Former D1 recruited athletes/parents?

[Anonymous]

I have a son who is wanting to learn more about being recruited for football -- though he's only in his freshman season right now so who knows how things will develop in the next few years. While we are encouraging his interests in reading up on the process, talking to former athletes from his HS (though after their college season), his coaches etc. -- here's one nagging question I wonder about from the parents' perspective. Say your son does well enough to get recruited with some kind of partial scholarship to a D1 school where he'd also be happy academically -- how is the experience for the ones who are not stars of the college team?

When you look at the rosters of the big SEC schools or schools like Michigan or Penn State -- the teams are huge and it seems like each guy was the top in his own high school -- lots of honors, state championships etc. Yet we know that many/most guys don't see playing time; they are relegated to the scout time/practice squad and are probably lucky to see playing time in the event of a huge blowout win or loss when the coaches want to protect the starters. What's the experience like for these guys and what keeps them going? I imagine they endure the same tiring practice schedule. Is it just the love of the game and the thrill of playing for 4 more yrs that keeps them going? Or are they really living in the hope that they'll get playing time here and there? Are they still seen as members of the team or are they treated as more expendable than say the 4 yr starting QB? Do starters hang out with the "rest" of the team?

I just feel like SO much time, effort and emotion goes into recruiting and with that there is no guarantee of getting to play as you don't know if you will be one of the emerging stars on the team -- and I'd imagine coaches aren't volunteering that they view you as 4th or 5th choice for a starting role. It almost doesn't seem "worth it" from my perspective if you kill yourself to get to the next level, get lucky enough to get there, endure grueling practices etc., only to be hoping on game day that you'll get to be on the field for one play.

[Anonymous]

OP...there's nothing like the thrill of being recruited by multiple schools. While other kids are stressing if they are going to get into the college of their choice with perfect grades and SATs and have to sit and wait for results; the DI recruited athletes often have many choices and don't even have to bother applying...yes, they fill out the papers, but know they are getting in pre-application. Don't over think it. It's a fabulous experience for many.

[Anonymous]

FWIW - My son was recruited by D1 schools (baseball). He chose a D3 school for a variety of reasons - one being so that he could play. And, he did for all 4 years. That would not have happened at a D1 school. He just loves the game.

[Anonymous]

Unless your DS is a prima donna, just being part of a team will be a great experience. Even at smaller schools and ivies (but especially at big time D! programs) being part of the football team gives you big tie status on campus. The teams are like fraternities and the players consider one another brothers for life. Being on the football team in college opens doors later in life.

The decision to be made is whether this is worth the sacrifice in terms of practice team much of the year - waking up at 4AM and having to fit everything else around football.

[Anonymous]

I thought best about how to respond to this without sounding too negative or discouraging. I am a former AAU basketball coach and I have helped a number of kids get to D1, D2, D3, NAIA and NJACC schools and 2 of my own kids are student athletes – one D1 basketball and the other D3 football. I also played D1 basketball 25 years ago. Your kid is a freshman and you are the parent of a freshman. At that stage, most kids are in love with the idea of being recruited – they want to be wanted. However, as a parent it is your job to give them the most realistic view of college athletics that you can. My kids’ HS did a recruiting seminar every fall where college athletes and colleges at all levels would come to speak. If your DS’ school or another area school offers such a workshop, you should take him. Also, try to put him in touch with current and former athletes in the sport he wants to play. They will be brutally honest with him about their experiences. I often come across parent and kids who are 11th grade and still have stars in their eyes about the process and what to expect.

Don’t get me wrong, if your kid loves the game and is a skilled and dedicated player, D1 opportunities will come and he may enjoy the experience. A lot of kids do. However, a lot do not. I read a recent article that in basketball, for example, 40% of athletes will transfer at least once during their college career. You/He should consider that D1 athletics (especially football) is a ruthless BUSINESS. Your son will be a commodity and his value to the team will be constantly measured and evaluated. New kids will be brought in and he will be fighting for playing time every year (unless he is a star). Your concern about numbers is right on. Football teams often have 75-100 players (between scholarship and walk-on players). Only eleven can play at a time and 22 will be deemed “starters.” Back – ups will play but there are many kids who will never see the field.

Also, D1 athletes are not typical college students and do not live a normal college existence (read the article in today’s post about the UMD volleyball team). May not be a deal breaker for you and your son but you all should know it going in. College football is not like high school football. The things that my DS (who was a starter but not a star at a WCAC football “powerhouse”)) likes about D3 football is that although it takes a lot of time, he gets ample playing time, there are minimum missed classes, academics are the priority, there is opportunity to participate in other campus activities, and they are much more “integrated” into the student community. On the other hand, my DD talks about missing activities because of away rotations – two away games in a weekend. They leave Thursday afternoon and get back Sunday night. It is a tough life.

So after my totally negative post, let me finish on a positive. LOL! Playing for your college is one of the most rewarding things you can do. And players from a program have a life long bond with that university and the players that played before and after them. It is a fantastic thing. The main point of my post is that you make sure that your son is INFORMED about what he is striving for – don’t let him go into it with stars in his eyes.

[Anonymous]

The top college teams are full of "high school stars" every guy ont he roster was the star fo their team. Some will never see the field, some may never dress for a game. Soem are fine with that, some will transfer to a smaller school to play and some quit.

If he is good enough, they will find him, if not, they won't .

[Anonymous]

I think in the next few yrs, you'll discover what kind of player your DS is. Is he the kind of guy that loves everything about the game -- from practice to hanging with his buddies to playing time? Or is he the kind who is only happy when he is playing all/most of the game? There's nothing wrong or selfish about being the second type of player -- some people truly can't get motivated for a practice like they can for a game; while some treat every single practice and game as if it's all the same.

If your DS is the type who gets pissed if he isn't getting enough HS playing time, then it may be more necessary for you talk to him about college playing time and get him thinking about whether he's better of D1 without any guarantee or any time or D3 where he may play all 4 yrs. And of course balance that with the school where he'd be happy and where he can develop whatever career he wants.

[Anonymous]

And we haven't even talked about all these great points in combination with the earlier and earlier commit process, especially in the revenue sports of football and basketball. The major D1 programs are just about done with this year's sophomores.

[Anonymous]

D1 is very large. From the BCS schools at the top to the Pioneer League which is non-scholarship D1. Any discussion about all of D1 should include D2 as well, as the best D2 schools could beat a number of the lower tier D1. Think Catawba defeating Davidson this season. There is a lot of crossover.

At every level there are way more players than needed. It's a tough adjustment. Most large schools have a psychologist on staff to deal with the anxiety of the change in playing time. If your son is good enough to be recruited by D1 schools he will also have offers at D2 and D3. He just has to decide what he wants. D3 will have increased opportunity for playing time but crowds of around 1000 and no athletic scholarships. D2s can offer scholarships, and have larger facilities than most D3s, but academics are lower in a lot of schools. At D1 you have scholarship and non-scholarship schools. Also the scholarship schools give "preferred walk-on" spots to kids who later have the opportunity to earn a scholarship. Some guys really want to be part of a big team, playing in front of 10,000-100,000 people, with a fancy locker room and lots of perks. But realize at every level they take more players than they need.