Commentary: Another ugly recruiting moment

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 8:48 PM Monday, February 27, 2012

Unbelievable as it is, the college football recruiting process hit another low last week.

Arizona’s Davonte’ Neal — considered one of the nation’s top prep athletes — was scheduled to reveal his college choice in front of about 600 elementary students at Neal’s former school, inspiring them to dream big.

Thirty minutes after Neal was expected to appear, the bubble burst. Neal was a no-show until later that afternoon and quietly announced to a small group he’s going to Notre Dame. The family said the tardiness was the result of a family emergency but offered few details. Speculation was a disagreement between Neal and his father as to which college he should attend.

I don’t blame the elementary school principal for wanting to let her students share in Neal’s accomplishment. Unfortunately it sounds like Neal — and the signing — had been built up be bigger than life.

How often, I wonder, does the elementary school bring back former students to let them announce they are attending Notre Dame, Harvard or other prestigious institutions on academic scholarships?

Yes, athletes trump engineers and doctors in exciting careers. But I’m guessing most students have a better shot at landing academic scholarships than athletic ones.

Said the principal after the assembly was cancelled, according to the Arizona Republic: “When Davonte’ is out on the field and he gets tackled, he doesn’t stay down. He gets right back up and keeps going. That’s what we’ll do today. We’ll go back and try to go back with teaching and learning like we do every day. Here’s another opportunity for life lesson.”

The lesson learned by one of the students?

“This sucks,” he responded.

Well said.

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