With celebrations taking place across the country on Wednesday, as National Signing Day 2 took center stage for the Class of 2020, not everyone had the chance to smile for the photos.
For everyone who found a place to attend college and start the next chapter of their lives, thousands and thousands of student athletes were left with no place to go – and an uncertain future.
While those who didn’t have the test scores or grades to move on to the next level, those lessons were tough and very hard to take – after years of being told that grades are everything. For the most part, those are lessons learned by not listening or taking things serious.
But there are those who listened to everything and were told that if you got the grades and did your best on the football field, everything would fall into place, and while they still might for many, the letdown was tough to take for several who made those sacrifices – on and off the football field.
In a day and age where everyone wants to separate you from your hard earned dollar, by making false promises, Wednesday was a huge lesson to those parents who were quick to send their kids to costly camps and events that promised if you come, getting into colleges was just a formality.
Even though this may not be like it was decades ago, the premise is very much the same – and parents are plain uneducated about the process, leaving outsiders to often dictate what they feel the process is all about.
We have said over and over again that being educated in this entire maze that is recruiting is the best for any family – and more and more educational seminars should be hosted, explaining the options available.
The worst feeling in the world was to jump on social media on Thursday and having to see those celebration photos of others who were fortunate to have gotten the right advice and will be headed off to college – with some or all of the tuition paid for.
The process needs to be told to parents – just like they should understand why camps, combines and other things associated with recruiting are essential – while other things are a complete waste.
Over the next month, there will be more options available to those who are qualified and ready to move on to the next level. From the Orange Bowl Showcase at St. Thomas University on Feb. 29th – to Small College Recruiting Fairs.
The recruiting fairs offer an opportunity to students and their families to sit down with Division 2, Division 3 and NAIA coaches, who are shown film and grades and come to a financial package – where there is assistance.
Last year, hundreds of south Florida athletes benefitted from those fairs and the Orange Bowl Showcase.
LET US ASSIST YOU
Like last year – with our combined social media having over 100,000 followers, which include hundreds of college coaches, we assisted in getting over 130 student/athletes some financial assistance.
This year, we will do the same. If you are a student/athlete with grades, test scores and a will to play football at the next level and go to college, send:
NAME, SCHOOL, POSITION, GPA, TEST SCORES & A HUDL LINK to us at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We will get the names out and at least give them another avenue. Take advantage of this FREE service. Good luck!