Too Much Hype: National Signing Day
This past Wednesday, February 1st 2017, was college football national signing day. Each year the day celebrates the start of the signing period when high school football players can make their choice of school official. But, despite most schools holding an event for athletic booster members, the athletes rarely sign their letter of intent at the event. The recruits generally sign at their high school with friends and family on hand.
While inking the recruits on national signing day is exciting for current players, coaches and fans the all-day event goes a little over the top. While the players sign their letter of intent at their schools, the athletic department of their future school holds a press conference early in the afternoon before inviting donors and boosters to a reception that precedes a meet and greet with the players who were able to attend.
Before it is all said and done it is nearing 8 PM after a six hour event. It is understandable that the day should be recognized and certainly the athletes should make it a big deal, but should the university create all this hype?
That is in question right now. Not only does the university have to spend money to put on the gathering, but history shows that may top recruits do not pan out. There is a lot riding on the young athletes choices, and the extra publicity may put too much pressure on them.
According to athlonsports.com, less that one percent of 5 star recruits will sign a letter of intent, and on average 24.5 of five star recruits never pan out. In fact, this years NFL Pro Bowl that was held last Sunday, included 37 former three-star or lower recruits to just 11 five-star recruits.
The signing day events are not the only reason five-star athletes do not always preform to expectations. The most likely reason is that a player still has plenty of mental and physical growth to endure. But the pressure that an event like a signing day brings to a high school athlete may be too much for them to handle before they receive their diploma.
