I'm so excited!

Fun, ain't it?

Yes, it is an exciting time! Enjoy..and let us know how it all goes!

Infield08 Enjoy all those moments! Be safe and enjoy the trips!

Congrats!!! I hope everything turns out the way that your son wants.

Enjoy! I'm excited for you too.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Hope I sleep tonight!

Hope you don't end up like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95oyhSd5ls

Ears squeaky clean?
Check.
Shirt pressed and lookin' college spiffy?
Check.
Good solid hand shake practiced and down to a science?
Check.
Plenty of tums ( & perhaps some rum ) for da momma and da dadda?
Check.
Already grinning from ear to ear?
Check.

Alrighty then,...I'd say you are READY!!!!
Have a great trip. Stay safe. And give us all the details when you get back!

Shortstopmom.....Check! (Although a glass of cabernet sounds a bit better than rum!)

Gunnersmom.....too funny! The best part is -- while Disney is fantasy, this is reality!

quote:

this is reality

Infield08

Looking forward to hearing all about the visit ...

gunnersmom ...

You have inspired me to change colors, at least for this month and through the World Series. Who knows ... perhaps our 2 pink avatars will meet up this month

Hi ladies!

Well, it was a good trip, with some things going exactly as expected and some unexpected things as well. High up on the list was our son's opportunity to stay overnight with some baseball players in their townhouse and have breakfast with the recruiting coordinator. Those experiences really helped him get a feel for the program and the players. It was also really good for him to see a practice and sit in the dugout where he had the opportunity to interact with numerous players, who could very well be his teammates next year! Loved the nice, casual lunch with the coaching staff. It was great to get to know them on a more personal level.

Everyone on this site is so right about campus visits helping to ensure a good fit. You never truly know how things will feel until you arrive! We learned that there are so many different kinds of "fit" -- baseball, academic, financial, social aspects, etc. I honestly doubt that there are many prospects who feel like the schools they are visiting are great fits in every single way, but perhaps I'm wrong. It seems for us that no matter where our son plays, he will have to compromise in certain areas to benefit in other areas. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you know that going in.

Next weekend is another visit. Hopefully, we'll have something figured out soon!

Try for as long as possible not to compromise.
Keep an open mind , your journey is not done yet, and if you don't find it in the fall, the spring will most likely find new rewards, don't feel like you have to compromise in the fall.
Really. You know what you are looking for, you know when it feels right, you cannot transfer without penalty, so take the time to be sure. He has looks now, he will have looks later. You can do your job to prepare for the spring with communications, etc.
Don't settle. Early signings may be a relief for some, but keep your goals true to yourself.
just mho.

iheartbb, sending a PM your way

quote:

Don't settle. Early signings may be a relief for some, but keep your goals true to yourself.

Your son still has lots of time to find a "fit" that doesn't involve compromise. I wouldn't get into that frame of mind yet...even hypothetically. It is an exciting time, enjoy the ride.

Infield08 ...

Ditto the above suggestions ref compromise. There are a lot of players who do find the right 'fit' early on and others who don't but who still don't compromise ... they just wait. Signing early has its benefits, but compromising (IMHO) should not play into an early signing. That raises the risk of players second guessing their own decisions during their senior season, and it can take its toll.

There is a lot more to see out there and hopefully your son will be as fortunate as ours was ... he didn't have to compromise ... and will find just what works for him as well as for the college program he chooses.

Infield08, I answered your pm.

Infield08...I am soooooo jealous. My son leaves for an official visit next week and I can't go with him (I'm just getting back to work after a 2 month layout for back surgery). I really wanted to go, but I didn't think my employer would look kindly on asking for more time off so soon. Please post and let us know how it went and what you did--I will live vicariously through you . Have fun!

ooops, sorry! I posted before I read to the bottom of the thread! Thanks for sharing.

FBMom: Love your new avatar. I am so glad that I inspired you. I usually get blamed for being a bad influence. This is actually nice.

ckrepps, how exciting about your son's official visit! I, too, am sorry you can't go, but hopefully your son will be forthcoming when you ask him for details afterwards. Let us know how his visit goes too!

I loves those official visits, keep the stories coming.

I love reading about everyone's excitement and successes too! I hope everyone will share!

My son is going on his first official visit next weekend. I don't know if I am going or not. I'm hoping my husband can go and don't know if we both can - two other kids to take care of. .. It is right now his first choice DII, so we'll see. The coach doesn't seem too high on the idea of him staying with any players. My husband really thinks he should. But he does get to practice with them. So far he really likes the coach.

He also got his first offer - from a really good JUCO. Exciting!! but I think he will hold out for that DI he really wants to go to and keep these for Plan B - unless he just loves EVERYTHING about next week.

Good Luck Infield and thanks for sharing!

HitaHomer, good luck to you too! I am so excited for your son. Congrats regarding his JUCO offer and best wishes regarding the D2 visit! Staying with the players would have been nice, but your son ought to learn a lot about the program and its players by practicing with them. That's an awesome opportunity!

Funny story -- My son is a "country boy" who wears Wranglers and boots every day. This past weekend during his visit to a big-city program, he was invited to watch the team practice. During a bathroom break, he went into the locker room and was heartened to see a pair of cowboy boots in one of the players' lockers. Let's call this player "Justin." A little later, my son was in the dugout talking with a coach when Justin came up to introduce himself. He saw the way my son was dressed and teasingly asked the coach, "Why can't you recruit more guys like him?!"

Back to you, HitaHomer: hoping that your son's D1 dream comes true!

Hitahomer,Infield08, and Ckrepps,

I'm so excited for 'yal- hope the visits go great and you enjoy this ride! Wow Hitahomer - congrats on the JUCO offer!

Hitahomer and Ckrepps - you tell those men in your family that this time they have to remember every detail to relate to you!

I love the boot story Infield!

It's funny how this circle goes - last year official visit for my son, this year he and his freshman roommates are the ones hosting the fall recruits!

I like the cowboy boot story too! Curveball07--what?? Men and details--now that would take major miracle!! Actually--husband is unable to go at this time either. Son is actually preferring to go by himself, but is a little nervous about it--especially since he has never even been on a plane before . Maybe he will run into someone with some cowboy boots too!

Fun, ain't it?

I love the cowboy boots story too. That may be the little extra detail that makes him feel "at home" at that school.

Trip actually got moved to the 20th, and my husband will be out of country, so I get to go. I'm excited because I really wanted to see the school.

We did hear from a DI this week, (not the one son wants to play for) that had been recruiting him hard in July and early August. I had noted they were pretty deep at son's position. They called yesterday to say with new rules they couldn't "do anything for him without cutting a senior". Its not fun to hear rejection, but I respected the coach's honesty. That's one we can cross off the list.
How's everyone else doing??

Let me ask this too - its driving me crazy b/c between the coach and son I feel like I am driving off into the twilight zone. All I know is the name of the hotel. I am assuming all the arrangements have been made (though I don't know in whose name). I don't have a clue what we will be doing the two days we are there. Since its a bunch of men, do they all just fly by the seat of their pants or what??

HitaHomer, so glad that you get to go! Let me tell you what happened to us. For both visits, we got an itinerary via email that laid out the schedule (meet at 8 for breakfast, visit a class, lunch with coaching staff, observe practice, meet with head coach, etc.). Hopefully, the school you're dealing with will send a schedule too. For the hotel, they had already checked in for us and simply handed us the keys when we met them at the baseball clubhouse. I'm sure they'll take care of all the details for y'all.

Sorry about the D1. I'm glad they were honest. If you are a Christian, you can cling to the truth of Romans 8:28. I know that our family has been!

"do they all just fly by the seat of their pants or what??"

Yep, ain't that how ya'll do it?

I bet it ends up being way more organized than you would ever imagine.

Almost orchestrated.

Infield 08
Try Jeremiah 29:11 too. We could probably start a whole thread on what verses people use to get through this process (and Life in general!)

Observer: If truth be told I have to admit my husband is the organized one around here.

Infield08, we too received an itinerary via e-mail, but not until just a few days before the trip (he leaves tommorrow, by the way). We did get the flight reservations a couple weeks back though. I'd hope you would be getting an itinerary any time now! I'm so happy you get to go with him, please let us know how it goes. Sorry, to hear about the D1, but I'm sure it just leaves the window open for bigger and better things!

My Son returned from his visit early this evening. Had a good trip, the flight was uneventful for him. As I feared, getting the details I want from him is a bit like pulling teeth! Coach is supposed to be calling me Monday with some details. He seemed to mesh well with the baseball team, and he was taken for a a bit of a sightseeing tour of NYC last night. He said the facilities and the campus were nice, but he still has several colleges he wants to visit. Overall, a good experience for a country boy gone to the big city. He hasn't mentioned running into anyone with some cowboy boots while there, though! Hitahomer--waiting to hear how your visit went when you get back.

ckrepps, great report! Glad to hear everything went well!

You mentioned that getting details out of your son is a bit like pulling teeth. Reminds me of a time when my son was in middle school. I picked him up in carpool and asked, "How was your day?" He mumbled, "Good." I then asked, "What was the best part?" He glared at me and commented, "I didn't know I was going to be interrogated today."

ROFLMAO, Infield08.

I have forwarded this to my boys for their future use.

Thank you.

But, mine have been "interrogated" for their entire lives, and, at this point, ain't likely to be much help.

Visit went great this weekend (thanks for asking). DII, great school. Said they wanted him and will call to talk money and stuff. Son liked everything. They were great though, and said they would not pressure him at all to sign early that they wanted him to look at all his options and be comfortable. Funny thing, they had a scrimmage today with the JUCO that made him the offer two weeks ago, and there he was with the DII coaches and up walked the JUCO guys. I felt like I had two boyfriends and they both showed up at the same dance . Didn't seem to bother son though. I think he'll hold out for the DI he really wants to go to (small DI). If that doesn't work out he just has to figure out if he wants to go JUCO or to a great DII. (I vote DII - good school.) I think he really liked the coaches and the players.
Ckrepps, glad your son had a great visit. I love NYC!! I think the "naked cowboy" in Times Square wears cowboy boots.

Sounds like an excellent visit, HitaHomer! Funny story about the coaches from both schools being there! I'm sure it felt awkward to you (I would have felt the same way!), but I'm glad your son was fine with it. Keep us posted on what happens!