Fit to commit

Yesterday's big news involving Cortez Davis, broken by our man Ryan Bartow, got me thinking about the term "commitment" and all the loose interpretations given it by hotshot recruits.

According to dictionary.com, the verb means "to give in trust or charge; consign."

As you know, a lot of recruits use a more watered-down definition. Something like, "to (sort of) give in trust or (sort of) charge; (sort of consign)."

Several years ago, a group of buddies and I coined some new terms that would be appropriate to describe the twists and turns that comes with the decision-making of 17-and 18-year-olds (as if "recommitment" and "decommitment" aren't already bad enough).

Undecommitment: When a prospect reneges on a commitment, then ends up reaffirming that commitment (this is what Davis did yesterday when he announced for Clemson).

Redecommitment: When a prospect reneges on a commitment, later reaffirms that commitment, then ends up pledging with someone else (this would happen if, for instance, Davis ended up at Florida State or somewhere else).

Dedecommitment: Same as "undecommitment," but it sounds kinda funny so I thought I'd include it.

Unredecommitment: When a prospect reneges on a commitment, later reaffirms that commitment, later pledges with someone else, only to affirm his initial commitment.

We could go on for days with this, obviously. Suggestions on more new terms are welcome.

Here's a feature story on Kyle Parker from the Florida Times-Union.

During his playing days as Bartram Trail's quarterback, Parker largely existed in the shadows of Tebow and the phenom's successor at Nease, Ted Stachitas. And don't forget about the dynasty going on at nearby St. Augustine High.

"I think one of the things that contributes to Kyle being overshadowed is that there were a lot of great things going on around the county at that point," Bartram Trail coach Darrell Sutherland said. "The other thing is Kyle made it look so easy. He was such a gifted athlete and looked so fluid."

Had Parker played in a different time, perhaps his legend would've already been cemented here locally. However, with Nease's dazzling offense and the consistent success of St. Augustine, Parker's Bartram Trail bunch played third fiddle in a county with four public schools at the time.

"I think it's fair to say that if he was at Bartram now or prior to the Tim Tebow years, he may have had more star power to him," St. Augustine football coach Joey Wiles said. "From a coaches' perspective, we always felt he was a top-notch quarterback. When you game-planned against him, you knew you were facing a Division I guy. We always felt he was the one guy we had to stop and confuse to beat them."

Stachitas, by the way, is now battling for the starting quarterback job at Wake Forest.

More from the Parker story:

Now, Parker faces a truly unique dilemma. Does he sign with the Rockies for what is expected to be a signing bonus in the millions and forgo his football career, or does he try to continue to be a dual-sport athlete?

His wardrobe doesn't give any clues. Parker will wear a Rockies hat and shirt while matching that with Clemson shorts. The Rockies gear was given to Parker on a trip last weekend to visit with Colorado. Parker and his family, who have moved to Augusta, Ga., are in the process of negotiating terms of a contract with Colorado. However, it's clear the 20-year-old is reluctant to give up football.

"I honestly have no idea," Parker said. "There's a pretty good chance I'll sign, but I'd like to play football, so that's something I'll have to figure out over the next few weeks."

First time to my knowledge that he's explicitly said he'd like to play football...

Pete Iacobelli of the AP talks to Tajh Boyd and Michael Wade about the wait for KP's decision.

"When you grow up playing since you were seven and never having to sit out, that's something hard to do," Boyd said of his redshirt 2009 season. "When the opportunity comes, you've got to take advantage of it. That's what I'm trying to do right now."

So T. Boone Pickens has pumped a cool $250 million into Oklahoma State's football program and has yet to see the desired return. Looks like Daddy Warbucks is running out of patience.

"That day I gave the money I said I knew we're not going to win every game," Pickens said. "But I'm tired of leaving the stadium with my head down. And I darn sure had my head down after the (2009) game in Norman and after the Cotton Bowl. I'm 82, so I'm not on the 20-year (rebuilding) plan.

"Gundy has assembled a good staff, our program is stronger and our recruiting is better. But the Big 12 South (division) is a tough place to hang out."


Two conclusions:

1. Not even all the money in the world can produce a legitimate power. Still gotta coach 'em up.

2. Mike Gundy, whom Terry Don Phillips viewed as a hidden jewel when he promoted him to head coach, isn't shining as brightly now. And come to think of it, neither is Les Miles (another relative obscurity when TDP hired him at Oklahoma State).

Been interesting following the recent controversy at SMU, which denied entry to recruits who met NCAA requirements.

Let's see, where have we heard this before:

Simply achieving NCAA qualifying standards does not guarantee admission to SMU, which was ranked 68th in the 2010 U.S. News and World Report's rankings of colleges.

Any prospective student-athlete who has an SAT score below 900 or a grade point average under 2.5 as determined by SMU is sent to a five-person faculty subcommittee for a closer look.

Those standards were implemented Feb. 15, 2009, to more tightly define standards and require fewer judgment calls, associate provost Tom Tunks said.

So Erin Andrews, who has brought all her ditzy glory to sideline reporting in recent years, will now bring her ditzy glory to a hosting role on the set of ESPN's College GameDay program. Yay.

So all those Georgia fans who were talking all that smack about Tennessee's players getting into trouble were promptly muzzled with the news that their own players were up to no good.


LW

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