In five days, high school football players from across the country will make the biggest decision of their young lives. They will sign on the dotted line and fax back a commitment to colleges and universities across the country that will change their lives forever.

Having been through this ritual since back in the early 1970s, when things were a lot easier, I have watched so many different scenarios take place -- with high school seniors.

I go back to the days where there was a state letter of intent, which when signed would prohibit you from attending another college within Florida. That was something that wore thin for many of the same reasons things are today. Kids are kids and they do change their minds.

STRANGE MEMORY

When I'm asked about the strangest Signing Day memory, it had to be the year when Melvin Bratton and Tommy Streeter Sr. came out of Northwestern. The night before both were to attend the University of Miami, I remember calling each standout and asking if their decision to become Hurricanes together was still what would play out the next day.

Just as the time came to sign the letter of intent, Bratton's name was received in Coral Gables, and Streeter, who was also one of Miami-Dade's top athletes, never sent one back -- instead opting to go to the University of Colorado.

While things were not as publicized back then, and national coverage was limited to a few outlets, the news was still alarming to those who felt that when you made a decision, it was one that would stick.

Last year, when Miami was recruiting his son, I talked to the elder Streeter, who shared a smile with me about that decision.

Today, recruiting has gotten so huge, 17- and 18-year-old kids are now in the middle of a craze that has literally turned into a multi-million dollar industry. From daily updates on fan websites to an 8-hour signing day show on ESPNU, breaking down every player and every college in the nation, the microscope is on, and while many will simply refuse to play the game, others are enjoying the 15-minutes of fame.

GETTING SPOTLIGHT

What all this attention has done is put the spotlight on a football prospect in a way that we have never witnessed before, and to a recruiting purist like myself and others who have poured their heart and souls into this industry for decades, it leaves a sour taste.

I am not a prude, and enjoy the process as much as the next person, but when colleges are shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars for an education, the honor becomes somewhat tainted and leaves some coaches and their staffs shaking their collective heads in amazement.

Gone are the days when athletes are making the decision to attend a college because it was in their best interest. Now, we are finding game playing by several athletes, and the many college coaches I have talked over the past few years are not pleased at all.

While you hear horror stories about young men who are literally forced into decisions before they are ready, it makes you wonder what is going through the heads of both parties. I know colleges need to know where they stand with an athlete, but instead of pressing a decision that could end up in a transfer and waste time and money, it would be refreshing to know that a decision was made after exploring all options.

PROCESS NOT GETTING EASIER

A few weeks back I wrote about this process, which is not getting any easier. I spoke about an early signing day at the start of January for a few days that would keep that last minute pressure to a minimum. That was perhaps the column hat struck the biggest nerve. I received dozens of e-mails from across the country nodding in agreement.

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