On his radio show, Dan Patrick asked Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer how much mom-convincing he needs to do to land a prospect. In Miami, another mother ran away with her son’s letter of intent to Arkansas. Why is there so much attention on moms?
Ultimately the choice should fall to the student athlete, not his mother or father. After all, it’s not as if the parents are paying anything. These students are getting full rides to play college football.
A couple years ago I watched the Under Armour All-American Game from Tropicana Field. During one of the on-field announcements a student got to tell the whole world his choice for college. He picked LSU over Alabama, which visibly upset his mom. She proceeded to steal that special moment from her son to say that he had made a mistake.
At 17 and 18 years old, the expectation is that these young men will start to make mature decisions. Wouldn’t choosing where they will go to college for free qualify as a good place to start?
Mom should have a say. When heading off to college the advice of a parent is invaluable, but only if that advice comes from a supportive place.
Fans make a big thing out of National Signing Day. The reality is many of these players will not pan out and ride the bench behind better players. But on that day in February they get all the attention. Let’s stop letting mom hijack that day.
Mike Hopey is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in journalism and media studies. He can be reached at hopey@mail.usf.edu.
