Frank Murtha interview
February 21, 2011
With the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine fast approaching, SportsLawTalk thought this would be a good time to bring back attorney, agent, and professor, Frank Murtha, to discuss the recruiting process for draft eligible players. Mr. Murtha was interviewed last year by SLT, and to see a transcript of that interview check out the 2/3/10 and 2/4/10 blogs. Let’s get started discussing the recruiting process.
SLT - Tell us about the time frame in recruiting and when will the first
contact happen?
Frank Murtha - Well, I think 20 years ago, fall of senior year was when
most first contacts took place. I think now the time table has been pushed
up considerably into spring and summer before the senior year. After the
player’s junior season there will be introductory communications to indicate
an agent has a particular interest in the player that is directed to the player
and his family.
SLT - Can you speak to the schools’ policy on some of these initial contacts?
FM - Many schools don’t have a policy here. When Charley Weiss was at Notre Dame he did encourage meetings in spring and summer before the senior season with prospective agents in order for the player to narrow down his list for after the season. Once the season started he didn’t want the players to have contact with agents, keeping their focus on the season.
SLT - How has the new social media changed the recruiting process?
FM - It has been dynamically changed. Just like college coaches who are
recruiting with text messages, face book and other social media, it’s a
reflection of society. I used to have 800 numbers for players to easily
contact me before the advent of the cell phone. Now, for over 10 years, everybody has had a website, and there is much greater communication via social media.
SLT - What about the first in-person meeting?
FM - There are certainly first meetings in the spring and summer with
family members in their locations, much like college coaches recruiting.
There may be lunch or dinner with separate checks. Many times it will be a meeting with parents, with the parents acting as the first line of defense.
SLT- Can you address the role of parents and/or advisers in the process?
FM - Families usually will play a significant role in the process. One of
the most important rules to remember is to find out who the decision maker
is, and then get to know the decision maker. One trap many agents fall into
is that the parents are interviewing one set of agents and the player ends
up selecting someone else. Many times the family will say not to call the
player, and you take this seriously, and then you find out the player is taking calls and the other agents have developed a strong relationship with the player. So it is important for the agent to confirm the decision maker in the process.
Tomorrow: Part II of our interview with Frank Murtha
With the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine fast approaching, SportsLawTalk thought this would be a good time to bring back attorney, agent, and professor, Frank Murtha, to discuss the recruiting process for draft eligible players. Mr. Murtha was interviewed last year by SLT, and to see a transcript of that interview check out the 2/3/10 and 2/4/10 blogs. Let’s get started discussing the recruiting process.
SLT - Tell us about the time frame in recruiting and when will the first
contact happen?
Frank Murtha - Well, I think 20 years ago, fall of senior year was when
most first contacts took place. I think now the time table has been pushed
up considerably into spring and summer before the senior year. After the
player’s junior season there will be introductory communications to indicate
an agent has a particular interest in the player that is directed to the player
and his family.
SLT - Can you speak to the schools’ policy on some of these initial contacts?
FM - Many schools don’t have a policy here. When Charley Weiss was at Notre Dame he did encourage meetings in spring and summer before the senior season with prospective agents in order for the player to narrow down his list for after the season. Once the season started he didn’t want the players to have contact with agents, keeping their focus on the season.
SLT - How has the new social media changed the recruiting process?
FM - It has been dynamically changed. Just like college coaches who are
recruiting with text messages, face book and other social media, it’s a
reflection of society. I used to have 800 numbers for players to easily
contact me before the advent of the cell phone. Now, for over 10 years, everybody has had a website, and there is much greater communication via social media.
SLT - What about the first in-person meeting?
FM - There are certainly first meetings in the spring and summer with
family members in their locations, much like college coaches recruiting.
There may be lunch or dinner with separate checks. Many times it will be a meeting with parents, with the parents acting as the first line of defense.
SLT- Can you address the role of parents and/or advisers in the process?
FM - Families usually will play a significant role in the process. One of
the most important rules to remember is to find out who the decision maker
is, and then get to know the decision maker. One trap many agents fall into
is that the parents are interviewing one set of agents and the player ends
up selecting someone else. Many times the family will say not to call the
player, and you take this seriously, and then you find out the player is taking calls and the other agents have developed a strong relationship with the player. So it is important for the agent to confirm the decision maker in the process.
Tomorrow: Part II of our interview with Frank Murtha
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