colt45s,
I am thrilled that the coaches informed your son of the work and dedication that it takes to determine his playing time. On a couple of our visits this was not the case. However, thankfully my past experience playing college ball helped me to prepare my son (I think) for what is coming when he gets on campus. Make no mistake about it, college baseball is a business. If there is such a thing as security for a coach, it depends on several factors and one of them is winning. To win you need the horses. Therefore, a fine line is walked several times, I assume, in how the school and the program is sold to recruits. This is why I feel as though it is imperative to have a plan and to follow it.
The thought of someone else being actively recruited as a "replacement" if you don't commit early is daunting. Phil and I were told the same thing. We even knew who their plan B was. But that did not influence us either way becasue we followed our plan. Consequently, as it turns out, the school got a verbal from player B anyway. For a pither this may be not so much of a big deal because of the number of pitchers needed. But things change a little if you are a SS. I suppose what I am saying is continue to do your research, take EVERYTHING into consideration and the answer will find you. Best wishes during this exciting time.
This is the toughest question of all when it comes to college baseball. You often must make life-changing situations with incomplete information and you find yourself taking risks you would rather not take.
In essence, your choice is this:
Commit to a school you might not otherwise choose simply because you have an offer now.
or
Wait for an offer that might never come.
Ideally, the choice would be a little less severe. My oldest son would have jumped at a chance to play at Arizona State in a heartbeat. That was not going to happen.
He had significant interest from Texas Tech, Kansas State and Loyola Marymount. I thought Loyola Marymount, in particular, would have been ideal for him.
All three wanted to wait until they saw him more in the spring. We thought an offer from at least one of them would be forthcoming, but we had no promises and no guarantees.
Virginia Tech (my alma mater as well as my wife's) also had interest. After he attended a camp there in July of his junior year, we felt sure an offer would be on the table.
It was delayed for nearly a month (while David Wright was deciding where to accept an offer, as it turned out).
When Wright accepted at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech made the offer to my son. It was a very good offer that would have been on the table for no more than a couple of weeks, although this was never precisely defined.
Fortunately, my son had fallen in love with Virginia Tech and felt it was the place for him, although it certainly would have been much closer (and easier for our family) had he been able to play at Loyola Marymount. The timing just never worked out for that to be a real consideration and the decision was made with incomplete information. Had we waited for Loyola Marymount or one of the other schools, Virginia Tech would not have been a possibility -- and he might have found himself at an Arizona JC (which would have had its own upside).
I am happy to say that it could not have worked out better. He played, he graduated, he got married, had a son and is back in Phoenix with his young family and a great job. We travel back together for Virginia Tech football games.
But, I must add, part of the reason it worked out so well (and it is not as if he became a baseball star) was because of his commitment and subsequent effort to make his entire college experience work out so well.
Good luck in your decision.
In essence, your choice is this:
Commit to a school you might not otherwise choose simply because you have an offer now.
or
Wait for an offer that might never come.
Ideally, the choice would be a little less severe. My oldest son would have jumped at a chance to play at Arizona State in a heartbeat. That was not going to happen.
He had significant interest from Texas Tech, Kansas State and Loyola Marymount. I thought Loyola Marymount, in particular, would have been ideal for him.
All three wanted to wait until they saw him more in the spring. We thought an offer from at least one of them would be forthcoming, but we had no promises and no guarantees.
Virginia Tech (my alma mater as well as my wife's) also had interest. After he attended a camp there in July of his junior year, we felt sure an offer would be on the table.
It was delayed for nearly a month (while David Wright was deciding where to accept an offer, as it turned out).
When Wright accepted at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech made the offer to my son. It was a very good offer that would have been on the table for no more than a couple of weeks, although this was never precisely defined.
Fortunately, my son had fallen in love with Virginia Tech and felt it was the place for him, although it certainly would have been much closer (and easier for our family) had he been able to play at Loyola Marymount. The timing just never worked out for that to be a real consideration and the decision was made with incomplete information. Had we waited for Loyola Marymount or one of the other schools, Virginia Tech would not have been a possibility -- and he might have found himself at an Arizona JC (which would have had its own upside).
I am happy to say that it could not have worked out better. He played, he graduated, he got married, had a son and is back in Phoenix with his young family and a great job. We travel back together for Virginia Tech football games.
But, I must add, part of the reason it worked out so well (and it is not as if he became a baseball star) was because of his commitment and subsequent effort to make his entire college experience work out so well.
Good luck in your decision.
jemaz, that was an excellent post. Well put! 
Thanks to all. The sharing of your experiences and insights are a huge help to us. It sometimes gets a little tough to enjoy the ride, as well as stay focused on the educational aspects of all of this. We must remember it is about the education my son will receive first and foremost. I likewise try to keep him focused on enjoying the attention or better said appreciation for his God given talent, while always remembering to remain humble, and work hard to achieve his full potential. It has gotten a little bit stressful lately.
We'll keep you posted as well go.
We'll keep you posted as well go.
I have been in the executive recruiting business for 28 years.
It has been my experience that the specific college that someone attends is really only important in a few specialty areas.(engineering, for example)
Certainly, there is the Ivy League, the Stanfords, etc. that definitely carry some weight, but for the majority of folks, it is not as important as you might think?
What's more important is "life lessons learned"!
Being a member of an NCAA or NAIA athletic team can sometimes look better on a resume than which college or which major.
Many employers recognize the leadership skills,competitiveness, teamwork, discipline and hard work required of a college athlete. Those are all very desirable qualities in the job market!
Obviously, good grades are still important no matter where you go!
Many of the the Presidents and VP's of my client companies were former athletes, and people do tend to hire in their own image, they say!
My point is this.
Go where you can get the best combination of education and athletic participation.
And I would recommend, when all else is equal, choose the school that is closest to your home.
It will not only make your parents happy, it sure doesn't hurt your job chances when you graduate!
The odds are better that there will be alumni who own or run a company in your area, and there might even be a baseball fan who follows the team?
Maybe I'll post this as a separate thread?
It has been my experience that the specific college that someone attends is really only important in a few specialty areas.(engineering, for example)
Certainly, there is the Ivy League, the Stanfords, etc. that definitely carry some weight, but for the majority of folks, it is not as important as you might think?
What's more important is "life lessons learned"!
Being a member of an NCAA or NAIA athletic team can sometimes look better on a resume than which college or which major.
Many employers recognize the leadership skills,competitiveness, teamwork, discipline and hard work required of a college athlete. Those are all very desirable qualities in the job market!
Obviously, good grades are still important no matter where you go!
Many of the the Presidents and VP's of my client companies were former athletes, and people do tend to hire in their own image, they say!
My point is this.
Go where you can get the best combination of education and athletic participation.
And I would recommend, when all else is equal, choose the school that is closest to your home.
It will not only make your parents happy, it sure doesn't hurt your job chances when you graduate!
The odds are better that there will be alumni who own or run a company in your area, and there might even be a baseball fan who follows the team?
Maybe I'll post this as a separate thread?
There are only two simply rules that "most" often should be followed:
1.) Would I go to this school even if I didn't play baseball
2.) Will I play or, will I get multiple chances to show I can play
Everybody has that one success story. Here is a recent one from our area in regards to a small college. Kid from Tampa high school isn't being recruited (at all). He is a 6'3" rhp throwing about 84mph. Pitching coach from a small NAIA school (Savannah College of Art & Design) likes what he see's and works with the kid for 4 years. Yankee's draft kid in 3rd round of his senior year. Now in full disclosure, kid went from 84 to 94 mph. Pitching coach went on to a pitching coach job at a well known D1 baseball school (all small details ha ha) But the point is; small schools with great staffs do have a lot to offer.
1.) Would I go to this school even if I didn't play baseball
2.) Will I play or, will I get multiple chances to show I can play
Everybody has that one success story. Here is a recent one from our area in regards to a small college. Kid from Tampa high school isn't being recruited (at all). He is a 6'3" rhp throwing about 84mph. Pitching coach from a small NAIA school (Savannah College of Art & Design) likes what he see's and works with the kid for 4 years. Yankee's draft kid in 3rd round of his senior year. Now in full disclosure, kid went from 84 to 94 mph. Pitching coach went on to a pitching coach job at a well known D1 baseball school (all small details ha ha) But the point is; small schools with great staffs do have a lot to offer.