Most Important Football Recruiting Tip
First I would like to start this blog by sending my condolences and prayers to the family of Jasper Howard and the Uconn football program. My thoughts
on the situation are the following: It is definitely a tragedy that another family has lost their son. The football community has lost another great player. On behalf of RMCFE.com we send out our thoughts and our prayers to the family of Jasper Howard and the Uconn community.
Adversity and College Football
Yesterday I went to the University of Rhode Island Homecoming game against Hofstra Pride. Unfortunately URI lost but I wanted to write this post because I spent time at the game with the Daniels family. This is the family of the young man I mentioned that I invited to stay with my and my teammates during our spring season for an unofficial visit. I was already plainning a follow up blog on that topic. But the idea was solidified when I spoke to with and his family after the game.
Football Players helping Football Players
As a captain I told them I felt obligated to help. I wanted Karl to be somewhere where school was free, family could support him at games and they offered the degree that he wanted. Now a senior he is overcoming adversity on the football field, and doing great in the classroom. To say the least, they were very appreciative, they couldn’t thank me enough for taking care of him. His mom said thank you for letting him stay with you before he actually came to this school. And I said it’s no problem I just wanted to Carl Daniels to experience the school, the team, night life (party scene) outside of an official visit. A lot of time an official visit consists of actors, or players who can play a good role and sell the school. But me and I’m sure Carl will co-sign I was 100% real with him, I told him about our record, the last time we were champions in 1984. And he made a choice without any influence from me and I told him that was the best way to do it.
The adversity that Carl like many other football players has to deal with, is a new coaching staff coming in his Junior year. I used to go against Carl Daniel in practice when I was a senior Shamel Lewis. I played offensive line and he played defensive line. We were like brothers off the field but on the field we gave it to each other. And I’m going to tell you as a 2 time all conference player, 2005 All New England player, 2006 best offensive lineman and 2006 captain that Carl Daniel shouldn’t be on the side line. He is to good of an athlete, he has great feet at a near 300lbs and great work ethics. But you do have to overcome adversity and sometimes it comes in the form of playing time. I told Carl like I tell other readers, other football players keep your head up. It’s hard to not just want to quit when your faced with adversity like this. But I’m behind Carl 100%. And on that note I will write a post in the near future about the impact of bringing in a new coaching staff.
Unofficial College Football Visits
Now I understand it may be difficult for some of you high school football players to go on an unofficial overnight visit at a college. But if you could it is definitely worth it. If you want to get a raw picture of how it would be to be a college football player at a particular College or University. You have to observe it unofficially. Somewhat catch them off gaurd so you can see how it really is.
I have been giving experienced based advice for 2 years. So I do have plans and approaches that families can take to go on unofficial visits:
The advantages of most of the suggestions above is that you will see the school in a natural setting. Not a stage that is setup to lure future college football players and their parents into commiting to their school. If you register for a campus tour you will get a guided tour of the campus as a student and not a football player. At the end of your tour go stop by the football office. Now you can catch the coaching staff off gaurd and see them in their nature state. They may be coaching, having meetings or anything but expecting you. Get to the game early and watch the team warm up, see how they appear to be getting ready pre-game. Is there something that stands out. For example Uconn huskies have a fan section called the dog pound. The fans are very intense in this section and I am speaking from playing on that field against Uconn and observing from the stands and their sideline. Something like that may appeal to you. And just so I don’t keep it Division 1a I’ll mention University of Delaware Blue Hens have a great fan base section in their stands as well, for a Division 1aa program.
