When is an offer an official offer ??Â
You know, that bond between a college coaches future and a high school player’s dream. It’s the one word EVERY young football player wants to hear.
On Wednesday, Texas defensive line coach, Bo Davis traveled through the piney woods of East Texas on the recruiting trail, as coaches were now allowed to visit and contact prospective athletes after the dead period. He stopped by to check on UT-commit, Terrell Cuney of Jasper. On his way out, he made sure to swing by and see Newton speedster, Kevin Shorter, 20 miles away.
When he left, Shorter had an offer in hand. According to Shorter. And later confirmed by Newton head coach, W.T. Johnston, who’s no stranger to college coaches visiting his campus and handing out college offers.
But here’s where it gets tricky. After one website proclaimed his offer valid, another quickly refuted it. One site has multiple sources, the other doesn’t.
Here in lies the problem. If a player gets an ‘official offer’, the only people who can confirm this are the player, the coach, and his parents. You see, college coaches can’t comment on high school prospects until they sign a Letter Of Intent, a contract binding them to said school for five years.
So, if the coaches can’t confirm nor deny, we have to take the word of the player/coach/parent combo. Right ??
There is the possibility that a coach on the staff of a particular college, corresponds with a reporter trying to scoop a story about an offer or commit. But would a coach, making well into six-figure salaries, risk his job or career handing out potentially confidential information  ?? And risk committing recruiting violations to the determent of his program ??
Bare in mind, Shorter has 21 other confirmed offers, including Texas A&M, LSU, and Oklahoma, in which there has been no dispute.
So, does he have an official offer from the University of Texas ?? I think you have to go with conventional wisdom and say, yes.
Johnston is a very reputable coach, his QB signed with Arkansas last February, and Shorter has been up front with all his recruitment from day one with no issues. He can even name each individual coach from each college that he speaks and stays in touch with.
In the end, one site has multiple sources, the other does not. But it certainly leaves a slippery slope as how recruiting information gets funneled and released.
Texas State Rep, Eddie Lucio’s bill to limit contact in Texas high school football received a big boost Friday. The UIL Medical board will recommend the changes to the UIL legislative counsel next month. The bill basically limits contact between players in full gear – helmet, all pads, game speed – to 90 minutes per week.
D.W. Rutledge, exec. dir. of THSCA, voted yes. Said majority of programs in the state already comply with 90-min. rule in-season. #txhsfb
— Corbett Smith (@corbettsmithDMN) April 21, 2013
While, some coaches have reacted negatively, overall it will not affect practices as much as people proclaim. Rarely, once the season starts, do coaches have full contact more than two hours in weekly practices. You can’t be in full pads until the fourth day of August’s two-a-days either. With the growing trend on player safety and concussion prevention, this law is a step in the right direction.
And speaking of high school football, I bumped into a 16-year old beast this week.
I got the chance to speak with Gladewater mega-recruit, Daylon Mack. The 6-foot-2, 295 pound defensive lineman, ranked No. 1 in Lone Star Rankings for 2015, talked about his recruitment and inevitably committing to Texas A&M within the week. He also discussed bringing local east Texas kids with him, notably Longview’s J-Mychal Hasty, Whitehouse’s Justin Dunning, and Sulphur Springs super safety, Larry Pryor.
“I’m going to call coach Sumlin ( A&M football) and tell him I want to play with Larry (Pryor),” said Mack. Pryor happens to be a pretty big Texas lean at this moment. UT is the team that offered him first, he’s bonded with defensive back coach Duane Akina, and they have a penchant for sending defensive back to NFL success. We’ll see how persuasive Mr. Mack can be. He also said something that stood out.
” I want to play in the SEC. Texas can’t offer that. Otherwise, I’d go to UT,” said Mack.
Somewhere, UT Athletic Director, Deloss Dodds needs to read this. Someone needs to plaster it front of his house. He needs to write this 250 times on the chalkboard after class so that he remembers.
It’s a reality with these young kids, and it’s foresight that Dodds ignored. After Dodds brought unprecedented success to the Longhorns athletic department, his last decision in office may be his lasting legacy. That sliver of East Texas Dodds remarked about 12 months ago, certainly has grown.
The Texas baseball team suffered it’s eighth consecutive Big-12 series loss this weekend. West Virginia took Game three of a three-game set in Austin with an extra innings, 6-3 victory on Sunday. It was typical series for UT.
Lose Game one, 1-0. Win Game two behind Dillon Peters mastery. And lose Game three in a number of ways.
The pitching is the rock that holds this team around .500%, but once again the timely hitting is nonexistent. And the fans are fed up. The masses are screaming for changes. And not just for Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. They’re cries are headed higher towards Dodds. Too bad they’re falling on deaf ears.
Quote of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
I think Augie & Barnes have a $1 bet to see who can get fired first, like the Duke brothers in Trading Places. #hookem?
— El Diablo Blanco (@Bitterwhiteguy) April 21, 2013
Thank you for spending your Monday with us, and we hope you have a great week. Hook ‘Em Horns !!!
