Commentary: Turn Down the Hype on Clowney!

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Jadeveon Clowney, who was considered America's #1 high school football recruit, announced today going to play his college ball at South Carolina.

There was plenty of hoopla with ESPN airing the decision live.  It also came on the heels of a story over the weekend in the NY Times.

This is the commentary I did on my on the NHSCA Sports Hour radio show and my blog at High School Football America on Sunday.

Turn Down the Hype!

You know I’ve been on this soapbox before.

What soapbox? 

The one where I preach that ESPN and others HAVE to stop covering high school sports with the same parameters as pro sports. 

My soapbox preaching began in 2007 with a commentary piece on ESPN’s made-for-TV interstate high school football match-ups.  Made-for-TV high school basketball games are really out of control, but for now, I’ll keep my rant to football.

What put me back on the soapbox? 

It was an article in the NY Times by writers Mark Viera and Pete Thamel on Jadeveon Clowney of South Point High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, who is considered the #1 college prospect in America.  It centers on Clowney’s expected decision on Monday, his birthday and Valentine’s Day, on where he’ll play his college football.

Now, it probably doesn’t seem like that topic should have me seeing red on the day before V-Day.  However, by the time of the second paragraph, I was boiling!

The NY Times article states that “two people with knowledge of Clowney’s classroom performance at South Pointe in Rock Hill, S.C., have raised questions about whether Clowney will be able to meet the NCAA minimum academic standard if he wants to play next season.”

That of course will be interesting news to Alabama, Clemson and South Carolina, who Clowney says are the finalists for his talents.

Whether Clowney academically qualifies or not, isn’t what has me mad.  I DO NOT know Clowney’s academic record, but my guess is, there’s a decent amount of truth to the Times’ article. 

What I want to focus on is this…is Clowney, who has been rumored to have questionable academics, being helped by missing school because ESPN comes calling for a cover shoot for ESPN The Magazine or a live hit in the middle of its 10-hour national signing day special on ESPNU?

I think the answer is NO!

Then there’s the other question of what’s the message being sent to other high school student-athletes when it comes to academics?  Meaning, are studies not that important, if you can get the cover of a national magazine?

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was spot-on when he said in the middle of ESPNU’s signing day coverage that he was concerned about these high school players showboating on the air by putting on hats from the school they chose. 

What seems to be lost during this so-called signing day event, is that the players will have a tremendous opportunity to get an awesome education as the result of the academic scholarship they’re being given. 

Yes, when the dream of NFL goes bye-bye, that degree will mean a lot.

Having worked as a sports journalist for over 35 years, I understand ESPN’s business plan when it comes to being the Worldwide Leader in Sports.  It makes total sense in ESPN’s business plan to create a storyline that goes from the NFL to college to high school.   However, when the lineage starts at the high school level and goes the other way, I believe it creates problems that won’t be able to be reversed.

As I’ve always said…student is ALWAYS the first part in the term student-athlete. 

The Preferred Walk-On vs. the Walk-On

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Education time today...

A couple of weeks ago, when I was building the state-by-state list of players signing on National Letter of Intent Day, I noticed more-and-more high schools mentioning that one of their players would be a Preferred Walk-On.

Of course, we're all familiar with the term Walk-On, but to be honest, I had to check on the definition of a Preferred Walk-On.

So here it goes, courtesy of a good story written by Greg Johnson of the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan...

Preferred Walk-On...
A player who is promised a roster spot, and reports with the scholarship players for fall camp a few weeks before classes start. He is not on scholarship, but can earn scholarships as they become available.

Walk-On...
A football player who joins a college team once classes have started in the fall, and hopes to demonstrate he should be given a roster spot. He is not on scholarship.

So there you have it...end of lesson. I just figured if I didn't understand the term fully, others might need some help as well.

Also, if you're still looking to see where you favorite player is going to college, every state huddle has a list that I'm updating everyday. The various state huddles can be accessed by going to the 50 States Huddle Links on the righthand side of the blog.

13 Year Old QB Commits to USC

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

I hesitate to post this, because it just seems too crazy to be true! And...if it is true, it just disgusts me.

There are reports all across the internet that 13-year old David Sills of Bear, Delaware has given his verbal commitment to Lane Kiffin after the new USC boss offered the 7th grader a scholarship. According to the LA Times, the offer came through Steve Clarkson, who privately tutors young quarterbacks.

Clarkson has worked with current USC quarterback Matt Barkley, who started 12 games as a freshman last season. Clarkson believes the 6-foot, 145-pound Sills could be better than Barkley or Jimmy Clausen.

Clarkson introduced Sills to Kiffin via the video below.



I know that Kiffin didn't overtly go after Sills, but I hope when this news reaches the appropriate people, someone will step-in and create a rule that prevents this from ever happening again.

Still No Decision...But Terrelle Pryor Playing For Another State Championship Today

The Year of Terrelle Pryor continues rolling along at breakneck speed today when the nation's number one recruit plays for his second state championship during the current school year.

Pryor and his Jeannette (24-4) teammates will play Philadelphia Strawberry Mansion (23-5) at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center for the PIAA Class AA state title. Of course in December, the still undecided football recruit, led his Jayhawks to a state football title.

Maybe his appearance in Happy Valley this weekend, will help Pryor decide where he will play college football. Penn State is considered one of the four finalists for his services...with Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon still in the running.

Pryor delayed his decision beyond the National Letter of Intent signing day and has kept all of the recruiting websites buzzing about his final decision.

April 1st is the cut-off date for his decision.

Pryor Narrows Choices To Six Schools

All of the scouting websites and plenty of chat rooms are buzzing about where Jeannette (PA) all-everything quarterback/defensive back Terrelle Pryor will play his college ball.

Today a published report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is telling the college football world that there are now six schools in the running...and that's from Pryor himself. Pryor, who's ranked the #1 player in the country by several scouting sources, told the paper that his decision is down to Ohio State, West Virginia, Florida, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas.

To read the complete story, please click on our headline "Pryor Narrows Choices To Six Schools".