MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 3, 1999

National Signing Day.

For college football fans, it is like Christmas, a day to see what goodies have been left for their favorite teams under the tree. Within weeks, therecruiting experts will rank how good these presents were.

A number of River Parishes were among those making fans happy. East St.John’s Greg Gathers joined former Wildcat teammate Kerry Watkins at Georgia Tech. Staying in the Atlantic Coast Conference, St. James’ ChadJasmin signed with Clemson. Fellow Wildcat Chad Smith committed toNorfolk (Va.) State. Nicholls State, despite losing head coach Darren Barbier, a former head coach at Hahnville, continued to draw in prospects from the River Parishes. Both Pend-arvis Morris and Torrian Thomas from West St. Johncommitted to the Colonels as did St. Charles Catholic’s John Price andDestrehan’s Lance Carter.

Also staying in state were Destrehan’s Marcus Bates who signed with McNeese State and St. Charles Catholic’s Kenny Ordeneaux who went toNortheast Louisiana. Hahnville’s Kar-one Champagne signed with SouthernMississippi while Lutcher’s Bradford Smith signed with Jackson State.

LaPlace’s Cornell Bazile, a John Curtis Patriot, signed with Memphis.

For the players, Wednesday was a realization of a life-long dream to play college football. But it was also a day of relief. Over the last couple ofmonths, many have received numerous letters in the mail and late-night phone calls, all saying why they should go to one school and why they shouldn’t go to another. You think the Democrats and Republicans go at it?How about coaches in the midst of a recruiting battle.

The players have had coaches stay at their houses for hours and made visits of their own to schools on their wish list. It is often a hectic,grueling period that does not end when they verbally commit to one school or another. They will still receive phone calls at 10 p.m. saying why theyshould change their minds.

Players can change their minds on a whim. Just ask Terry Phillips, a tightend out of Forest Park in Houston, who signed with LSU Wednesday. Thatwas after committing to TCU and Miami (Fla.) the prior two days and afterearlier committing to Colorado. Jasmin had earlier committed to Tulanebut followed coach Tommy Bowden to Clemson.

For the college coaches, Wednesday was a day to sit back to see what their efforts have brought, knowing that they have to already get started on next year. Recruiting is a never-ending prospect if a team wants to notonly have a Top 10 class but a Top 10 ranking once the season comes around.

As usual, River Parishes will be among those being recruited for next year.

As for this year’s crop, congratulations and good luck. Continue torepresent your home towns as well as you have done over your prep careers.

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