Even in football season, coaches are recruiting during every spare moment.

Great recruiters, like Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, know how to spin anything.

For instance, Tech had about 30 recruits on hand to watch Miami destroy the Hokies' national title hopes in 27-7 loss on Nov. 5. Beamer spent a good part of the next day with the recruits and their families.

"I told our recruits, it's not bad for you guys to see us when we're hurting around here," Beamer said. "You get a better idea of what we're like. It's easy to be upbeat when you win. We try to stay consistent, try to treat the players the same way with respect and not place blame and find the reasons we weren't successful. That's the way we approach it. I think it was a good day for us."

At Syracuse where the school retired its No. 44 jersey - traditionally passed down to a promising running back after being worn by the likes of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little - the question has been raised if the move will hurt recruiting since the number can be offered to a blue-chip running back.

"To retire it with the thought of honoring those people might be a recruiting tool as opposed to putting undue pressure on young people who might have to wear it,'' Syracuse coach Greg Robinson said.

And even with an open date earlier this month, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr talked about how the school's distinctive helmet is often cited as a reason why recruits choose the Wolverines.

"I think particularly since we have become a school that recruits nationally, I think that (helmet) is a great part of our success," Carr told the Detroit News.