The most disingenuous part of college football recruiting season is upon us.
Verbal commitments, of course, are not binding on anybody, not on the player and not on the school. In terms of NCAA rules, they are completely meaningless. And you are already starting to see it. Players who made their commitments with great fanfare, who pledged their undying loyalty to the schools of their choice, are starting to talk about visiting other schools, about wanting “to be sure.”
But my problem isn’t with the players. My problem is with coaches – virtually all of them – who talk out of both sides of their mouths.
On the same day, they’ll caution a wavering commitment that he gave his word, that they believed he was a man of his word and tell another who is committed to another school that he has to do what is best for him and that he shouldn’t worry about honoring that commitment.
Last year, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson ripped into Dontae Aycock for backing out of his commitment to sign with Auburn and, two days later, got a commitment from a player who had been committed to Virginia Tech. Ol’ Paul didn’t see any problem with the latter.
The opportunity to be recruited and to play college football at the highest level is a highlight of most these young men’s lives. But it’s also a difficult time for many of them. They hear daily from very skilled salesmen. At every school they visit, they are the center of attention of pretty girls. Fans shout their names. Coaches tell them how badly they are needed.
They go home feeling surely that school is the place for them. Then they go to another school and go home feeling the same way.
So get ready. Signing day is still more than three months away. Between now and then, things will get crazy. You can count on it.
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