National Signing Day

In my day, recruiting -- rather than just signing day -- was transitioning into a thing that was actually covered, and it was one of the (many) reasons behind my coming to the conclusion that sports journalism was going to be a short trip for me. By the time I had my biggest beat (an upper-crust SEC program), stark indeed was the mismatch between: 1) readers' interest in recruiting; and 2) my interest/skills at covering it.

I recall we had one local kid who was maybe one of the top 10 or 15 recruits in the country, and the program I covered was a finalist for his services. I was expected to have a front-page story on signing day stating flat-out where the kid was going to sign. Thing was, he hadn't decided. Not good enough, said my editor. So I called my "source" -- a salesman from another part of the state who kept up with recruiting as a hobby -- who told me he'd heard this kid was signing with my program. Wasn't enough for me, but my editor insisted. Eff it, I said, and wrote a lead to the effect of "BigDude will sign today with StateU, Fishwrapper sources say." I figured one of two things was going to happen: 1) He'd sign with StateU and I'd get my boss off my back; or 2) He'd sign with someone else and I'd get an earlier-than-anticipated start to that next career I was contemplating.

He signed with StateU. I started my next career two months later.

 

At least he didn't write "oriental"

 

I love how Langi's so huge, the back tail of his tie is about 3 inches!

 

It's different in that it's supposed to be about furthering their education, not finding out their future employment location.

Yeah, I know. That's not what college sports is, or has been for the last 30 years. Which is part of why this is so creepy.

It's also why I found it amusing when the NCAA tried to claim that they are recruited as students. I've thought that if they really wanted to do that, then they should pass a rule only permitting a coach one home visit, only allowing any coach to attend one game per recruit, and limit the contact to a couple of letters, a phone call, and a text or two.

Since, after all, it's about education.

 

The NCAA, which penalizes the teeny- tiniest of on-field and on-court taunting or woofing, tolerates these goddamn news conferences which are NOTHING BUT taunting and woofing -- that's the entire reason they exist.

 

Would rather have my balls skewered with a swizzle stick than cover NSD.

 

Or just have the head of the sociology department make the home visits.

 

Anyone who wonders why the same teams tend to be good year after year should look at some of the recruiting classes. It's like an inverted NFL draft where the best 10 teams get the first 50 picks. I would like to see a breakdown about which programs got the most bang for their bucks in terms of football budget vs. recruiting ranking.

 

I have little interest other than to see where the local kids go, but I certainly don't think it's weird or creepy to follow it a little bit if you are a big CFB fan. What's weird or creepy is discussing it on message boards for hours and/or berating teenage athletes because they didn't go to your favorite school. I know the past four national champs had highly rated recruiting classes, but how many of these top prospects flame out/get hurt/can't qualify? It's far more of a crapshoot than the NFL draft.

 

Snoop Dogg Jr. must also like Asian girls, as he's going to Westwood too despite his dad's USC allegiance.

UCLA recruiting: Receiver Cordell Broadus signs with Bruins - LA Times

He's a receiver who hopefully will not drop it like it's hot.

 

Wonder is Cordell did that just to piss pops off, or (more likely) to express his independence.