NLI

Eockerholm ?

LOL @Good Knight. Sorry for the late reply. I've been traveling... we'll post if PTWoodson is cool with it. He's shy. Hahahaha

NLI signing is, and should be, a very proud moment for the ball player and family.  Make a big deal of it, post it on social media, enjoy the limelight at school.  Celebrate.

But... recognize that this is the start, not the end, of a long, tough road.  Half of these kids signing their NLI will likely not make it to their sophomore year.  Fewer will play key roles on their college team.  These kids need to know that they need to work like they've never worked before.  Get bigger, stronger, faster, better until they arrive on campus.  I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but it's a tough slog in a normal year.  During this Covid mess it is going to be tougher than it's ever been.

Ptwood  he needs to get over that . He is going to be a star!

@Smitty28 posted:

NLI signing is, and should be, a very proud moment for the ball player and family.  Make a big deal of it, post it on social media, enjoy the limelight at school.  Celebrate.

But... recognize that this is the start, not the end, of a long, tough road.  Half of these kids signing their NLI will likely not make it to their sophomore year.  Fewer will play key roles on their college team.  These kids need to know that they need to work like they've never worked before.  Get bigger, stronger, faster, better until they arrive on campus.  I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but it's a tough slog in a normal year.  During this Covid mess it is going to be tougher than it's ever been.

Just echoing both of your points.

On the second point, here is the pitching headcount I see at a certain D1 this year. These are both healthy and injured arms, or arms rehabbing their way back for the spring. And much involves estimates on my part. I don't know anyone in the program except for my son. ( In other words, I don't have insider knowledge.)

32 pitchers before the start of classes. Four don't show up for classes, either on their own or with a suggestion from the coaches (decommitted.) 10ish in recruiting class, 3 JUCO transfers, one grad transfer. And I think players can still transfer in or out.

28 pitchers at the start of classes. Two are injured where they can't pitch next spring. (UCL etc.)

26 pitchers at the start of workouts. That's where it is as of today, best I can tell.

17 is a normal spring roster of pitchers, give or take. (based on half of rosters, drafts etc are pitchers, half position players.)

14 is a normal contingent on the travel roster.

8 pitchers got 80% of the innings in 2019.

It is what it is.

Oh there will be plenty of pictures of Christian signing for Georgia Tech. We’ve got banners we might be doing cupcakes and balloons if they let us in the school, if not we’ll do it up at home.But yes there will be celebration and photo documentation of the signing!

we all have plenty of Georgia Tech gear to wear. We will have his previous travel ball hat his high school hat and his East Cobb hat on the table as well to celebrate his journey. Very much looking forward to the boys being invited for their official visits and photographs. After they receive The signed document. They might ship out uniforms or swag or something. Not sure how that works. A lot is still in the air. Hoping after they sign they will be able to go visit campus as recruiting is over and they are not considered recruits., But someone did point out college bound or whatever so it still might be an issue to get the guys on campus

I also have a lot of questions about the official visit.

In normal years it is a big deal with your teammates and a football Saturday.

Now who knows if and when.

@Go44dad wrote :

“26 pitchers at the start of (fall) workouts.”

”8 pitchers got 80% of the (spring) innings in 2019.”

And that’s pretty much what you should expect in college baseball no matter where you play.

From first-hand experience with P5 football, basketball and baseball teams, they are doing all they can to keep all of the players healthy, COVID-free and playing. As much as we enjoyed official visits with my daughter, I respect the schools' priorities right now. As I see it, providing a fun experience for incoming recruits is at the bottom of the list. And it's not just about minimizing COVID positives on campus, it's also about cost. No basketball NCAA tournament revenue (and this year is in doubt), reduced football revenue, testing and quarantine costs etc. It all adds up and that's why we see schools cutting sports and others quietly cutting staff positions. Bringing 16 players and their families on campus is a costly endeavor and I would rather use that cost to save someone's job. Some schools are coming up with work arounds (one of PTWoodson's teammates had "on-campus registration") but I have zero expectations for traditional, grandiose, official visit.

Please, no arguments about COVID. Pretty please.

As far as I know, no one is allowed on most college campuses unless you belong or have a reason to be there.

Most schools are leaning toward most students not returning after Thanksgiving until the spring semester.

I love the excitement of signing day. I miss watching my son play college baseball. He often says I look back too much while he has his eye on the future. Enjoy this moment, savor the entire process of college baseball and make some lifelong friends while you’re at it. We still go back to Clemson and visit friends we met in the Cheap Seats and Cajun Cafe!

It hit me this week when my son got a text from the equipment manager to size all of his baseball apparel

As parents, for the signing photo, which way do you go - team swag or professional attire?

Team swag is what we're all wearing.

GT gear, GT banners, cup cakes, Blue and Yellow balloons. We're doing it up.

Even though virtual

I think this is one of those moments you should be allowed to go so over the top that will make that "my super sweet sixteen" show look tasteful

Ours is ugly as he has covid for another week!

Getting his new roommate.

No NLI for our son, since he is committed to Ivy, but the coaches said to print his likely letter and use that on Wednesday. Congratulations to everyone in the community!

@LBmom2021, for my daughter, the basketball girls had already signed theirs when they had their ceremony so they all just fake signed something. 😂 Doesn’t take anything away from the fun!! Big congrats to your son!! On our end, no in-person ceremony but I will share pix from the remote ceremony. #MoverS #HailState

@PTWood posted:

@LBmom2021, for my daughter, the basketball girls had already signed theirs when they had their ceremony so they all just fake signed something. 😂 Doesn’t take anything away from the fun!! Big congrats to your son!! On our end, no in-person ceremony but I will share pix from the remote ceremony. #MoverS #HailState

That is exciting. Congratulations to your daughter! Fake signing is totally OK Sadly, it doesn't look like our son's HS team is planning to do something together on November 11. Maybe they will do it at one of the later signing days once they are back in school. It's all virtual for them right now.

Even if Virtual do it up!! Go get balloons, gear up in team gear and make a big deal of it.

My son is docusigning at 7am locally tomorrow and the college is then "able" to provide a certificate and custom graphics for his announcement (they can't before you sign). So we'll print out the certificate for the "signing ceremony" and celebrate with team and friends and family.

Our HS did a big Zoom call last spring for the late signing period across multiple sports. Still need to make a big deal out of this and announce and celebrate their accomplishment.

Can't wait to see everyone's pictures and videos!!

Our high school baseball program has planned a 11am signing day ceremony tomorrow at our indoor hitting / weight room facility. Cupcakes for 100+ will be provided.

@bamatarheel posted:

Our high school baseball program has planned a 11am signing day ceremony tomorrow at our indoor hitting / weight room facility. Cupcakes for 100+ will be provided.

Sounds like they're doing it right. Congrats again and pictures, please! My kid's uncommitted and playing the COVID/dead period guessing game - hearing and seeing good news from others in this community is a balm for my soul and I suspect I'm not alone.

A great day for a great day!! Docusigned and Hugged it out at 7am. Tears were shed (by dad of course, he went back to bed).

Christian's Ceremony is at 2pm CT. I'll be getting and sharing pictures and videos.

GT is sharing the sweet "Welcome to the Flats" graphics as the NLIs are coming in. (Sweet touch by Coach Ramsey. Christian has worn #29 since 9u)

https://twitter.com/GTBaseball

Can't wait to see y'alls pictures and videos!!

Eokerholm congrats. When he gets to GT get someone to take you to Eastlake Golf Course.

Bobby Jones home course. Very cool. His clubs/trophies are there. All caddies!

Wow!  Very cool and huge congratulations!

Congrats eokerholm and DanJ!

Congratulations Eokerholm and DanJ!  Welcome to the grind!

Congrats to your sons!

@DanJ posted:

Congratulations !!  (that W looks awfully familiar )

@cabbagedad  Indeed.  It was much more familiar until Wisconsin sued them and they made the center tine pointed.  Yes, sued a high school in po-dunk Nebraska.  No residual love from Alvarez evidently!

@bamatarheel posted:

Love the suit and tie! Was hoping to see a plate of those cookies in front of him, but oh well :-)

Mom said they were too pretty to eat😂

So we weren’t able to attend in person. This is the first picture that has surfaced. :-) Hopefully I will get some better shots later but it is done and we are so excited!

Congrats Paula!

Indeed a special and great day to sign an NLI!!! Sorry, not sorry for so many pictures. What a wonderful celebration of and for Christian. Couldn't be happier and more proud of him.

The entire baseball class came out and a bunch of his football and basketball friends too

Mom and Dad (me):

HS Coaches, Pitching Coach for last 3 Years, Coach and family Friend since 9U MOJO and Team Citius-Joseph, and Speed,Strength and Conditioning Coach Clemente.

My wife April, her Daughter Adaline, (missing 2 others)

Mom, Step Dad and Step Siblings and Sister Sydney.

Heart is smiling. So are my parents, looking down from above.
He signed with my Dad's company pen!

Congratulations to all and a  shout out to the boys who did not sign an NLI.  It's a special time for them as well!