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Woelk: Recruiting circus becomes a gossip-filled sideshow
OK, confession time. May the college football recruiting gods forgive me for the sin I'm about to admit.
But I can't take it anymore.
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Put me out of my misery. Please, add my name to the list of folks who don't want to hear another word about recruiting until national signing day.
Don't care, don't want to know and really, really don't have any interest in the latest rumors. Call me on Feb. 6, give me the list of players who have signed letters of intent -- and until then, leave me out of the loop.
Please.
Honestly? I don't care that Darrell Scott -- who must be the best running back ever in the history of the world, given the attention he's getting -- is worried about the weather in Boulder. I don't care if Mack Brown is going to pay Scott a personal visit.
I. Just. Don't. Care.
Not that recruiting isn't important. Of course it's important. The players who sign letters this year are the future of every program worth its weight room. As someone who has paid relatively close attention to college football for the better part of 25 years, I'm fairly cognizant of what recruiting means to programs.
What is a little more difficult to understand, however, is how it's become the second season of college football. Ithas spawned an entire industry of folks who breathlessly provide us with continuous updates on the every thought of 18-year-olds across the nation.
In turn, that industry has created a nation of fans who hang on every one of those words, who treat the utterances of those teenagers with the same gravity and importance usually reserved for congressional pronouncements.
These are, we remind you, teenagers. These are kids whose second-biggest decision right now in their lives is who to ask to the prom.
Yet the angst, the anguish, the hand-wringing produced when one of them says, "Geez, the weather in Los Angeles is a lot better than the weather in Lincoln" is mind-boggling. Otherwise sane, normal, productive members of our society become blathering lunatics at the mere notice of such a pronouncement from a teenager.
Maybe it's because I just don't see the "sport" involved.
Most of us watch sporting events because we enjoy the competition. We enjoy watching skilled athletes perform.
But the recruiting circus has become a bizarre world of its own, one that involves far more calumny than competition. Gossip is king and rumors are gospel. The only thing missing is a daily Britney update.
Equally confusing -- and slightly disturbing -- is the lexicon created to go with the business.
Soft verbal? Seriously, that sounds like something you wouldn't want your kids to see -- and certainly not something I'm anxious to know about any 18-year-old.
Yes, I know recruiting is out there. I know it's important, and I know the buzz surrounding it is only going to grow.
I also realize that a certain portion of football fans love following it. God bless every one of 'em. If that's where they get their thrills, if that's their idea of competition and sport, all the power to them.
But today, I'm going to come clean.
I. Don't. Care.
Call me on Feb. 6. Give me the list. Then let me know when they show up for practice.
Until then ... give me a good college basketball game.
And kindly leave me out of the loop.
Posted by Odog on January 20, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed Neil. Its getting absolutely silly and out of control. Of course its been like this for a while, CU just hasn't been recruiting the caliber of blue chip where people would freak out over every other word.
The second season isn't going anywhere. Right now we are competiting with Texas for a kid that could help get CU back on the National level. Its fun to watch- fun to gossip- but could not agree with you more. It turns sane people crazy and crazy people something we don't even have an adjective for yet.
GO BUFFS.
Posted by montanabuff on January 20, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My confession, Neill. I really do care. While it is true that recruiting rankings do not make the team (I'll make your point for you: CU had six players in '07 honored as first or second team All-Big 12. Five were three star recruits, and one, All-American Jordon Dizon, was only a two star recruit - as a running back!). Still, you can't win successfully at this level without talent, and success breeds success. Will our program die without Darrell Scott? No. Would I still like to see him in black and gold instead of burnt orange? You bet! Go Buffs!
www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by jpggobuffs74 on January 20, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
interesting!!
I imagine that most of this anguish comes from the Dred Scott decision- I mean Darrell.
Sure it semi sucks to have to attempt daily to see if there are any updates on what those teenagers have reportedly said to one of their friends,family members or coach so that we can be current with their future, and ours. That being the CU Buffaloes fan club.
Wasn't it so much easier when Gary Barnett was coaching and we didn't really care about recruits until that day of signing. There was no urgency to look at Rivals.com or Scout.com because we always knew that we weren't competing for any 4 or 5 star players. Of course we were able to convince ourselves that it really wasn't the amount of stars because that did not always translate to talent( Notre Dame and Boise St. on the flip side)
Maybe it's because with the Hawk we're finally attracting those larger stars that we're getting to be like the big boys.
Think of all the time that was wasted in the past by school fans from Ohio St.,Michigan,Texas, USC etc trying to keep current with who verballed(know this isn't a word, just sounded good) or who was still on the fence.
Hmmm- now that I think about it it feels pretty good to daily pull up those recruiting services on the computer and see if the future of the Buffs will be in better hands then what Barnett gave us. Since we are recruitng those 4-5 star players we might even be able to say in the next 4 to 5 years as we watch those games on Sunday that he played for the Buffs in 2008.
Neill, keep them coming because I enjoy your articles and know that in your privacy you're still going to secretly check the current situation of Darrell Scott.
GO BUFFS!!
Just remember Darrell Scott is not Marcus Houston
Posted by BuffsIn2007 on January 20, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yo, Neill! You're a five-star columnist! (OK, only four stars on Rivals.com.)
Posted by extrapoint on January 20, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
c'mon Neil, you are just trolling like the recruiting services. The real problem is, the revruiting news has been slack lately and as a result the comment boards were getting boring.
If it is any consolation, I dont care about the NFL draft.
Posted by 20buff on January 20, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Neill: You should know by now that there are only 3 sports at CU:
1. Football
2. Football Recruiting
3. Spring Football
Before anybody gets all riled up, just kidding! Go Buffs!
Posted by MinnesotaBuff on January 20, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Neil is missing a big point from a die hard Buff fan like me. IT IS FOR FUN NEILL. All this recruiting fodder is ammunition against our rivals. It also stocks the cabinet for years to come in Buff football.
Look, no one knows how good a guy like Darrel Scott will be but we know that he was a hell of player in high school and has a good chance of becoming a top notch college back.
I admit I'm a recruiting junkie. But you have to take everything with a grain of salt. The day of days is Feb. 6th. Until then just HAVE FUN WITH THE PROCESS.
Posted by Westlak on January 20, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We don't care that you think you're "above the fray" regarding recruiting. Cover it or have someone else cover it for us. Simple as that.
Posted by TallyBuff on January 20, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Neill, there was an interesting ball game in Austin, TX last night. Sorry you missed it.
Posted by Saheeb on January 20, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
C'mon Neill, don't tell me you don't visit the journalism intern recruiting sites several times a day to weigh the Daily Camera's odds of that five-star curvaceous hottie sophomore comm major spending her internship learning about gerunds from you instead of those dirt bag writers at the Austin Statesman!!???
Posted by archalon on January 21, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good points by all - but Neill, we'll happily take the circus if it means we are competing for 4-5 star kids. We arent used to that, it is exciting.
Tell me that the buzz and thoughts of Scott, Major, Katoa, Givens and others turning the corner for the program doesnt make you feel good about CU and fans proud that they stuck with a program through scandal and lean times ?
Posted by phatmack18 on January 21, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: The "soft verbal" comment.
I LOL'd.
Posted by afsco on January 21, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With all this talk about the gossip filled sideshow recruiting circus it makes me wonder what has happened to PT Gates . He was suppose to be here last week with his papers but was a no show . Is it PT Gates or is it Saddleback College that has a problem ? That now is the circus sideshow gossip filled recruiting question. Where is PT Gates and his admission papers ? Might have to bring back Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys or Scooby Doo to find this one out. Is this just a big mystery or a big bunch of blowing smoke and PT Gates is not coming to CU.
Posted by Westlak on January 21, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're making this all about you Neil. Whats going to sell more papers? People dying to know what your opinion is about recruiting? Or the recruiting itself? I think the answer is obvious. Stop making this all about you. Nobody cares.
Posted by archalon on January 21, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.T.'s troubles seem to be with Saddleback and the formality of the whole process. Cant these schools get on the same page, not for CU football's sake, but for the kid's ?
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on January 21, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you care about who your favorite NFL team might sign this offseason? Or about who is trying to land the best NBA free agent? Its all the same. I agree its frusterating, but this is only because we care. We want the best players to come to CU.
Posted by cubuffone on January 21, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Said from the Madam of the gossip mongers.
Posted by GoldenBoy on January 21, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
saheeb is an idiot
Posted by rodrigo on January 21, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa... where did that come from?!?!?
Why pick on Saheeb? His pov might come from an side angle but the sentiment is headed the same direction as everybody else's.
Posted by mntbyker on January 21, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeez, what's Neils problem? Don't read what you write then. This is fun stuff!
Posted by Saheeb on January 21, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah, GoldenBoy. Sorry if the sexist attempt at humor got your panties all bunched up. I'll put a check in the mail to NOW citing you as my inspiration, and go look for a matching handbag for my favorite metrosexual outfit.
Posted by buff75 on January 22, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm, when 75,000 pack Folsom for the spring game like in Alabama I'll truly agree that college football is out of control, but I'm sorry until then I will live and die by the all the recruiting chat, draft position predictions and depth chart info I can get. I live in Denver and have been a Broncos fan forever, but truthfully if CU was playing at the same time I would be wearing black and gold instead of blue and orange. I LOVE CU FOOTBALL. I get so frustrated with the lack of local tv coverage for CU and local college football teams. I'd like just one show committed to Buff football on the big three and not on FSN or some other cable show. Believe me, Hawk will build it and they will come and I will be standing there saying where the heck have you been. I can only hope that CU fans and media develop a sick case of Husker religion for our buffs. I guess what I'm saying is I can take every ounce of the recruiting chat and off season talk because I am a true BUFF fan and to say anything less is insulting to me and any other fan who bleeds black, gold and now silver. Go Buffs and I will be reading and watching everyday of spring football for updates because that's what a true Buff fan does!!!!
Posted by BuffTime on January 22, 2008 at 3:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
75,000? Is there another expansion at Folsom I didn't hear about? hehe
Neill, sorry bud, but you really hit a nerve with this one. If you were say the entertainment writer, or food critic or something I could see you being annoyed with all this fangled "football recruiting" talk you keep hearing about. But the fact is, you're a sports writer and specifically cover the Buffs. You also purport to be a true Buffs fan as well (always picking them to win and all that). Well, suck it up man. It's a long off season and there is only so much you can discuss right now in College Football other than recruiting.
Posted by Saheeb on January 22, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the above, Neill. Your column's gist is akin to telling every fan it's a waste of time to debate upcoming games. If we adhered to your advice then during the season we should all just shut up and see what happens on the field instead of bantering back and forth about strengths and weaknesses vis-a-vis a given opponent. Come on, part of the fun for fans is chattering about it all, just like with recruiting.
Posted by DCCU10 on January 29, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason that we don't pack our stadium for spring games is that Colorado is a good and decent place to live, where there is plenty of stuff to do, and other things to focus on besides CU football. In Nebraska, you have college football, and... I guess traveling to Colorado to ski wearing your Starter jacket. Alabama has college football and racism. Colorado has the Broncos, the Avs, the Rockies, the Nuggets, skiing, camping, etc.
So we'll never have the rabid devotion of Nebraska or 'Bama. Its like how the Chargers have a tough time filling their stadium if it rains even a little-- there is other stuff to do. That being said, GO BUFFS. If Scott wants to come, he should-- and he might want to consider that there is no such thing as an NFL team that only plays in warm weather. If Scott doesn't come, big deal-- one man doesn't make a team. Arkansas can tell you that. Go Buffs.
Posted by boulderdevil on January 29, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's possible that one day, and I hope that day never comes, people in Boulder will live and die with a college football game, like in Nebraska and the sprawling land of dueling banjos. It's not likely, however, because the people who choose to live here in one of the most beautiful places on earth know that football is a game (a FUN game, but just a game). When it becomes a religion to a deluded fan base, it ruins the nature of the game by making it more than just a game.
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