Simmer Down Fans, Simmer Down Now: Stop bashing the other school’s recruits

With college football signing day in the rear view mirror, fans have had a chance to see how they did compared to other school. “Hey, I got three 5-star recruits and you only got one 4-star!” Such exchanges are fine as I’m all for school sprit and competition.

But there has been a more insidious side to this competition. I don’t know why I do it but I do it; I confess that I read fan blogs and message boards. In these blogs and boards has been a festering ill-will to those recruits who choose another school over their’s. It has become down right personal at times. I’m not going to name blogs, but one was particularly troubling. While high on one recruit before signing day, a blog trashed the recruit the next when it became apparent he had chosen another school. Crazy; one day a kid is the second coming of Christ and the next day he’s a box of rocks QB who couldn’t pass seeds to starving birds as Coach Steve Logan would say. What gives?

Fans take the recruitment process way too personally. The kids have to choose the school they feel meets their best interest; fans don’t get to choose the recruits that fill the fan’s best interest. Sorry folks, it is as simple as that. Don’t take it personally. It doesn’t mean the recruit has ill-will toward your school. It just means, they were more comfortable elsewhere. Maybe they liked the weight-room better; maybe they liked their position coach better; or maybe it’s as simple as Aunt Margaret lived near the other school.

Whatever the reason, the decision is their’s, so respect it. I don’t understand why anyone would wish ill-will to a kid who choose another school. These athletes have worked their butts off to no end to accomplish what they have. So how about we give them the respect they deserve? Instead of personal attacks, just pray your team whoops his next season.