Ann Arbor was short-lived. My take on Missy is that she’s much more interested in being a student-athlete than Michael ever imagined being. I am not sure the Bob-Michael-Michigan model is one to emulate here.
The one way this really works is that she would to go to UT and Schmitz take over Longhorn Aquatics. Assuming there is no room for a full assistant (he is making $75K at Stars, I believe) he would need to survive.
We don’t have the aquatic facilities of Georgia, UT and USC (theirs thanks to Olympics)… We don’t have MIssy’s boyfriend at our school… We don’t have the really warm climates of the above schools.
BUT:
We DO have the Number 1 Public University in the world rated higher than some Ivies.
We Do have a great Coach in Terri McKeever who bonds so well with team members.
We Do have NCAA Championships for Men and Women in consecutive years.
We DO have wonderful weather in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay).
We DO have a marvelous and diverse cultural hub in the arts, music and sports.
So before you rule the University of California… Read more »
Saw Missy walking with a group of recruits as I walked back from subway before todays afternoon meet in austin, they were headed to ACL if I remember right. She seemed to be enjoying herself and laughing, hopefully that means she picks UT, even Cal is probably the right choice. UT certainly needs her more
Missy should be visiting Tennessee.
Random question… Related only because Missy is hanging out with Kathleen…and something I’ve wondered for awhile…
Why did Kathleen Hersey need to give up her NCAA elegibility when she decided to train with Eddie Reese a few years ago? Couldn’t she technically practice with the guys but just attend the women’s swim meets? Just curious…!
That’s something you would have to ask her and the women’s coach at the time…
Missy was watching women’s practice tonight and after that took long time to sign autographs for age group swimemrs that came to a meet and did not expect to see Missy there. Missy loves Austin and UT Swim Center where Colorado Stars come to an age group meet every January.