Here's A New Parent Email

[Pete Incaviglia]

The best young high school football prospect's parents emailed looking for advice as to where their son should attend school. He's going to get a scholarship. Three schools are aggressively recruiting. All three schools are different in terms of their respective football teams (one's young, one's a contender, the other is average with a great past). Oh, and one of those is the local school I cover.

I'm not going to offer up any advice. I don't think it's my place to help a kid I could I potentially end up covering for four years.

Anyone else ever got an email like this?

 

[ADifferentOkie]

I haven't had it e-mail, but I have had parents ask me for advice. I just tell them I'm the wrong person to ask because I was not recruited and am no expert on that process.

 

[Ace]

You definitely do not want to get in the position of suggesting a certain school or coach.

You might point them to others who might be helpful -- a hs coach who has seen his share of recruits, a recruiting guru who might give them some insight; an agent who might loan his Hummer, etc.

 

[TheMethod]

Here's how it goes. Get job at rivals.com or scout. Get cozy with recruiting coordinator. Under the guise of journalism, begin recruiting where, when and how the coaches can't. Line your pockets with tax-free, under the table money.

 

[fishwrapper]

Oh, god no. Stay away from this one.
But tell them -- where ever they attend -- to study journalism.

 

[Ace]

Oh, god no. Stay away from this one.
But tell them -- where ever they attend -- to study journalism.

Hey, now. No need to be cruel.

 

[fishwrapper]

Oh, god no. Stay away from this one.
But tell them -- where ever they attend -- to study journalism.

Hey, now. No need to be cruel.

If you really want to curb this sort of thing.
Show the parents a paystub. It will be the last time they ask any journalist for advice.

 

[Cadet]

You definitely do not want to get in the position of suggesting a certain school or coach.

You might point them to others who might be helpful -- a hs coach who has seen his share of recruits, a recruiting guru who might give them some insight; an agent who might loan his Hummer, etc.

I wouldn't even do this (although I know it's tongue-in-cheek), because any kind of "recommendation," even of a coach or paid recruiting gun, can get you in hot water.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Don't get it from parents; have certainly been asked by family and friends. I usually tell them what I know about a particular school and then tell them to keep doing their own research.

 

[joe king]

You definitely do not want to get in the position of suggesting a certain school or coach.

You might point them to others who might be helpful -- a hs coach who has seen his share of recruits, a recruiting guru who might give them some insight; an agent who might loan his Hummer, etc.

I wouldn't even do this (although I know it's tongue-in-cheek), because any kind of "recommendation," even of a coach or paid recruiting gun, can get you in hot water.

Whatever you do, do not refer anyone to one of those self-proclaimed ``recruiting gurus'' for advice. Of any sort.

 

[zebracoy]

I know a writer who was asked by the parents of a major-conference college football transfer within the past three years which school their son should choose and why.

You just want to say, "You've been through the recruiting process. You screwed up the first time. It's obvious. But my God, don't make it so apparent that you have no idea what you're doing than to ask me."

 

[Diabeetus]

You definitely do not want to get in the position of suggesting a certain school or coach.

You might point them to others who might be helpful -- a hs coach who has seen his share of recruits, a recruiting guru who might give them some insight; an agent who might loan his Hummer, etc.

I wouldn't even do this (although I know it's tongue-in-cheek), because any kind of "recommendation," even of a coach or paid recruiting gun, can get you in hot water.

Whatever you do, do not refer anyone to one of those self-proclaimed ``recruiting gurus'' for advice. Of any sort.

I'm guessing Ace was making a joke, guys. Don't be dense

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Well, I had to reply with something.

I just explained plainly and politely that it's a conflict of interest.

Then I went on to say it's not unlike me having to decide on new jobs and moves across the country (new town, new coworkers, leaving friends and maybe family). I told them to take their time, weigh pro and cons and to expect it to be long and tedious and stressful.

I steered clear of any and all football or football program type talk.

And of course I thanked them for asking my opinion.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Well, I had to reply with something.

I just explained plainly and politely that it's a conflict of interest.

Then I went on to say it's not unlike me having to decide on new jobs and moves across the country (new town, new coworkers, leaving friends and maybe family). I told them to take their time, weigh pro and cons and to expect it to be long and tedious and stressful.

I steered clear of any and all football or football program type talk.

And of course I thanked them for asking my opinion.

Well played sir. Well played.

 

[shotglass]

I don't think it's overstepping any bounds to drop the name of a well-respected coach who might be able to help these folks.

And I would take it as a compliment that they would ask me, even if they're wrong in doing so. Unless I'm really jaded.

 

[EStreetJoe]

The advice you should have given is this:
"If you want your son to be ready for life after football, have him go to the school where he'll get the best education and be happy, if you want him to go to the NFL, here's a Web site that lists which schools send the most kids into the NFL"

 

[Italian_Stallion]

Suggest a university that doesn't have a football program.

 

[fishwrapper]

Unless I'm really jaded.

Well, um...You said it.

 

[shotglass]

Suggest a university that doesn't have a football program.

Because you know more about what they want for their son and what their son wants than they do.

(I don't care if it was tongue-in-cheek; that smacked of "I'm smarter than you.")

 

[Ace]

I don't think it's overstepping any bounds to drop the name of a well-respected coach who might be able to help these folks.

And I would take it as a compliment that they would ask me, even if they're wrong in doing so. Unless I'm really jaded.

I think asking a high school coach who has had his share of recruits would be OK -- unless it's taken as a slam at his current coach.

I was being flip before, but this a tough one because by nature, everyone in the process either has his hand out or is looking out for someone else's interest.

What I would probably tell them mom is decide what junior wants to do in life and look for schools that are a good match. Don't judge by the coach or the football program first.