COLLEGE RECRUITING PART 3: The time is now!

Graduating from high school and moving on to attend college is one of those rare moments in life when a young student athlete and his or her parents feel a definite shift in their destinies.

Behind them now are all the wonderful years of recreation league ball. The bragging rights that come along with competing in accelerated travel tournaments are all in the past.

Making the high school team, being named a captain, receiving a varsity letter and ultimately getting that diploma, are all now moments set in stone.

Ready or not, the future is now.

If your new graduate is all set for a summer of relaxation and fun, perhaps even a rewarding vacation in the plans, and has already been given a time to meet with his or her college academic counselor and a date to report to their new coach, then you as a parent, and your student athlete have done the necessary work.

If you are still wondering how to get your son or daughter on a college team at this time, then you may have underestimated the need to take the very important steps needed in the recruiting game.

Chances are, at this point, that only a junior college, and an out-of-state one, at that, is the only option ahead. And even then, in the state of Utah, where there are only three junior college institutions, that can be a tall order.

The NJCAA is an excellent organization, however. Not all students are ready, athletically or academically, to compete at a D1 or D2 university. Junior colleges are well worth their weight in gold in these circumstances.

The only crime in this scenario is if the student athlete has the ability to play at a higher collegiate level right away, or worse yet, carries a high GPA with outstanding ACT scores, and will now have to spend perhaps an extra year of college seeking a degree just to compete on a college field.

And if the junior college is not picking up the tab, or at least half of it, then mom and dad are forced to pay these first year college expenses. This can be avoided.

High school coaches and counselors, along with the excellent administrations that employ such wonderful people, can only do so much when it comes to helping a student athlete advance to play in college.

Their position in a young person’s prep life is to guide them through the high school years. To educate them, to coach them, to nurture them, to help them grow into fine young citizens prepared for the difficulties that college life will no doubt throw in their direction. They are not wholly responsible for finding a student athlete a college scholarship, just as a university is not responsible for finding its graduates a career position once they graduate.

It is up to the student and their parents to educate themselves on how scholarships in college are obtained.

Getting college scholarship assistance is not some big secret—at least it shouldn’t be treated as such. Information is readily available through the counseling departments at the high schools to help students find scholarship opportunities. These, however, are academic scholarships and come in small bunches that the awarded student can apply to his or her college bill. Receiving one or more of these, along with high ACT scores, can alleviate a significant amount of financial pressure.

The only scholarship you won’t find posted on the school bulletin board is the athletic one. It is one of the toughest to get and without knowing how to gain the proper exposure to the athlete’s abilities on the field, and to project to a college coach what they could possibly offer their program, then they are nearly impossible to get offered.

The search for an athletic scholarship can be overwhelming to both the student and the parent, especially without any direction on how to look. A short list of email addresses and cell phone numbers of college coaches given to you by a friend of a friend who once was a neighbor of that coach when they were kids may be a place to start but not near worthy of your student’s college future.

Banking on that, or camp invitations that resulted in a few positive words from a college coach, can be playing with fire. Openings can close and closed doors can unexpectedly open when it comes to athletic scholarships. The best thing to be is prepared from the beginning for anything that could arise.

There is a notion that preparing a student in their freshman or sophomore year for an athletic scholarship is too early. This is exactly when the preparation should begin. Especially if the student is showing signs of being able to play on a D1 level and handle the schoolwork at the same time.

D1 and D2 schools that compete at a high level in athletics are recruiting kids as early as the eighth grade. And while there can be an uncomfortable feeling as a parent, putting your kid out there to college coaches while they are barely into their teens, it is often necessary if getting into a D1 program is the goal.

Coaches often like players they cannot get because they learn about them too late.  Their scholarship money has already been spent for that student’s first eligible season. They will often offer a walk-on situation, which, while excites the athlete and their parents, it could be a dead end to the scholarship journey. Once a talented athlete commits to playing on a team on their own dime, it is easier for a college team to hold off on offering any money in subsequent years, banking on that student’s loyalty.

This isn’t to say that a scholarship is never offered in a second or third year after a walk-on year, it just reduces the chances. Coaches do recognize when they can keep an athlete for free.

Their job is to get the most top-tier players they can to be competitive on the amount of money they are allowed to spend. There is a new crop each and every season. The competition for these scholarships never ends. A player who is third or fourth on the depth chart at their position and competing only as a back-up on the team for a percentage of tuition only, may never receive a penny more because a blue-chip recruit will be earning a full-ride in the class behind them.

The most productive way to avoid having a student athlete end up in this situation is to get them exposed to multiple institutions and as early as possible. This puts the choice in the hands of the athlete. If the student is receiving multiple contacts from colleges in their underclass years, then those will most assuredly turn into solid offers once the athlete is of age to commit.

Timpanogos weathers the storm, Wasatch rally

OREM – As far as season opening high school football games go, the contest between the Timpanogos Timberwolves and the visiting Wasatch Wasps had a little bit of everything.

In a game that approached four hours in length from opening kickoff to final gun, Timpanogos held on against a strong Wasatch comeback and took the opener for both teams 25-22.

The game saw two lengthy delays--one for a serious injury in the first half the other for lightning shortly after the second half began.  The weather delay seemed to work in the favor of the Wasps, who came out of the locker room 45 minutes later to threaten the once comfortable lead built up by the T-Wolves.

“We had them late in the game,” said Wasatch head coach, Steve Coburn. “But we made too many mistakes at critical times that cost us. We were the better team in the second half. We won the fourth quarter, we just didn’t win the game.”

Shortly after Wasatch received the opening kickoff rain began to fall. The natural grass field quickly became slick and play by both teams got a bit sloppy, especially for the Wasps, who rely on their passing attack.

Wasatch quarterback, Garrett Davis, had a difficult time early on finding his receivers in the wet conditions and his team was forced to punt on its first three series.

Quarterback Garrett Davis looks for a receiver during the game's first drive just before the heavy rain came.

Timpanogos, however, had no such problem using a ground game that caught the visitors off guard at the line of scrimmage. Halfway through the first quarter, Timberwolf running back Tyler Shade broke through the left side of the line, cut to the outside and scampered 72 yards for a touchdown. David Hurst converted the extra point kick and the home team was quickly up 7-0.

After a Wasatch fumble, Timpanogos took control of the ball near midfield and worked its way just inside the 20. Running back Jake Ware took a first and ten handoff and broke lose for a 19 yard touchdown run for a 13-0 advantage. The extra point attempt by Hurst was blocked.

The Wasps, seemingly on their heals, turned the ball over again on a fumble early in the second quarter giving Timpanogos just over half the field to pay dirt. It was Shade again scoring on a long run, this time 61 yards to put his team up 19-0. Hurst’s extra point kick was no good.

On the point after attempt, Timpanogos’ Ware suffered a knee injury that required the player, who had scored earlier, to be taken off the field by ambulance. Nearly 30 minutes passed, with both squads on one knee, as medical attention was given to Ware.

The Wasatch bench--players, coaches and cheerleaders all took to silence and one knee as Timpanogos running back Jake Ware is taken off the field in an ambulance.

Timpanogos showed no signs of affect after the break and put together another scoring drive after getting the ball back from Wasatch.

Quarterback Tyler Sweeten called his own number from the five yard line scoring on a keeper giving the home team a big 25-0 lead with eight minutes still remaining in the first half. For the third consecutive time, Hurst’s PAT failed giving the Wasps something to build on.

Wasatch would put together its first solid drive of the game after the T-Wolves kickoff. Running back Spencer Heywood delivered a couple of solid runs and Davis used his legs on a few plays and also hit receiver Carson Law with a 17 yard strike to put the Wasps in scoring position.

As the rain continued

to fall, and at a harder pace as the game went on, Davis found tight end Cade Cloward in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown connection. Sklyler Southam made the extra point kick and Wasatch was on the scoreboard 25-7.

The Wasps, gaining some momentum, put together another drive after a Cloward interception of Sweeten, but could not convert a third and one from inside the Timberwolves 25 yard line. Wasatch would go for a 40-yard field goal, but Southam’s kick would narrowly miss to the left.

After the halftime break, Timpanogos took the kickoff as the rain started to let up slightly. Just over three minutes into the new half, Wasatch forced a Timpanogos fumble giving them the ball with good field position at the Timberwolves 34 yard line.

Mother Nature would again intervene as lightning entered the area and the game was halted. Both teams their coaches and fans were asked to leave the field and seating areas for a mandatory 30 minute wait. During the delay, the storm seemed to let up and there was no serious danger of the game being cancelled.

Once play resumed, Wasatch took the field with a sense of urgency and a nothing to lose attitude.

Its drive from the 34-yard line only managed 17 yards and the Wasps sent Southam to the field again for a field goal attempt. The kick was wide, but Southam was roughed on the play giving Wasatch a fresh set of downs.

Timpanogos quarterback Tyler Sweeten attempts a pass against a heavy Wasp rush.

This time they took advantage and Davis worked his way into the end zone on a keeper giving the Wasps their second touchdown. The PAT was good and Wasatch had life at 25-14 with 4:03 left in the 3^rd quarter.

Timpanogos continued to keep the ball on the ground and was finding it difficult against the inspired Wasatch defensive front. A muffed T-Wolf punt that wobbled out of bounds gave Wasatch the ball at the home team’s 33-yard line.

After failing to gain any ground, Wasatch attempted yet another field goal by Southam, this time a 54 yarder that just missed dropping over the cross bar.

As the rain returned, this time falling in sheets in a blustery wind, Wasatch relied on a pair of turnovers to keep its hopes for victory alive. A Wasp fumble recovery set-up more solid running by Heywood, who finished off the scoring drive with a one-yard burst with 7:37 left in the game. Wasatch sensing a chance to tie the contest on a field goal later, went for the two-point conversion which was converted on a pass from Davis to Law. The Wasps had closed the gap to 25-22.

Timpanogos, looking for a way to slow the Wasatch momentum, took to the air on its next possession and was intercepted by Chase Adams at the Wasatch 34-yard line.

The Wasps, with time dwindling away, went to strike quickly and Davis hit Law for a 38-yard pass that would have put the Wasps at the one-yard line if not for a holding call. It was the straw that broke the camels back for Wasatch as they unraveled down the stretch with consecutive penalties.

In less than a minute they went from possibly having the ball at the one-yard line with a chance to win, to having a 4^th and 51 with virtually no chance to convert.

“This is a tough one,” stated Coburn. “There’s some tears over there because guys know they didn’t make plays when we needed them. We had the chance to win it, but you can’t with penalties, dropped passes and missed field goals.”

Offensive!

Lady Wasps off to 3-0 pre-season start

It hasn’t taken the Wasatch High School girl’s soccer team very long—in fact, less than a week, to offend three straight opponents.

In the season opener last Tuesday in Smithfield, the Lady Wasps bested Skyview in a close contest 1-0.

After a scoreless first half, co-captain Ashlyn Coleman scored on an assist from Ella Ballstaedt and that turned out to be the only score Wasatch would need. Torri Bills played exceptionally in the goal making several great saves to preserve the first victory of the season.

Three days later on the Wasatch pitch, the girls broke out with a four-goal performance against visiting Cedar City and took the decision 4-1.

Junior transfer Hayden Olsen scored her first goal as a Wasp in the first half and freshman McCall Scovil broke a 1-1 tie with her first career goal on the big stage.

The second half was dominated by Wasatch, on the beautiful Tuesday afternoon, attacking Cedar’s goalkeeper repeatedly as the Lady Wasps began to find some offensive rhythm.

Ella Ballstaedt of Wasatch works the ball towards the baseline where she was able to beat the Cedar City defense and score her first goal of 2014.

Only two minutes into the second half, Ballstaedt took control of the ball and worked it into the corner then along the baseline until she found herself positioned perfectly in front of the goal. The junior finished the excellent play with her first goal of the season.

Senior Emily Benson, after coming up empty on a couple of breakaways, found the back of the net for her first goal in 2014.

Coleman, and sophomore Katie Cranney each missed goals by inches on nice shots as well.

On Monday, the Lady Wasps kept their offense intact against visiting former region rival Park City. Wasatch jumped out quick with three first half goals, two by Cranney and one by Ballstaedt.

Scovil, who is showing early signs of being a scoring threat for the Wasp program, punched in her second goal in as many games early in the second half.

Katie Cranney missed on this attempt vs Cedar City, but scored twice against Park City.

The two dominating preseason victories allowed head coach Dawain Wheatley to rest his starters late and get more playing time for some of his reserves.

The fresh varsity legs will be needed as Wasatch begins region play Thursday night under the lights at Timpview, where the Lady Wasps hope to stay hot offensively.

Going Pro... Need YOUR help!

 Hello fans,

A while a go I wrote a nice letter to you all here on In A Nutshell Sports asking for contributions. I truly desire to cast out on my own as a sportswriter and create a website (which is in the works) featuring not only all Wasatch HS sports, but regional prep, college and of course national topics as well.

I think you know by now that I am relentless and will work my tail off to give you and yours the best, most complete and timely sports coverage our area has ever known.

But I need you, kids! The website costs money to maintain and I will need upgrades on all my electronics. Once up and working I will remain diligent in social media to help further build an audience. That will lead to advertising opportunities right here on In A Nutshell Sports if you would like to expand your company's name to my sports reading fan base.

I ask again, and thank those who have already helped, to click my PayPal "Buy Now" button and contribute to my work.

It won't stop, and I will not give up... but with your generosity it can go even farther.

Please use this button to make your contribution in the name of C2K - Contributions To Kenny. Thank You!

A-Rod: Yankees fans will be final judge and jury on star’s legacy

 It has taken awhile, but MLB and its fans might actually be seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. As difficult and ugly as it has been at times over the past 20 years, pro baseball fans have stuck it out. Choosing to remain true to the sport we love despite the repeated letdown of some of our heroes.

America’s pastime, once the timeless and often magical sport of choice for men who simply tossed and hit a ball with a bat, has been in a two-decade long endurance test against the use of illegal performance enhancing drug use.

At first, we looked the other way. Then we began to drop our heads in shame. Eventually we got fed up. Now we stand having grown weary of steroids. Of human growth hormones and sleazy athletic trainers who hide their drug-dealer status behind pseudo-legitimate titles.

Most of us have not missed the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons or Sammy Sosa. The brand of baseball we have without those players is a safe and happy one. Where baseball was meant to be in the first place.

With the rules getting tougher, penalties more severe, and the cooperation and desire to rid baseball of PED’s by the game’s participants reaching new levels, the sport may finally be on the verge of being steroid free.

There is, however, at least one larger than life obstacle still standing in the path of baseball’s complete resurrection.

It’s been three games since beleaguered major league baseball player Alex Rodriguez has been in uniform for the New York Yankees. Rodriguez returned to his club on the same day he was suspended from baseball for 211 games, covering the rest of this season and all of next.

Only an appeal of Commissioner Bud Selig’s decision to suspend the three-time MVP has allowed him back on the field.

theatlantic.com

 While Rodriguez, for the most part, has said all the right things since arriving in Chicago on Monday for a three game series with the White Sox, he has garnered little sympathy from the MLB community.

Rodriquez’ controversial relationship with Biogenesis of America, a now defunct rejuvenation and anti-aging laboratory based out of Coral Gables, Florida has been well documented. Near to the point of nausea for some.

A dozen other players received suspensions on the same day as Rodriguez. He, by far the largest profile name on the list of substance abuse violators, was the only one to appeal the suspension.

A-Rod, as he is better known, refuses to be made an example of, it appears, feeling singled out with the severity of his punishment. The rest of the gang all took a spoonful of 50 games without pay as their medicine. Except for Ryan Braun, another former MVP, caught with his hand in the PED jar, who received a 65 game ban.

These are the facts of the whole mess. You would have to be living under a rock without high speed Internet to not know at least something about all of this.

So far, Rodriguez’ return has been less than eventful. He hasn’t played poorly—as a matter of fact he hasn’t looked that far out of baseball shape for being off the field for half the season.

He has been cooperative and cordial with the media and has repeatedly used words like grateful and humbled. He has been assessable to fans, signing autographs and taking photos remaining polite despite jeers.

It is damaged image control at its finest and the slugger is so far batting 1.000.

But… he, and his teammates are in Chicago. The true measure of how A-Rod will be perceived throughout the remainder of this season while his appeal plays out will come on Friday night in the Bronx when the Yankees return home for seven games beginning with three against the Detroit Tigers.

It is one thing to be judged by others in your neighborhood, but it’s a whole different jury to face when it comes to your own family. And that is exactly what awaits Rodriguez.

flickr.com

 For those of us who do not live in New York and are not a part of the mystique that surrounds the most storied professional sports organization in history, we can only imagine the reception their current third baseman will receive when he takes the field.

These passionate fans have booed A-Rod on many an occasion. They pull no punches when it comes to letting a player know just exactly what ground he stands on with them—pinstripes or not.

Since his arrival in New York in 2004, Rodriguez’ relationship with Yankees fans has been as up and down as a tuna boat in an episode of The Biggest Catch. Because of his sizeable contract and prima donna reputation, it was difficult for A-Rod to win over fans in the Bronx, despite his production.

But he seemingly earned his pinstripes with solid years on the field and even contributed to the Yankees’ 2009 World Series Championship. Things have gone south from then on, however, as his hitting—especially in the post season, has left New York fans irritable.

With his last sighting in the batter’s box at Yankee Stadium this past October resulting in a strike out and eventual benching, compounded with this year’s Biogenesis controversy, Rodriguez is no doubt deeper in the fan’s doghouse than ever.

www.upi.com

 While most of baseball surely wants to rid itself once and for all of Rodriguez he seems determined to face the music and keep himself in uniform. Jokingly, it may be up to Yankee fans to do what Selig could not… run him out of the game. I’m sure they have it in them.

It will be worth watching to see the reception A-Rod gets when finally standing before the fans who he needs on his side the most.

Johnny Manziel: At the front of the battle for the Amateur Pros

nydailynews.com

Sport has always been sport. Men, women, boys and girls… have always taken the field to test their mettle in athletic competition. To push ones self to the limit in the stakes to be the very best—to dare to reach for and make it to the top of the mountain, above all others, is why there is sport.

That is Adam.

Joining a team—a school, a league, whether it bowling or football, has the militant ingredient we humans crave. The camaraderie and companionship… the brotherhood… the love. To be pushed, to be plodded, coaxed and inspired to bring our personal best to a group to become a world champion. If for no other reason than to not be the weakest link in a chain, it is the driving force in sport.

Yes, this would be Eve.

In our earliest memory of sporting competition, there was grainy black and white film. There was warbled audio and only one vantage point—that of the cameraman.

If we were fortunate enough to attend live, we were far from the action. Not getting the chance to see our heroes up close, let alone actually wear the same cap they were wearing.

At once, that would all change. The day when the technology would introduce itself to the game. That very moment when a microphone was placed in front of an athletes mouth and while the camera glared at him, was asked to tell the world why he was the better player that day.

That… was the apple.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We’ve come a long way in the world in such a short time. And while, on the sporting landscape, we have witnessed some of the most inspiring and poignant moments in history, we have created a monster.

In the 1970’s, great teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Celtics repeatedly dominated their sports and made the names of men who were simply playing a game, household names.

Long before there was ESPN and fantasy football, there was a real water cooler. A large jug of water in a stand with a spickett in the corner of the break room or the bosses office where men ,and sometimes even women, could have conversations about Roger Staubach and Joe Namath.

Rarely, if ever, during those conversations was a player’s contract negotiations ever discussed. Chances are, we had no idea. And as working stiffs ourselves… it was disrespectful to talk about another guy’s earnings.

Now, that is more important than the actual game on the field. Or at least, that is what we are led to believe.

Many players say into those microphones that they would play for free, they love the game so much. And while I would like to believe that, it is just not possible for them to imagine such a thing.

Most, if not all, of the Green Bay Packers players from the first Super Bowl winning team in history, held jobs as insurance salesmen and contractors in the offseason.

The majority of today’s professional athletes have been coddled since they were in Little League. Told they are part of a team and that winning is not as important as sportsmanship and the experience, yet being told in private that they are better than the rest.

All the while, we as fans, now savvier than ever, wait impatiently for the next world’s greatest athlete.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Progress is inevitable. Even though it seems that organized sports should remain true to its grass roots, expecting Tom Brady to sell life insurance during the summer is just not feasible.

Professional sport is a tremendously successful business in our day and age. Teams now have hundreds of employees from scouts to administrators to marketing advisors. It is no longer 40 guys in shoulder pads playing a game on Sunday afternoon.

This is acceptable. Where it is starting to cross the line—and we should question this as progress or the eventual damning of the way our games are structured, is when the college athlete is brought into the fold.

Professional football is the only game on the forefront of American sport where an athlete is required to play in college. Or at least be of age of his graduating class before he can become eligible to be drafted as a pro. This rule was made long ago to protect young men who were physically under-developed for the pros.

This, in many ways, has held certain young men back. Dozens, if not more, players competing in major college football over the past 20 years have been ready for the jump to the NFL before the age of 21.

Being physically able to keep up on the gridiron is one thing, but the mental aspect is the question. The maturity.

In MLB and the NBA, 18-20 year olds are often tossed onto the national scene to now perform for big pay. In college, the coach takes the beating for the interceptions and the missed three-pointers at the buzzer. In the pros, it’s the player.

MLB has a flawless system. Every team is afforded dozens of draft choices and can pick young players out of high school knowing good and well they are not ready and will accept good college offers. And, if a player only wants to pursue pro baseball, then that organization can stick that kid in a small market with a little rookie league affiliate and pay him a small contract to live out his dream. If he can climb the ladder to the pros and be a real major leaguer… then it works out perfectly for all involved.

The NHL and MLS are different animals because they have the entire globe as their player pool. Rarely does a football or baseball player come from a European country.

Still, each of these leagues has functional minor league and homeland affiliated farm systems where they can groom players and allow them to develop.

Football—namely the NFL, has no such league. They rely solely on college football.

This was good 30-40 years ago, but now seems in need of a revamping.

College football players do not need to be paid, as many have suggested. That would be the easy answer—and an expensive one. If universities were to ditch paying for education and go straight to putting those checks into a players checking account, there could be major bankruptcy going on in any conference outside of the SEC.

This of course is hot topic once again in the wake of the Johnny Manziel investigation for profiting from signing memorabilia.

The fact it is Manziel, and not some second string guard on half tuition is the disturbing point. But what’s disturbing is that no one wants the second string guard’s autographed cleat anyway so who can win here?

This is the basis of the argument of athletes turning professional. John Calipari, the head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky, has conceded to the one-and-done culture of today’s college basketball. He knows he must recruit, sign and coach a team with the promise of a final four appearance each and every year.

The same is with baseball at the collegiate level. If you get them, play them for a run at the College World Series now, because if they’re really good, they will be drafted into the pros and you will be in a rebuilding year instantly.

Football has always been a little bit different. Guys, blue-chippers, would be highly recruited out of high school, choose the school of their choice and play their butts off to wear those colors for four years.

These players abided by campus rules, went to class and basically fit into the all-around college campus lifestyle. And why not? It is an experience one would never forget. And not just for the games that these players would participate in, but for the friendships, the knowledge, the camaraderie—the education that they would receive. It was all paid for in full by the university.

Now, and Manziel has gotten himself caught up in this mess, college stars have found it too irresisitible to say no to the alumni—or whoever is throwing out these secret big bucks.

Manziel’s family has money. He doesn’t need the dough. So why? Let’s say he did do the alleged autograph signings—was it for the thrill? Was Johnny Football nervous at all of being caught while he was signing all that cool stuff that the orchestrator was going to quadruple profits in the sales of his famous name?

Is there something else there? Does Manziel owe this person, or organization something? A gambling debt? Could it even be as bad as blackmail? It’s no secret that Manziel is no angel. So much so, that he may have put a target on his back.

This goes back to the question of maturity.

Last winter, when the hype had all fallen to Manziel as being the Heisman Trophy favorite, there were some rumblings in the old fogies room. As it has turned out… with good reason. He was too young to win the award. Not because he was a freshman, but because he was not ready to carry the responsibility that comes with the trophy.

Johnny Football—as his nickname may suggest, is still a wonderboy. A raw talent on the field and a wild child off it. There have been many, many before him that fit this mold, but the ones we remember with fondness are the ones who were able to balance the load.

This is where the NCAA perhaps could step in and alleviate some of the pressures on these kids.

Yes, they receive top scholarship rewards for participating in the sport of their expertise. Yes, some even have the grades to back up the excellence on the field.

Why not allow these players to earn money off their names and college affiliations outside of campus?

No autograph signings on memorabilia or exchanges for tattoos necessary. Simply allow the players to hire commercial agents to get them endorsement deals. The schools all have contracts with equipment suppliers—Nike, Reebok, Under Armour… just like the pros. Allow these young men—and women, the opportunity to negotiate their own deals. Isn’t this what today’s college is about anyway? How to make a buck? Marketing and business majors would love this.

Of course there will need to be guidelines established, as there always are, which leaves room for the rule benders, but it would be a start.

Do not pay the Johnny Manziels of the world. They are getting a full education in exchange for playing a game in their school’s colors. That should be good enough for everyone on that level. If these guys can negotiate their own personal deals—as long as it is within the marketing rights of their universities, then what’s the problem?

Like they say—times have changed, people don’t change. It’s true really. From the first microphone in the face of the kid who won the game to Lebron James having to answer to the world why he chose to take his talents to South Beach… we are listening.

Not because we really want to, but because it’s now part of the game.

Wasatch County Fair: Still a fair amount of good fun

Well, its come and gone. Hard to believe. Months of preparation and weeks of build up culminate in the summer's last big event... the County Fair.

I grew up with the county fair. I was a member of a 4-H club. My sister was too. We loved to go with friends and family and wander the grounds checking out the exhibits, livestock, watch the tractor pulls and most of all ride the carnival rides. Oh, and grub out in ways not recommended for a regular everyday diet.

Now that I'm a big boy--or pretend to be one, I still find the fair has a... well, fair amount of excitement. I'm sort of on the payroll now and don't get to necessarily sit and take it all in, but going to report and take some photos has given the experience a whole new dimension.

Last weekend the Wasatch County Fair kicked off with the Demolition Derby. For me, an automotive event is a good way to suck me in. Crashing modified stock cars in a muddy arena with concrete barriers is more fun than it sounds, if you're a novice. And if you're into it... well, its a big night.

I would like to see Wasatch County incorporate a tractor pull into its fair. The facility is in place. The fan base is there to perform for. And, knowing what I know about some of the folks in the Heber and Midway valley--heck, the entire Wasatch back, there would be plenty of participants.

Maybe if you're a tractor pull fan, you can contact Wasatch County Parks and Recreation and let them know of your interest. It's never too early to start planning for next year.

During the week, there are days full of activities. The Southfield Park grounds are laid out with carnival rides, food stands and stages for performances. There are numerous talent contests, featuring everything from costumed canines to singing children. Grown-ups seem to never tire of seeing little ones dressed up like CMT stars and nervously whispering into a REAL microphone.

There is a large family BBQ where for $5 a plate, you can get served by a city or county council member... which is always fun, I guess. And of course, the queens and princesses are always visible--thank goodness, as Miss Wasatch and her court perform and are around for photos and to generally just dress-up the place.

I don't ride carnival rides anymore. Some adults never outgrow this sort of thing, and I suppose I wouldn't either if I could afford my own wristband. But I prefer to supply those for the kiddies. Don't go thinking I'm scared or nothin'.

For me, the best part of the carnival is to take a moment and gaze at it from afar. The lights--blinking and bright and golden really are beautiful and give off an aura of childhood memories that each and everyone of us have. You can always go down in it too. Walk amongst the carnies and teenagers, decked-out in glow-stick bracelets, who use the time to spread their social wings a bit outside of their normal circles. Even have a candied apple. You probably haven't had many of those outside of the county fair.

Fair Days in Wasatch County traditionally wraps things up with a local fave--the Mountain Valley Stampede Rodeo presented by Dodge with Spencer Auto Sales serving as its local dealer.

That's the Saturday night event, but before that is the big parade held on Main Street in Heber. Parades are great. Despite the lack of excitement that comes with Demolition Derbys, Rodeos or thrilling carnival rides, the parade is a stable.

I told my six year old, Stella, when she asked me how long the parade lasts, "Only about a half an hour... it's really quick." Well, I was mistaken. Mostly because I had forgotten. Perhaps because the entries are getting more vast. Or most likely, that they just take their time strolling down the street.
This year's parade lasted over an hour. And when you think about it--that's what the people want. Their money's worth. Even though its a free event.

The people love it. They line the street with lawn furniture they set out hours in advance to get a good look and the kids get as close to the action as possible rushing up to caravan. Of course a lot of that has to do with the candy, popcicles and cold water being tossed into the crowd.

It's just a slice of good old fashioned Americana. Log live the parade!

The Rodeo crowns the week. Held at Wasatch's awesome three year old arena, both sides of the grandstand fill with rodeo and county fair fans alike. Armed with fried doughnuts, snow cones and corn on the cob, the locals--and some from as far as Salt Lake City love the PRCA show.

Not just some of the world's best in roping and barrel racing show up, one of the best rodeo clowns in the business supplies some of the night's best moments. Especially, when it's humorist, Troy "Wild Child" Lerwill, with the George Bush-esque voice, straddling a motorcycle and leaping over a duely and a travel trailer. Wild Child indeed.

Then, following the bruising bull-riding event, where 18 cowboys took their shot at eight seconds of rodeo fame, the lights went off and the fireworks went up. Blasting into the night sky at the prompting of American anthems streaming from the P.A.

A fitting close, not only in tradition, but in ooh n' aahs that the people who attended at least some part of this year's county fair with their loved ones will not soon forget.