Weather Disrupts Signing Day

You’ve likely seen the balloons, the cakes and cookies, and the smiling faces that accompany National Signing Day.

But all of that came after signing ceremonies in Northwest Arkansas were forced to postpone because of wintry weather. High school coaches and players still rushed to fax machines on Wednesday to complete a winter ritual that’s become as common as Ground Hog Day.

The following paragraphs are from my diary of that day. Special thanks to the guiding spirit that kept my car from sliding off into a ditch and the man who gave me a jump after I left my car lights on.

5:30 a.m. Up and at ’em. I know from past experience that National Signing Day begins very early. College coaches want those letters of intent by mid-afternoon, when they put their smiley face on before meeting the press.

7 a.m. Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema got it right when he tweeted that National Signing Day is a day that “makes grown men dance around like little school girls.” He easily could’ve added “And cry like a baby” when things don’t go their way.

7:20 a.m. I wasn’t there to see Bielema’s reaction when the 5-star defensive lineman from Texas chose Stanford over Arkansas on ESPN. But the reaction was swift on a Razorback message board, where a few posters were kicking and screaming like 3-year-olds. One guy put the blame on recruiting writers who had predicted that Solomon Thomas would choose Arkansas over Stanford.

I guess Thomas’ decision had nothing to do with his chance to play for a Top 10 team and receive an education from one of the top schools in the country.

Certainly not.

7:50 a.m. I arrive at the main oft ce at Springdale Har-Ber, where fi ve football players signed letters of intent on Wednesday. Coach Chris Wood is already a whirl of activity helping players with their paperwork and running back-andforth to the fax machine.

Wood turns to Chad Birkes, an off ensive lineman, and says “Congratulations, you’re a (Henderson State) Reddie” after his paper work is completed.

Birkes smiles and receives a handshake from Josh Frazier, who signed with Alabama.

8:30 a.m. Jake Hall is an in-state player Arkansas coaches should never pass on, regardless of how many players they sign from Florida or Texas.

“Big Jake” had off ers from Louisiana-Monroe and Cincinnati before receiving an offer from the Razorbacks after the fourth game of his senior year. Hall is hard-working, humble, and he appeared immensely proud of this state while wearing a Razorback jacket on Wednesday.

Arkansas used to winwith guys like that.

2 p.m. After filing a story, I turned on the TV for some perspective on how the day was unfolding for the Razorbacks.

Recruiting writers are often spin doctors for the program, but Dudley Dawson, who appeared on the Bo Mattingly Show, gave a blunt assessment.

“This is a good class, but not good enough when you’re ranked 11th out of 14 teams in the SEC,” Dawson said.

7 p.m. With all the football activity, I almost forgot that Arkansas had a game with Alabama on Wednesday night. So did a lot of other folks, judging by the empty seats, although the bad weather was certainly a factor in the small crowd at Bud Walton Arena.

The play of Bobby Portis is a testament to where the Arkansas basketball program is right now. The freshman scored 35 points and almost single-handedly kept Arkansas from losing to a mediocre Alabama team on its home court.

Portis, who was still in high school at this time last year, is by far the best player for Arkansas. That fact bodes well for the future, but doesn’t say much about this current Razorback team.

11 p.m. It’s quiet now and I finally have time to refl ect on my own experience during signing day years ago.

I remember the anxiety I felt and the sleepless hours I endured. I remember advisers tugging at me, telling me to do this, don’t do that.

At the crucial moment, I decided to accept an off er from Meijers Market, where the boss put me to work cleaning off the machines in the meat department.

I also had applications in at Burger King, Taco Bell and with the city, where I turned down an opportunity to work outside and paint fire hydrants all summer.

Yep, I was a two-star and proud of it.

RICK FIRES IS A SPORTS WRITER WITH NWA MEDIA