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Wednesday, February 7, 2001

Not all will commit on first signing day
Area’s top athletes opt to hold out, while the rest of the country signs
By Lee Goddard
Caller-Times
National Signing Day is misnamed for some.
   While blue-chip recruits, coaches and fans look toward today to see whom will head where, not every recruit scratches his signature on the signing period's first day.
   In fact, while some local high school athletes will sign today, many may wait to see what plays out, and then decide where to sign.
   For a variety of reasons, not everyone will sign on what is known as National Signing Day. Some will await test scores. Others have found colleges that were once looking at them have now backed off, or can't offer a full financial aid package. Some players change their mind when colleges come in late to recruit them.
   Refugio High School's Alex Boyd - a two-time Caller-Times All-South Texas Player of the Year - is a safe bet to wait until after signing day before selecting a college. He is awaiting an ACT score before he signs with what will probably be Texas El-Paso.
   That's OK, he said. Boyd is in no rush.
   "I probably would wait no matter what," Boyd said. "Some schools may see what you can do and get interested a little later."
   Boyd's Bobcats teammate, lineman Dave Scott, found he just didn't have enough time to visit the campus of his choice, Jackson State. So, with JSU promising to hold a scholarship for him, Scott will not sign until he gets the chance to visit the campus, probably around Spring Break.
   The are some drawbacks to signing late. A coach may have a change of heart on a player, or may be surprised at getting a better haul on signing day. A school may fill its need at a position. Or a player may not sign with a school he originally committed to, closing up another school's scholarships.
   H.M. King's Bryan Hall originally looked to be unsigned today with, he said, Texas A&M-Kingsville not offering a full ride. Wanting to get as much education paid for and play as close to home as possible, though, Hall had to juggle his priorities. Hardin-Simmons, which entered his recruiting late, had strong financial incentives, but A&M-Kingsville is his hometown school.
   So, he intends to sign with A&M-Kingsville, he said.
   But signing after the official day need not kill a career. Ray coach Gary Turberville can remember from his days as an assistant at Austin High a player who caught on well after signing day.
   Jimmy Sayers, a small running back, was likely on his way to being a Longhorn as, according to Turberville, coach Darrell Royal had shown an interest in him and had a habit of signing small running backs to play special teams. Unfortunately for Sayers, Royal retired, and new coach Fred Akers didn't follow Royal's lead.
   As June rolled around, it seemed Sayers would just go off to college without an athletic scholarship. But Spike Dykes, then an assistant under Royal at Texas, took an assistant's post at New Mexicio. Dykes remembered Sayers and brought him in for a tryout.
   Sayers impressed but also, Turberville recalled, drew a bit of luck. The Lobos were getting an athlete that could play basketball or football, but hadn't decided his route. The athlete opted for basketball, freeing a football scholarship.
   It went to Sayers, who eventually became an All-Western Athletic Conference performer.
   Sayers' tale shows that waiting - forced or otherwise - can work out.
   "I figured I would end up waiting until after signing day," Boyd said. "Just as long as I go somewhere."



Staff writer Lee Goddard can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at goddardl@caller.com

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