Tuesday February 02, 2010

Signing Day

Signing Day in a Perfect World
I have in my head what signing day should look like but unfortunately some yoo hoos ruin it for everyone, sort of like the guy who ruins the party by drinking too much and making an fool of himself.

Count me as one of the ones that loves recruiting. I love the projection of talent. I love the competition but mostly I love the psychology involved.

But count me as one of the growing number of people that is disgusted by of it now. This is not about Clemson or South Carolina. It is not about five stars or four stars. It is about right and wrong.

I think signing day should be a celebration. It should be about families showing pride in their sons. It should be a culmination of a great process.

In a perfect world, kids who have committed would remain true to their words.

Signing day is not just about the five star signing with Southern Cal, it is also about the five-nine wide receiver signing with Southern University.

It should be a day where a kid’s families can get dressed up to have their picture in the local papers. It should be a day where the high school coaches, principle and guidance counselors get a little recognition as well.

And in 99.99% of the cases tomorrow that is exactly what it will be. Unfortunately a few idiots will try to steal the show and ruin it for everyone.

Go ahead and mark it down. You can count on some showboat faking out the cameras by putting on one hat and then throwing it to the side and picking the other school.

Some egomaniac will try to “shock the world tomorrow.” Let’s be honest, where you go to school is not going to shock the world. The people of Haiti had their world shocked a few weeks ago. If you want to shock the world then invent a cure for cancer between today and your press conference tomorrow. Find a way to feed to hungry. Solve the education issues or the health care concerns. That would shock the world.

The idea that some of these kids will change at the last minute without telling a staff that he was previously committed to is also a complete disgrace.

The only thing these schools and coaches have done is offer you a full scholarship to their school. They have given you a free trip to their school for your official visit. They have provided food and tickets for you and your family. They have written you hundreds of letters and called you hundreds of times. In a world in which many teenagers feel neglected, you have been bombarded by attention. The academic people at these schools have taken time out of their schedule to meet with you. The players at the schools have invested their time showing you their campus as well. So how in the world could you disrespect them by showing them up at a press conference?

The one thing I find amazing about this process is the ones that pull this kind of circus act usually don’t pan out on the field. Their big day is signing day and often they go down from there. You might say that is karma but it is probably more about maturity.

I was on the phone with a college coach in December and asked about a player they signed last year. This was a player that was a five-star stud. He was offered by everyone in the south. He was a top 25 kind of player. This young man had his press conference live on ESPN on signing day. Almost everyone knew where the kid was going but he made a circus act out of it. As some would say, “He really showed his tail” that day. So I asked the coach how his five star guy was playing and he said he was not playing as much as many would think. “He is just not as mature as he needs to be,” the coach said. I did not say it but we all saw that last February.

Does anyone remember the press conference when Colt McCoy announced for Texas? How about the day Mark Ingram announced for Alabama? The reason you can’t is because they did not make a big deal out of it.

What I remember about Tim Tebow’s press conference was him thanking the schools that recruited him and then respectfully choosing Florida.

I have no problem waiting until signing day to announce your decision. Many have earned that privilege. I have no problem with having a press conference. Again, many have earned that kind of attention. But when they do it then I just wish they did it respectfully.

I feel bad for the kids that have chaos around them in the final days but often they have brought that upon themselves. And I do feel great for those kids that will have the spot light and that will handle it with class and dignity. That is what signing day is supposed to be.

Dabo Recap
Tomorrow night the Fort Hill Clemson Club is having a fundraiser that will help raise scholarship money for local kids to go to Clemson. Here is their release:

The Fort Hill Clemson Club invites Tiger fans to join head football coach Dabo Swinney at the 4th Annual Clemson Recruiting Wrap-Up presented by Chick-fil-A of Clemson and Seneca. Coach Swinney will introduce his staff and discuss each member of the Tigers' 2010 recruiting class. There will also be a highlight video from 2009, a highlight video for each signee and a time for Q&A with Coach Swinney.

Where: Jervey Gym at Clemson University
When: Signing Day - Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM - Dinner begins; 7:00 PM - Coach Swinney takes the stage
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door (Tickets can be purchased at the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative offices in Pickens, Westminister and Anderson, Mr.Knickerbocker's in Clemson and Greenville, and Chick-fil-A of Clemson)
There will be many great items at this year's silent auction, so bring your cash and checks (we are unable to accept credit cards.) All proceeds from the event will support scholarships for current Clemson students from local high schools.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims.