With the Super Bowl next Sunday (February 7) being the exclamation point of the football season, you may be surprised to hear what ESPN will be airing this Wednesday. No, it’s not a Drew Brees or Peyton Manning special. It’s not the Pro Bowl, which was, oddly enough, played yesterday. Instead it’s ESPN’s National Signing Day coverage. For those of you who are not familiar I will enlighten you. This is not coverage of the NFL draft. This happens a little later in 2010, specifically April 22 for the first round. Instead, this is cable television coverage of the first day high school students can make a written commitment to a college to play football. February 3 through April 1 is the signing period for high school seniors headed to play football in college next year.

I understand that February 3 is important; according to ESPN’s calendar the first day of the signing period is when 98% of high school seniors sign legally binding written contracts with their future colleges and universities. Perhaps I can’t fully understand the importance of this as I don’t think any decision I ever made had the potential impact for the number of people that a four or five star high school recruit does when they choose where to play football. I mean, where they go to college. Oh no, wait, I do mean where they play football. And maybe that’s okay…

For many of these top recruits, their dreams are likely to play professional football in the NFL. And for many of these kids, what university they go to is the stepping stone to get them to a successful career in the NFL. It’s much similar to a kid who grows up wanting to be a doctor; they want their undergrad biology degree from a university known for their biological sciences. Why shouldn’t a kid who wants to be a pro football player want to go to a school known for their football team?

But on the other hand, I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s not okay- maybe the ESPN national coverage should happen a little later for these guys. I’m not making the argument that these recruits aren’t special- of course they are, they are the cream of the crop. But, what’s the famous quote? That good ole’ biblical verse? “To whom much is given, much is expected.” On February 3rd, ESPN is going to air a special where super talented athletes sign with a college and the impact is felt by far more people than just the recruit. These kids are expected to perform for their coaches. For their universities. For their team’s fans. Oh, the fans. All of these people are wishing and hoping for success. And that success is based on the kids playing football.

I can’t help but wonder that our society doesn’t know how to treat college football players (and recruits). They’re kids, but they are given responsibilities and attention that few other people between the ages of 18 and 22 have to deal with. College football has become big business. Coaches from top programs are paid millions of dollars. Universities count on money from football programs to help fund other programs at the school. Recruiting laws are specific and detailed, and there always seems to be some kind of drama surrounding houses and cars and “extra spending money” that some college player or their family received each and every year. Obviously, teams getting four and five star recruits should be thrilled, as should the players and the fans of the teams receiving the players. However, I can’t help but cringe at some of the egotistical moves seen by incoming players in the last few years. Cough, cough, a unnamed freshman showing up to his first practice in a limo, cough, cough.

I guess what I’m trying to say is congratulations to all high school seniors continuing their athletic career in college. You’ve obviously worked hard to achieve where you are. Now, the rest of us, let’s let them be who they are: college athletes. Not prima donnas.

Annie is the Sports and Fitness Editor for Girls Guide. She writes about all kinds of sports related topics and then really goes out and plays sports almost every evening. You can contact Annie by emailing her at annie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and we are still trying to talk her into getting a Twitter account – no success yet.