Why Give A Verbal If You Aren't 100%?

By Maceyko -18 January 2013
32 Comments
- Football

I agree that until a kid signs a letter of intent then he is game to continue to be recruited and I am a huge fan of the way that Urban is relentless. However, here is my question - why do so many kids say they are "giving a verbal" to a school and then flip so many times or continue to take visits? The way I was brought up I would not have been permitted to give my word to someone and then change it (multiple times even). My dad would have kicked my backside! If you aren't sure then why not keep your mouth shut and keep working every school that you are interested in until you are 100% and THEN COMMIT? I really don't get this train of thought/reasoning. I can see a few kids changing their minds once in a great while, but it seems like it's more and more common anymore. I'm just not a fan - unless of course a coaching change occurs or something like that. Like with Oregon I totally get that.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 18 Jan 2013 - 9:27pm #

I think some kids do it to hold a spot on a certain team, but then sometimes get other intriguing offers and flip.

Maceyko on 18 Jan 2013 - 9:30pm #

I can see that if maybe they didn't expect to get a certain offer and then were surprised by it. I guess I'm just thinking about the big name types that know they basically have their choice of schools.

Buckeyevstheworld on 18 Jan 2013 - 9:35pm #

Same reason a coach gives you the run around during recruitment, then bolts for a better job. Things change.

"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.

IBLEEDSCARLETANDGRAY on 18 Jan 2013 - 9:45pm #

^^^ This. The smart players always keep their options open. No player wants to be irrevocably committed to a program then the people who recruited them leave. To be honest, I'm surprised any recruits give any kind of verbal committment these days. But I DO think many of these recruits know exactly where they're going but milk the attention for as long as they can. I dont have an issue with flipping but I DO have an issue with teasing. Seems kind of sadistic and lame to me.

"Sherman ran an option play right through the south" - Greatest.Civil.War.Analogy.Ever

jestertcf on 18 Jan 2013 - 10:45pm #

I remember being 18, I had trouble deciding on Steak & Shake or Applebees.

I cannot imagine the in homes with Urbz, Nick Saban and Les Miles and how many different thoughts and or emotions would flood my brain.

~Because we couldn't go for three~

Crimson on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:45am #

If you can't tell that Applebees > Steak n' Shake, then it would be pretty hard to tell that Urban > Saban, Miles :)

Killer nuts on 19 Jan 2013 - 1:06am #

Not so fast my friend. Have you had a fresco melt from steak and shake? Throw in a shake and you've got yourself a delicious meal

BROSEPH on 19 Jan 2013 - 1:11am #

Choosing Applebees hardly makes your point.

CALPOPPY on 19 Jan 2013 - 7:57am #

Sorry, can't agree there. But I've never been a fan of Applebees. And a chili 5-way is always good in my book...and the malts.

Buckeyevstheworld on 19 Jan 2013 - 3:32pm #

Applebees and S n S are equal to me.

"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.

OhioBornMichiganBred on 19 Jan 2013 - 4:01pm #

Never underestimate the power of Steak 'n' Shake. Especially if you enjoy psychoactive drugs.

ShowThemOhiosHere on 19 Jan 2013 - 9:28pm #

Applebee's Quesadilla burger > Any Steak n Shake burger

Triple chocolate meltdown > Any Steak n Shake milkshake

Class of 2010.

USMC11917 on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:52am #

I remember being 17, I had thoughts of going into the Airforce. I was swayed by a Marine Corps recruiter and committed early. I never looked back and held true to my word. I had in home visits from every branch of the military and then made my choice. Yes, I know not even remotely close to what these kids experience. At 17, I chose a direction like many of our current commits (Jalin Marshall) and pushed to it. I understand wanting to ride that recruiting wave but if that is your pleasure, do it. Commiting is getting out of the water and going home.

blazers34 on 18 Jan 2013 - 10:56pm #

I agree with most of what's said above, but I still don't see why a '14 kid would commit this soon unless it was his dream school and was 100% solid

ShowThemOhiosHere on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:33am #

If you're not 100% on a certain school at the time you give your verbal, then you shouldn't give it. However, things can change.

Class of 2010.

Silverbuck8 on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:37am #

A lot of high school coaches encourage players to enjoy the experience. Use the official visits to travel to places you otherwise may have never experienced and be treated like a king during that period.

USMC11917 on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:45am #

That is all fine but figure out your top 5 offers first, take your visits early and then commit. If something happens in the meantime then you have some time to spare and pick choice number 2. Sounds smart, responsible and fun.

btalbert25 on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:50am #

It's not just about kids keeping their options open, or 18 year olds being fickle though. We've all seen videos of guys like Urban and Combs going nuts. If Urban comes to your school and sees you and puts the full press on a kid they are going to get excited. Sometimes, just getting caught up in that emotion is enough to change a mind.

I've done it in my life with things. I've had jobs where I was really happy and was making decent money, then out of the blue here comes a new opportunity and the people at the new company are enthusiastic and their facility is awesome and just out of all the emotion I've made a decision to go to the new place.

Sometimes, when a new opportunity comes up that you've never considered before, you realize your first choice may not have been the correct one.

USMC11917 on 19 Jan 2013 - 12:59am #

Good point but you don't have to sit out a year if you change your mind about where you want to work. You just need to give a 2 week notice. Comment made for comedy purposes only. You do have some valid points. In the situation we're discussing, the kid sounds like he is lobbying though. That isn't getting swept up by a charasmatic individual or finding a better situation for him to be in, thats him letting other coaches know that he is listening.

DallasTheologian on 19 Jan 2013 - 1:12am #

This is the one place where the recruit actually has the upper hand. 99% of the time coaches have the upper hand. In fact the idea of being able to change commitments is something only a select few recruits can do.

I think of it more like dating. You date someone and you are exclusive with that person. However, it is obvious that people don't always marry the person they date. Someone new comes along, and boom your dating someone new. Does this make you a bad person? I hope not. Now, the National Letter of Intent is like the marriage certificate and that's forever, or that's the intent anyway.

My dad taught me my word was my bond, but he didn't get mad at me when I didn't end up marrying the girl I dated in 7th grade.

mshaf on 19 Jan 2013 - 2:27am #

@ USMC11917 Thanks for your service and making that choice

USMC11917 on 19 Jan 2013 - 3:13am #

TY sir..wasn't really trying to beat the chest screaming military bravado. I just wanted to point out that its okay to expect more out of our 18 year olds in America. They can handle it if its in them.

Toilrt Paper on 19 Jan 2013 - 2:49am #

Well then, have the NCAA make a rule that colleges can't offer a player until June before his Senior year and a player can't make a verbal commitment until August, just before his Senior season starts.

USMC11917 on 19 Jan 2013 - 3:17am #

I don't think we need more external control in our lives. I think we would be better suited getting a grip of ourselves and becoming more accountable. That statement includes me as I am far from perfect. Doesn't mean I can't learn from the suggestions of others!

WayCraKen on 19 Jan 2013 - 7:49am #

I know a kid that has been up on several colleges but would never commit because he has had his eye on one school in particular and let it be known. As a result some of these schools aka Wisc MSU S Car, to namea few pulled his offer. The dream school has not come to fruition. So if this kid wanted to now be considered he would most likely be out of luck. In this case this kid got several offers and his likely choice will probably be his best choice in the end because he is wanted their more and would have started out Player C at the dream school as other higher targets are given promises on the front side.

Boom777 on 19 Jan 2013 - 8:32am #

The fifth word in you starting sentence is you answer, kid. We are talking about children, young men not men not adults. And they are making huge life decisions

Wherever you are, there you be!

rdubs on 19 Jan 2013 - 9:47am #

The first person in this thread got it right. This is classic prisoner's dilemma. If everyone chooses to hold off on committing then it benefits everyone because they have all of their options open to them as they go through the process. However everyone also has a personal incentive to give a verbal commitment to hold their spot in case some one else verbals before them. And there could be a huge downside to waiting to commit (someone takes your spot at your top choice school). Maybe people should use a different word because "commit" has stronger connotations than what is happening, but at the end of the day I have no issue with this process as long as both players and coaches are being forthright.

MN Buckeye on 19 Jan 2013 - 3:54pm #

These kids are influenced by parents, coaches, personal preferences, etc., and every situation is different. However, it appears that Hoke has pushed the early commitment, at least for the '13 class, while it seems that Urb encourages recruits to be thorough and look around and be sure tOSU is where they want to be before committing. Look at Ginn at Glenville encouraging his kids to hold off committing (on the basis of the emotional moment, or lifelong dream to play for a school, etc.) so that they do not decommit later on. A lot of growth and maturation occurs during each year of high school, and the process looks different for each athlete. Also, taking unnofficial and official visits are an opportunity for the kids to experience the culture of different campuses (and pick up a few freebies along the way), and this is an experience they will never have in this way again. I favor the approach of encouraging the recruits to looks around, which I believe leads to a more committed class.

4Buckeye89 on 21 Jan 2013 - 4:57pm #

The whole process is a little out of whack. Most of the kids who are 'committed' to one school but take official visits to other schools are just playing the game for attention and free travel. Someone mentioned Jordan Diamond - his parents told us they were taking all 5 official visits because they have never traveled before and want someone else to pay the tab. They were working the system and I think alot of kids do that. The coaches know what's going on and can see through most of these kids and their families. Unfortunately, you've got to put up with it - especially if he's a 4 or 5 star recruit.

steensn on 21 Jan 2013 - 7:31pm #

Or legitimate reasons, see all the kids who flip on those visits. Whether they think they are working the system or not, those "for fun trips" lead to recruiting changes all the time. They are 17-18 kids trying to meandor an adult process, sometimes with little parental support. Most no nothing with bad intentions, but at every corner they are in a high pressure situation they shouldn't be forced into. We can't expect them to have it all together... We lovE the game.

Maceyko on 21 Jan 2013 - 9:09pm #

Lot of good points. If I was an elite recruit I'd take all of my visits as well - why not? However, I'd refrain from committing until I knew for sure. Of course I'm not a teenager anymore either and I remember some of those stupid decisions I made.