The Road To Perdition

Continuing our conversation about recruiting, especially after Saturday's Army All American Bowl.

We've already talked about how strange all of the attention that these young adults receive can seem, but that's just the beginning. There's the recruiting process, facilitated by the Universities themselves (or their representatives).

If you've watched any cheesy movies from the 80's or 90's, some of this might sound familiar to you. For me, this issues is one of ways I got introduced/interested in big-time college sports: before beginning my Master's program in Lexington, I read Raw Recruits (re: the Kentucky scandal). Granted, that was about basketball, but it changed the way I look at athletics.

And, unfortunately, it's still a part of the process many places. Let's look at a few examples:

• Willie Williams was a highly touted athlete from Miami, who in 2004 kept a diary of his recruiting visits. Some of the things included: Lobster, steak, private jets, nightclub visits, cheerleaders.
• Oregon's 2004 treatment of their recruits was so extravagant that it made the NCAA change it's protocol. Again, private jets and lobster make an appearance.
• This past week, news regarding Jamarkus McFarland's process (which included U$C, LSU, and primarily Texas and OU) emerged. Female hostesses, Hummer limos, daily contact, wild parties and allegations of underaged drinking and drug usage seemed to be a part of his experience.

Seems pretty obvious what the values being exemplified here are. Remember, these are 17 and 18 year old young men, being courted by institutions of higher education. Places where young adults are supposed to be developed in ways that will make them better people, not just use them to further the interests of fans and coaches. Places where "learning" is supposed to be preeminent- What do you think each of these young men learned from these experiences?

While it may be that these are all isolated situations, it's seems that turning young adults into a commodity may be an issue even at those places where nothing of this sort has appeared. For instance, two well known institutions have recently taken more commitments from recruits than they appeared to have openings for- are the opportunities valid, or will they come at the expense of another young adult who no longer serves the program?

We'll wrap this up next with an overview of what College is supposed to be about, and if these young adults are benefiting in this way.