This Week in Victoria 032725
Season 10, Episode 5

Welcome to This Week in Victoria! Each week, Brother Gary Moses and Chris Doelle sit down and go over all the happenings in the Crossroads.

Here are the show notes for this episode of This Week in Victoria with Chris Doelle and Brother Gary Moses:

Thursday:

• Victoria Police Department Story Time at the Library.
• Victoria College Gym and Mineral Exhibit Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 PM at the Science Building (Health Science Center mentioned later as the location). This exhibit is on Thursday and Friday.
• Wash and Wag at Dorsio Conor Pet Adoption Center (Friday, but mentioned on Thursday).
• Bridgetgerton featuring the Dallas String Quartet at the Welder Center at 7:00 PM.

Friday:

• Victoria College Gym and Mineral Exhibit continues (from Thursday).
• Wash and Wag at Dorsio Conor Pet Adoption Center.
• New Exhibit at the Nave Museum: Robin Hazard Exhibit (open to the public).
• Museum of the Coastal Bend: Viva La France Exhibit (ongoing through May 1st).
• Victoria Public Library Fun Friday at 10:00 AM: Milk Carton Birdhouses.
• Victoria Symphony Orchestra's Prickly Pear Affair: Benefit for the symphony (51st year mentioned). Featuring the Grooves band from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM at Spring Creek Event Center. Includes a meal.
• Children's Discovery Museum Fun Fridays at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM: Flower Plates.
• UHV Baseball: Single game at 7:00 PM at Riverside Stadium.
• Our Lady of Sorrows Boy Scouts Fish Fry at Trinity Hall from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Here's the Scoop: All things kawaii (Japanese for cute), including lip gloss, charms, hair accessories, stationery, Hello Kitty and anime merch. Located at 114 East Constitution in downtown Victoria. Mention of tea parties, DIY nights, boba fun, and a new DND space and merch shop called Here's the Roll.

Saturday:

• UHV Baseball: Doubleheader at 1:00 PM at Riverside Stadium.
• Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity Backyard Barbecue Bash: All kinds of activities at Riverside Park, special events area, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Includes barbecue, games, activities, and booths. Fundraising for Habitat for Humanity.
• UHV Jaguar Days: Campus tours and information about the University of Houston-Victoria. Starts at the UHV Commons area from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• Claire and Cararissa's Event, Victoria, Texas Art Walk: From 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Town and Country Shopping Center (note the location change from downtown).
• Chess Club Meeting: At the Victoria Public Library at 12:00 PM.
• Coast Riders Meeting: At the Public Library at 1:00 PM (sharing writing).
• Annual Goliad Massacre Living History Program: At Presidio La Bahia. This event is on Saturday and Sunday.
• Cameron Jackson Signing: Basketball player from East High School signing a letter of intent to Coastal Bend College at the Hampton Inn at 2:00 PM.

Sunday:

• Annual Goliad Massacre Living History Program: Continues at Presidio La Bahia.
• Our Lady of Lords Catholic Church Sausage Dinner: Chicken and sausage plates to go only, starting at 10:30 AM. Cost is $18.
• Our Lady of Lord's Barbecue: Also today only, starting at 10:30 AM.

Looking Ahead (Next Week):

• Citizens Medical Center Ribbon Cutting of New Walk-in Clinic: Monday the 31st at 11:30 AM (location near the new ventur).
• Tri True Crime Book Club: Monday at 6:00 PM.
• BMW Hamburger Night (for veterans): Every Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The hosts also mentioned enjoying March Madness and the start of Major League Baseball. Rankin Nursery was mentioned as a potential future sponsor for planting segments. J Ranch Services, specializing in land clearing, was also advertised.

A big thank you to the sponsors that make this show possible:

Here's the Scoop
JE Ranch Services
Adopt-A-Hive
LaVaca BBQ
Camacho Tractor
Board Game Legends

Fresh Media Works

Theme music is Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com

Chris Doelle introduces the podcast, The Scholarship Hustle: College Recruiting Exposed.
He states that this first episode will discuss the reality behind college recruiting, something every athlete and parent needs to understand.
The host for this episode is Coach Troy Esprit, joined by certified scout and insider Coach Laubach.

The Myth of Being "Found": Coach Esprit emphasizes that the days when coaches would simply find talented players are over. Recruiting is now more strategy-based and a business. Coach Laubach echoes this, stating that thousands of kids post their highlights online, and coaches lack the time to see everyone.
The Importance of Relationships and Visibility: Coach Laubach stresses that success in recruiting today hinges on relationships, visibility, and who can vouch for an athlete behind the scenes. Coaches often talk to others before contacting the athlete directly.
Debunking Common Recruiting Myths: Coach Laubach addresses several common misconceptions:
"If I'm good enough, they'll find me."
"My highlight film will impress them."
"My stats will speak for themselves."

How Coaches Prioritize Recruits: Coach Laubach explains the order in which coaches typically prioritize potential recruits:
* Players they see in person, as they trust their own eyes.
* Referrals from other coaches.
* Recommendations from trusted scouts like us.
* Information from personal connections (e.g., friends).
* Emails from student-athletes (which need to be perfect and strategic).

The Importance of Starting Early: Athletes should begin building relationships with coaches as freshmen and sophomores, not waiting until their junior or senior years. Time flies by, and early relationships are crucial.
What Coaches Won't Tell You: Coach Esprit discusses hidden aspects of recruiting:
Coaches don't respond to every DM because they often research the athlete's social media and character beforehand.
An athlete's attitude, grades, and coachability are crucial factors that coaches evaluate. Sometimes coaches hear things about these aspects and never give the athlete a real shot.
The Role of Backchannel Conversations and Scouts: Coaches trust the opinions of other coaches and scouts because these individuals have a reputation to uphold by recommending suitable student-athletes. Exposure alone is not enough; the right people need to be talking about you. Coach Laubach mentions that college coaches often say they don't care how good a kid is until they know who he is.
Character and Coachability: Coach Laubach emphasizes that coaches want to know who a player is beyond their athletic abilities, as they will be living with them for four years. Factors like social media presence, grades, and reactions to adversity are all considered. He also highlights the importance of observing players during infield/outfield practice to assess their hustle, attitude, and how they encourage their teammates. Coaches also pay attention to body language on videos to assess coachability.
The Parent's Role: Parents should be supportive but allow the athlete to have their own voice. Coaches want to interact with mature players, not parents running the show. Parents' behavior at games is also noted by coaches, and negative behavior can negatively impact a recruit's chances.
Recruiting as a Business: Coach Troy Esprit reiterates that college recruiting is a business, and without a clear strategy, athletes can get left behind.

Gem Drops

Start building relationships with coaches by your freshman and sophomore year. Don't wait.
Keep communication short, professional, and always personalize it. Coaches receive numerous emails and DMs.
Get evaluated early and often. Use feedback from showcases and camps to improve.
Ask yourself: Who's speaking your name when you're not in the room? Leave a positive impression.

Links Mentioned:

To book Coach Esprit for events: coachesprite.com
For internship opportunities in sports media with Lone Star Gridiron: lonestargridiron.com (specifically the internship link)
To get your athlete on the college prospect report for scholarship evaluation: collegeprospectreport.com/questionnaire

Closing Thoughts:
Recruiting is more than just talent; it involves timing, trust, and having a knowledgeable team supporting the athlete.
Taking action now is crucial; waiting can hinder your recruiting dreams.
Getting recruited is not accidental; it happens through strategy. Play the game behind the game and play it smart.

produced by Fresh Media Works http://www.freshmediaworks.com