Wednesday was the first day that high school seniors could sign National Letters of Intent to attend and play college football. It's a big decision for the kids. It can be the day that changes the fortunes of many football programs and coaching careers. It's become a big day for fans of the the various college teams. That's a lot of pressure to place on kids that have yet to even graduate from high school. Everyone says that they are great. Everyone says that they are ready for the big time. The jump from high school to college is huge. For every Adrian Peterson and Jadeveon Clowney that dominated as soon as they stepped on a college football field there's thousands that just get lost in the numbers and the talent. I think that the attention paid to the recruiting process is irresponsible at best. Especially in this age of social networks. The kids have enough to worry about with school, homework and everyday teenage life. Fielding letters, calls, and visits from colleges is a full-time job by itself. Even if they commit early the recruiting doesn't stop. None of it stops with overly passionate fans now having access to the kids with twitter and facebook. Too often I find that these fans spend more time bitching about the kids that choose another school than embracing the kids that choose their school. They sometimes bring that anger to the virtual doorstep of the kids that are just trying to do what they think is best. It's ridiculous. Recruiting has always been a pretty sleazy process. Supposed friends of the program. Boosters with money and promises. People with money to burn that get a bang out of thinking that they control a little sports kingdom. Thinking that they can buy a coach and a dynasty. They think that they're doing something great when they're a just of bunch of clowns. An idiot with a computer doesn't seem so bad in comparison. The kids are simply trying to make a very important decision that could impact the rest of their lives. They shouldn't be pressured into a situation and place in which they aren't completely comfortable. Hell, they should be congratulated for simply making it through a brutal process. High school football, any football, should be fun.
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