My head is still swirling while trying to digest terms like blueshirts, grayshirts, and preferred walk-ons from national signing day.
I’m guessing preferred walk-ons are the guys who line up in front of the regular walk-ons at the school cafeteria but behind the 85 scholarship players, coaches, and trainers.
Yes. That’s got to be it.
DOG DAYS & TAKEAWAYS
I have a dog named Ruffin, who shares a pen with Rah-Rah, a slightly smaller Sheltie.
Ruffin acts like a hog, even though he’s a dog. It happens at feeding time, when he prances over with a sense of entitlement and takes what he wants from Rah-Rah’s dish.
The same scenario unfolds on national signing day when the elite programs raid top talent from other states. Instead of Auburn or Alabama, it was Ohio State which swept into the natural state this year and signed a top playmaker.
No sooner had the ink dried on K.J. Hill’s letter of intent with the Buckeyes, Arkansas coaches and their supporters began propping up Dominique Reed, who had to sit out a year at Coffeyville, Kan., after he was dismissed from the team.
I like Arkansas’ recruiting class, especially the 10 high school players the Razorbacks signed from within the state. But let’s not pretend losing Hill to Ohio State is no big deal, especially after he committed to the Razorbacks six months ago.
The real kick in the gut will take place if the basketball coach from Kentucky struts into Northwest Arkansas and steals Malik Monk from the Razorbacks’ backyard. A strong showing by Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament could help the Razorbacks’ chance of keeping Monk at home.
CLASS VS. CLASSLESS
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema showed some class when he reportedly wished Hill luck with his college career. That contrasts greatly with LSU coach Les Miles, who has a strong opinion about in-state recruits who turn down the Tigers.
“If he finds a way to wiggle out of the finest state in America, if he finds a way not to enjoy Louisiana … to hell with him,” Miles told a group of LSU supporters.
It is ironic that SEC coaches can’t say a word about officials, yet Miles can cuss a decision made by a 17- or 18-year-old kid without any concern from the league.
CHARGING WILDCATS DE-CLAWED
Oh, what a mess they’ve got in North Little Rock, where a head coach was fired and the program forfeited victories in football and basketball for using an ineligible player.
The forfeits led some to speculate Springdale is the champion in basketball after the Bulldogs lost 89-81 to North Little Rock in the final game last spring. But I admire coach Brad Stamps’ response when asked if the Bulldogs would claim the 2013-2014 championship.
“North Little Rock beat us on the floor,” Stamps said. “They beat us. That’s the way I feel about it.”
Wouldn’t it be best just to vacate the championship with no winners listed for 7A boys basketball? I think so.
SPIN CYCLE
Every coach in America embellishes on national signing day, including a familiar name who now coaches in the Sun Belt Conference. He was particularly pleased with himself after snatching a recruit from Florida, which a hotbed for football talent.
“Early in the process, it was Ohio State and Louisville that were in on him,” the coach told reporters. “So, I’m really happy that we were able to improve our speed. I’m also happy with the offensive lineman and the quarterback we got.”
That was Paul Petrino, the former Arkansas offensive coordinator who is 2-21 as head coach of the Idaho Vandals.
Rick Fires can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWARick