For one day, the speculation ends and reality sets in
For those who hate recruiting, National Signing Day should be celebrated. No more speculation about who will sign where. No more message-board debates about the attributes of an 18-year-old kid who is undecided about where he will attend college. No more articles hyping star athletes who still live with their parents.
Until, of course, tomorrow.
Here in the South — a region that is passionate about college football — fans seem more interested in reading about a prospect that could play for their favorite team than one who actually is.
Recruiting articles are devoured and people actually pay for access to Web sites that specialize in compiling information about high-school kids who play sports. It's a strange phenomenon. And it only seems to get bigger and more ridiculous in the digital age.
It would seem foolish for anyone to invest his time tracking teenagers who are trying to select the college or university of their choice. Probably half of them will end up competing against the school the fan supports. Some will never even play a down the next four years at any program.
Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to start paying attention to these players when they actually arrive on campus? Sure. But then fans wouldn't be allowed to indulge their fantasies. The reason why recruiting is followed with such passion is because of the hope it offers. It's why baseball junkies love to speculate about the moves teams will make in the offseason. Recruiting is college football's version of free agency. It allows programs to revamp their rosters and set a new course. And it provides the season-ticket holders the chance to dream.
We just need to sign this five-star player and we're set. If we get two top-ten recruiting classes in a row we should be competing for a national championship in no time. I can't wait to see who we end up with.
All of these are thoughts fans have during the recruiting process. Once Signing Day comes, the fun ends and reality sets in temporarily — that is until Thursday comes along. Just like that, the process begins again and hope springs anew. The new batch of prospects will be dissected and analyzed. They will be profiled. And they most certainly will be tracked.
The absurdity of it all never ceases to amaze.
Photo Source: USA Today
Until, of course, tomorrow.
Here in the South — a region that is passionate about college football — fans seem more interested in reading about a prospect that could play for their favorite team than one who actually is.
Recruiting articles are devoured and people actually pay for access to Web sites that specialize in compiling information about high-school kids who play sports. It's a strange phenomenon. And it only seems to get bigger and more ridiculous in the digital age.
It would seem foolish for anyone to invest his time tracking teenagers who are trying to select the college or university of their choice. Probably half of them will end up competing against the school the fan supports. Some will never even play a down the next four years at any program.
Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to start paying attention to these players when they actually arrive on campus? Sure. But then fans wouldn't be allowed to indulge their fantasies. The reason why recruiting is followed with such passion is because of the hope it offers. It's why baseball junkies love to speculate about the moves teams will make in the offseason. Recruiting is college football's version of free agency. It allows programs to revamp their rosters and set a new course. And it provides the season-ticket holders the chance to dream.
We just need to sign this five-star player and we're set. If we get two top-ten recruiting classes in a row we should be competing for a national championship in no time. I can't wait to see who we end up with.
All of these are thoughts fans have during the recruiting process. Once Signing Day comes, the fun ends and reality sets in temporarily — that is until Thursday comes along. Just like that, the process begins again and hope springs anew. The new batch of prospects will be dissected and analyzed. They will be profiled. And they most certainly will be tracked.
The absurdity of it all never ceases to amaze.
Photo Source: USA Today
posted by Rainer Sabin @ 12:41 AM
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