Video: 2016 National Signing Day recapThe same week Super Bowl has its "Media Day," college and high school football annually boasts its "National Signing Day."
Of course, now "Media Day" has transformed into "Opening Night." National Signing Day is still NSD, but it's definitely evolved into a true happening, a national coast-to-coast rave.
Here are some of the changes we saw on NSD 2016 that we found refreshing.
Out
Picking from three caps.
In
Selection from the sky (perhaps the single greatest NSD announcement ever).
Out
More scattered caps.
In
Having your recruiting cake.
Out
Casual attire — every-man look probably impresses line coaches, but signess are now dressing more boldly.
The rugged look and Michigan polo worked nicely for big Ben Bredeson of Arrowhead (Hartland, Wisc.). He pulled it off nicely.
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In
Slick threads = slick results.
Example one
Example two
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) players Curtis Robinson (Stanford) and Frank Martin II (USC) looking as sharp as the pointy pens they are about to sign with.
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Example three
Cornerback Kristian Fulton of Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) looks sharp in tie, custom tailored sweater while flashing the "L" for LSU.
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Out
Long introductions, usually by school principle. Nice. Comprehensive. Zzzzzzzzzz.
Wonder how long it took the St. Ignatius (Cleveland) principal to introduce all these gents?
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In
Being introduced by Snoop Dogg.
Out
Traditional hand numbers.
C.J. Pollard (USC) and Brandon Burton (UCLA) were teammates at Serra (Gardena, Calif.) but will soon be rivals.
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In
Creative hand
signals.
Michael Irvin Jr. of St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and family give the universal hand signal for 'I'm gonna kick butt at the University of Miami.'
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Always out
Isolation.Always in
Brotherhood.Teamwork.Proud parents.
The parents of Flower Mound (Texas) tight end Kaden Smith, who signed to Stanford, don't need to say a word. Their faces say it all.
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