East St. John coach Aldon Foster remembers it like it was yesterday.

“Feb. 14, 1990. Twelve o’clock. Southern University,” said Foster, who was an All-State player at Amite. “It’s something that stays with you forever. Graduation Day. Your first child. Signing Day. You remember those days. Cherish it.”

Perhaps more memories were made Wednesday as a slew of River Parishes athletes — 31 in all and 18 in St. John the Baptist Parish alone — signed their national letters of intent to play college sports on National Signing Day.

It’s a day that has become a phenomenon across the country. Surrounded by proud moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends — and lots of balloons — high school athletes have learned to grab their moment in the spotlight. It’s a day they imagine, dream of, play out on those long bus rides to and from games.

Some imagine pulling the old switcheroo with the hats, or wearing a secret shirt under their letter jacket to keep fans guessing until the last moment. Some think bigger. An Ole Miss recruit announced his decision Wednesday while jumping out of an airplane.

Seriously?

That’s not how we do it in the River Parishes, an area not lacking in sports heroes or even Super Bowl champions. We certainly do love our football and we celebrate those who play it. Wednesday we celebrated those who get to keep on playing it.

At Riverside Academy, Rebels coach Bill Stubbs stood between an assemblage of the student body and a long table, where his two recruits sat in between their proud parents. Defensive back Evan Veron, son of Valerie and Neil Veron, had signed with Nicholls State. Linebacker Kendall Martin, son of Kendrick and Carmen, had signed with Southern Arkansas.

Never did Stubbs discuss either player’s statistics. Still he held his two players up as examples to behold.

“This isn’t about football,” Stubbs said. “It’s not even about sports. This is about doing something you love and getting paid to do it. They’re going to college to get an education. Look at them. You can do it.”

For the most part, Wednesday’s festivities lived up to those childhood dreams — and not just for the athletes. There were lots of beaming moms, a few proud sisters and brothers. There were no criers at any of the stops I made on Wednesday, but I was worried for a moment about a dad. There were lots of sweaty palms and perhaps some shaky signatures.

“Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of signing,” said St. Charles Catholic offensive lineman Tyrin Arceneaux, who signed with Nicholls. “It means a lot to me.”

It means a lot to those who help make it happen as well. Foster only coached the one season at East St. John so far, one that wasn’t as successful as he hoped it would be. Still, he had four players sign with colleges on Wednesday.

“It’s always a proud moment when you get to see your kids continue to play the game they love and get a little assistance with their education,” Foster said. “That’s always the main goal. You wish you could get all of them. It’s truly a blessing. I tell them to cherish it.”