Football commitments

How about the kid that said he's going to be playing for The University of LSU?  

We have to realize that sports-esp football, basketball for HS is such a big business.  These kids r treated as rock stars and the families love it. Personally I lIke the players who quietly go to college under the radar, play well, and make it to the pros without all the hype. Wonder how the teammates will perceive the "stars" when they get to the school. 

Bingo.  If you want to bring attention to yourself do it on the field.

I'd really, really hate to see that.  But you have to look no further than Twitter to see all of the "baseball announcements" from players indicating their college of choice.  

Uggh...

As long as a kid has spoken to the school to give affirmation that they will be heading there & to the other schools to "thank them for the opportunity but we are going another direction" I am ok with the kids posting on social media.

When the post comes out 1st I have an issue with it.

You don't know how many times I've called a parent or coach to congratulate them on a kid and they say how do you know, decision was just made 3 minutes ago!

I usually tell them its my "job" to know.  Reality is I just follow the social media. 

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com

I'd agree with that Rich.

Yesterday, during the second hour of field maintenance activities, my 2015 announced he was taking his talents to Tallahassee.  Despite never playing a down of tackle football, he thought FSU was a good fit athletically.  National and local media was non-existent; however, the backup catcher (sports editor for school paper) will publish his announcement next month.

Asked for a comment, Coach Fisher asked, "who?".

How about that mom of Willis. He chooses FL  and she says "LSU is still number 1". What a dumb comment. Even if that's how she feels keep it to yourself. 

This is the second time she has done that. When her older kid chose his school, she said the same thing and more, about how LSU was a better fit.

Are you kidding?  Did he really say "The University of LSU"?   I would have fallen off of my chair laughing. 

As the old saying goes, you can't chose your parents. 

+1

On the bright side, baseball may stave this off for a while because of its unique relationship with the MLB Draft. The top talent might not be making public proclamations about their intentions since those decisions won't be made until after the draft in many cases. We can hope...

I doubt if baseball players committing to a college would create much of an audience.  Besides, we usually find out where the top kids have committed and post it right away.

However, if it could somehow create a lot of interest, I would be all for it!  In fact, I would be for anything that draws more interest to college baseball.  

The timing of the seasons is much better for football.  Most of the top baseball recruits have committed long before they even play their senior season. Also, when someone commits to play football or basketball they will show up on campus.  The very top players in baseball committing to a college doesn't mean they will end up there. Usually the very top baseball players end up starting their pro careers. 

That said, though off topic, I would like to see MLB make a change similar to what the NBA did. Players have to be out of high school for a full year before the draft.  This would get more of the top kids into college for at least a year. It would give MLB clubs another year to evaluate those players.  It would help the players trying to decide their future.  Not sure I see any negative involved, other than colleges would lose players earlier than their junior year.  More turnover in rosters, but that just creates more opportunities for talented HS players.  I can also see how some might like the system the way it is now.

I can understand it with a Head count sport such as basketball, but how would it work for a non headcount such as baseball. Those players who have originally gone pro will be taking a bigger chunk of the 11.7 pie. In basket ball it means one kid in / one kid out. In baseball it could mean one kid in 2 or three kids out.

I am probably missing something but I think this would be a good discussion.

Last year, the number 1 football recruit in Missouri was a running back from St Louis.  He was verbally committed to Ohio State University, which is in Columbus, Ohio.  Well a week or so before signing day he sets up an official visit to the University of Missouri, which is in Columbia, Missouri.  His dad played at Mizzou so he did it as a favor to his dad basically.  The whole time, he never waivered from his commitment to OSU.

Anyway, signing day comes and he sets up a press conference to announce his choice of school, even though he was always committed to OSU.  So all the news outlets are there and broadcasting this thing on live TV and on the internet.  Dude shows up sits at a table with a little bag in front of him.  Looks in the camera and says:  "I will be taking my talents to COLUM.............long pause for effect...............bus, Ohio.  And then pulls out an OSU cap and puts it on.  Granted, I would love for him to be playing at Mizzou, but it was so cheesy and such a play on Lebron, it was just kind of sad.

And I do remember my son tweeting his verbal after he called his summer coach and another coach who he got close with during recruiting.

The growing amount of attention given to these kids is unfortunately leading to an epidemic of "keeping up with the Jones".  

Unfortunately with the "keeping up" & early commitments have come (seemingly) an increasing amount of de-commitments.  But of course, those don't seem to ever make it to the news and/or websites.

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com

These sheninigans have been going on for a while now.  I won't watch it, and I cringe when I hear about it.  Frankly,  the parents & media encourage it.  So the next bunch of kids come along and think it is cool.   Really?  Have these televised official commitments turned into a national episode of Jersey Shore or other crappy reality show?  Gimme a freaking break.  I think my wife and I have done a decent job of raising our kids.  None of them would never in a million years think about doing something like this because it would embarrass their family. 

A humble ceremony celebrating their achievements and accomplishments with friends, relatives and academic and athletic supporters is quite enough.  JMO.

I know I sound like a curmudgeon, but I can't help the way I feel about it.  Excuse me, I need to go take my high blood pressure medicine.

So much hoopla. So many of them it will be only time they get exposure because the play on the field won't match the hype.

On the day my son decided where he was going to school, he told his parents/ sibling, Then call his new coach. He called his GF and announced it on twitter. We asked him how he wanted to celebrate, his response was "I would like pizza from Marion's (best pizza in Dayton Ohio), that should be enough"

When I was young we lived in Centerville Ohio. and yes pizza is the past pizza in dayton. I personally think it is better than any pizza in Columbus.

I'm with you Rich.  Hate it.

Blame ESPN. Blame LeBron James. Blame the "look at me" environment that's been created by the NFL and NBA. There's a culture shift that's been going on for several years. Humility is out of style. Those of us who don't like it are out of date old schoolers.

What do you think would happen to a hitter in his next at bat with Bob Gibson if he hit a homer, pounded his chest and screamed rounding first and pointed to the heavens as he crossed home?

Love Marion's!

Not  sure how getting great HS players to go to college for one yr would help. One and done basketball players go right to NBA. Young baseball players out of HS go to minors, dev, then move up. If a pitcher for ex throwing upper 90's very successfully goes to college for one yr and leaves he takes place of another good pitcher who needed that spot for 3plus yrs who can get better and possibly get drafted. The kids who get drafted out of HS would be taking the position for only one yr and second tier athletes if u will would be competing for less spots.

guess there r pros/cons to both sides.

I don't like the athlete that is speaking about his school choice and sounding like he can barely read and write.  

How do some of these kids meet the minimum requirements to get in to a major D1 University?  

I agree.  It is a complete joke.  They should have minor league football for kids like this.  They are obviously there to play football and not learn.

The one and done basketball players take four basket weaving courses the first semester. The second semester doesn't matter. They don't go to class because they don't care about flunking out.

Some of the kids have even said in their announcements that they will play for the next THREE or four years at.....

There was a local kid that decided to go to Penn St. to play linebacker. He announced to everyone that he only intended to be there a few years and then go pro? He was the state defensive player of the year.

When he checked into his dorm, he found out that the guy in the room beside of him and the guy across the hall were also the state defensive players of the year from wherever they came from.

He also found himself behind Brandon Short and Lavar Arrington on the field. So, he had to wait until he was a junior to get playing time. Started as a senior and was a one year and done free agent in the pros.

I don't mind the kid annoucing. This may be his high point in athletics and let him enjoy it.  Schools, coaches and administrators don't mind making money and name for themselves off of kids; nothing wrong with some kids taking advantage of the notoriety they may receive while being recruited.