Signing Day Is Here Again...

Central Georgia is packed with high school and college football fans whose passion extends far beyond Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. That make-up makes the first Wednesday of February one of the most important days on the sports calendar: Signing Day.

It's when two worlds collide in the gridiron universe...the one occasion when prep and college football truly cross paths. When years of lifting, running, sweating, hitting, catching, studying and dreaming give way to a pen, a piece of paper and an agonizing—not to mention life-altering—decision. And as the young men scribble their John Hancock (that they've no doubt practiced tirelessly in History and Pre-Calculus notebooks) both fan bases, high school and college, celebrate for different reasons. The high school players, teammates, family members and fans celebrate the realization of an 18-year-old dream. At the same time, college programs, coaches and fans get a glimpse into their team's future.

For one reason or another National Signing Day is one of the days I most look forward to. When you get a chance to be around athletes, you can't help but take an interest in their future. And when said athlete makes their mark in college and beyond it's in every fan's DNA to talk about seeing them show out on Friday nights. But if you're like me it offers a chance to live vicariously through each athlete in one of the biggest moments in their young lives. For those of us whose athletic endeavors never merited more than a participation award it's hard not to put ourselves at that podium in front of a few hats, one decision, and innumerable onlookers. To be at the intersection of hard work, achievement, recognition, and a bright future. It's a special moment, and one each kid will relive over and over for years to come.

It's both an end and a beginning. Another crop of football talent has done all they can do on the prep level. Now they move on to the bigger and better. And when they get there another passionate fan base awaits, hoping for the same results on the college gridiron that got them on campus in the first place. And that makes February 3rd, 2010 one of the most important days of their lives.

Darnay Tripp