Published Thursday, February 04, 2010

Making the commitment: Guidance from home goes a long way

Sports Column by Chris Goltermann

cgoltermann@newnan.com

Some are referred to as seminars or prep courses. Others are just called self-help classes. But just about whatever you need to improve on, help seems available.

Want to improve your SAT score? Try Kaplan. Improve your grade point average? Ask for extra help. Want to get stronger and faster? Hire a trainer.

But wanna to know how to handle college recruiters?

Forget it. You're on your own, kid.

Or so one might think.

Consider Al and Allyson Ogletree experts now in the field after handling the recruitment of their twin sons to the Georgia football program. Not that they set out to be authorities on the subject.

In the roles of mom and dad, the Ogletrees gave their sons Alec and Alex (Zander) the best advice available. At times they told them to be patient or stay humble, depending on which advice fit which son. At others, the best counsel was simple prayer.

They celebrated together in victory. They cried together in defeat. Most of all, they were there for their children.

Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles as well as high school coaches and teachers behind the scenes are as much a reason why an athlete goes on to persevere in college, the pros, or just plain life in general.

In the end, they're the ones teaching the 'class.'

"It was our whole family, really," said Zander after joining his parents, grandparents, siblings and even his 2-year-old nephew in his signing photo. "They all sat down (with me and my brother) and talked with us about our decision."

No professional service can tell exactly how to handle the recruiting process or what choice to make with outside influences pointing you in all sorts of directions.

How do you handle being flooded with offers, first by mail, then by phone and ultimately on campus from coaches showcasing million-dollar programs? How do you handle the struggle when they begin to back away and the letters stop coming?

The Ogletree parents dealt with both situations on either side of the spectrum.

Realistically, every road to a college scholarship is as unique as the Ogletree brothers, even if the path leads to the same destination. For Alec, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound safety, and Zander a 5-11, 200-pound linebacker, it was as different as both their frames and personalities.

Alec, who's a bit more reserved, was the one garnering most of the attention from offers well through his junior year of football at Newnan High.

By the time spring practice rolled around last May, it became normal to see college assistants visiting with head coach Mike McDonald on the Cougar sidelines. Rivals, Scout.com and ESPN's recruiting services all had the eventual Parade All-American pegged as a four and/or five-star recruit after he helped lead Newnan to consecutive state football semifinals

Yet with the recruiting world at his door, Alec made the decision to make a verbal commitment in mid-summer, well before the football season began.

"We told him to follow your heart and make the right decision for you," said Alysson. "We prayed about it. All along he felt Georgia was where he needed to be. And after Georgia, he never took another official visit (to a school)."

Alec kept the verbal commitment with the Bulldogs, which is not always the case when it comes to college programs. Georgia was dealt a blow on Wednesday morning when Calhoun receiver Da'Rick Rogers opted to go to Tennessee after making a verbal commitment to the Bulldogs.

"I don't know how you can go back on your word on something like that," said Al. "We tried to tell them both don't give them your word if you don't intend to honor your word."

Making the decision wasn't as arduous for the more outgoing Zander as it was getting the offer. Georgia didn't officially come calling until the morning after Newnan ended its year with a heartbreaking loss to Northside-Warner Robins in the Class AAAAA semifinals.

"At first we just told him to be patient and that God has a plan for all of us," said Alysson. "When the call came that morning I can't put into words how it felt. We felt truly blessed."

The good news is that there are lots of parents here who make similar efforts on a daily basis to guide their sons and daughters. One day each student's athlete's signatures will probably adorn the sale receipt for a new car, a home mortgage and even a marriage license.

But on Wednesday their John Hancock meant a college education, which may be an even more valuable asset for them to obtain in life.

Before each of six seniors signed at Newnan, football coach Mike McDonald tipped his hat to each family while speaking for the school principal and athletic director.

"First of all we want to thank all of you parents for making sure these guys handled their business at home," said McDonald. "You all did, otherwise you wouldn't be here."

Handling that process can be as important as how one handles the football. Without the right support system, some tend to fumble that opportunity.

And in some cases, like Georgia's newest football recruits, by planting the right seeds, they'll see their sons grow into mighty 'Trees.