By Bob Becker – www.cornerstone.edu/journalism
I’m usually a pretty quiet guy, but for the past 40 years I’ve tended to go nuts twice a year…national signing days. You only need to log on the M-live or any other site that deals with college football or basketball and read all the crazies panting over which current pituitary oddball is going to sign with old Siwash U. Go Horney-Toads, or whatever.
Every once in awhile, some 18 year old phenom actually delivers once he leaves high school and arrives on a college campus. But that number is woefully low. Yet year in and year out, fans are salivating over the thought that this quarterback or that wide receiver is actually going to wear THEIR school colors.
Good grief, it used to be mom and dad showed up in the athletic director’s office to witness the kid signing his name. Sometimes the kid could actually read what he was signing, and didn’t have to print out his signature.
Now they call press conferences, including nationwide live TV.
Kid in Nevada last week had his 15 minutes of fame. Kevin Hart, a 6-5, 290-lb. lineman, signed a letter-of-intent to play for Cal. He did it in front of his entire student body, two TV stations and the local prep editor.
Trouble was, Cal never heard of him. The whole thing was a joke.
Michigan fans can’t sleep at night waiting to hear from Terrell Pryor, who had a national press conference set up, then called it off to go back and think some more.
Don’t these people know they are acting like idiots? I celebrate victories and great performances, but nobody who signed Wednesday has thrown a pass, caught one or tackled anybody at the college level.
Notre Dame had the catch of the year two February’s ago, a quarterback from California who flew in to South Bend to announce at the College Football Hall of Fame. How did the Irish do this year with the phenom at the helm?
It’s nice for the kids to announce that they got a scholarship. But good grief. Save the hysterics until the kid actually does something!!!
Tags: Bob Becker
