Many things can be taken from the action at Tropicana Field tonight for the 2012 version of the Under Armour All-American Game however it’s even more apparent that kids will simply be kids these days. From curious commitments, to mom’s outright pissed off and acting like someone kicked their dog because their son didn’t choose the school THEY wanted them to go to it was a peculiar evening in St. Petersburg to say the least.
Florida State verbal commitment QB Jameis Winston was the MVP for Team Blur who was victorious 49-16. Winston finished the game 8-of-9 for 178 yards and 2 TD’s showing off his multifaceted skill set. His team also amassed 376 total yards and had 2 INT’s returned over 90 yards each on defense. University of Florida Commit and soon-to-be Bradenton Southeast Grad Brian Poole initially set the UA Game record for longest INT return for 93 yards in the 1st half, until Northwestern’s Amari Cooper (Alabama Verbal) decided to do him one better and return a pick 96 yards.
Several of the Sunshine State commits showed their potential star status as well with FSU’s Marvin Bracy, the aforementioned Poole, UF’s Marcus Maye from Melbourne Holy Trinity, Mainland’s Leonard Williams (undeclared) chased around Team Blur QB’s all night although it didn’t show in the box score. In a strange turn of events, newly minted Alabama verbal Landon Collins (Safety 6-0, 202) was rudely interrupted by his mother that responded with a “Geaux Tigers” while waving the LSU flag in front of the live national television audience.
Collins literally grew up down the road from the campus in Baton Rouge however declared he was going to be a Bama guy as early as 2 two years ago. He simply said he was going to tune good ol’ mama out and get on with his career. If you ask me, the young man should be canonized. As in like actually petitioned for to the Vatican for dealing with a mother willing to absolute rob their own flesh and blood of their shining moment. She is the poster parent for NCAA investigations-in-waiting and sadly indicative of the growing trend in college recruiting.
Overall, the game saw some peculiar recruits with one choosing East Carolina over Miami, West Virginia and Maryland while another chose Ole Miss (DE Channing Ward 6-3, 230) that could have gone to any of the SEC schools. One positive sign for another SEC school was that Vanderbilt was in the mix for as many as 6 different players on the evening. A true sign of progress indeed for the ‘Dores and I get the feeling there will be chants of “Anchor Down!” throughout Nashville in the coming years once Coach Franklin and his staff begin to seal the deal with some of these that slipped away in this class.
Back to the Collins situation and finishing the thought about the actual spectacle of this whole event. There was a buzz throughout Twitter that was absolutely fascinating regarding this game. Like I’ve said a billion times, Twitter’s not for everyone but the reaction from some of the active ball players (NFL) and various professionals in the media essentially alluded to a trend that is becoming more an epidemic; like Bird Flu. Like I’ve said (an additional billion times) the slope is more slipper than a 30% incline in an ice storm without tire chains. (Is that enough imagery for you?)
Let’s make sure we’ve checked the forecast before we’ve left the house next time. Wouldn’t want us to slip and fall more than we already have. We’ve got young men that deserve to be applauded more the accomplishments BUT….only for what they’ve done to THIS POINT in their playing careers. I’d give anything to simply say “cool, you’re the best and you should be treated like a king”, except that I can’t. I just can’t. It could all be gone tomorrow and worst off you’d still be armed with only a high school diploma. Then again I’m just turning into a curmudgeon at an alarmingly quick pace. Guess it’s time to go take my Metamucil, and go to bed so that I can get up in time for the 4:30pm early bird too right? I doubt I’m the only one feeling this way, but it is what it is. Good luck to these young men and to the families. Times are a changing. Glad it’s them and not me.