Loading ...Neal a no-show ** 3:00 update **
- Comments (43)
- Share +
- -+ Font Size
WR Davonte Neal, 5-10, 172, 4.37 of Scottsdale, (Ariz.) Chaparral did not show up at his 10:30 signing cermony at Kyrene de la Esperanza Elementary School to announce his college decision. He was to sign with Arizona, Arkansas, Notre Dame or North Carolina.
** 3:00 update **
Neal has signed with Notre Dame. Richard Obert@azc_obert Davonte Neal has the papers to Notre Dame signed, ready to fax… and is ready to fax them,
- Join the forum discussion on this post
Comments
Well, that does it. I’ve come to the conclusion, that the young man is just a little bit too shy.
LOL!!! Thanks for keeping us all hanging Mr. Neal. The suspense is overwhelming.
Or just flat annoying.
I’m not sure we want him. His dad would probably try to tell CBP how to run his team. NO ONE is bigger than the team!
FLAT OUT ANNOYING got my vote
I’m a little curious if the blow up might have been from an Arkansas surprise that his Dad couldn’t handle.
All signs were pointing to AZ & ND with NC & ARK on the outside looking in. I would think the two would’ve been able to come to terms on one of them if it were down to two schools.
His Dad was supposed to be pulling for the education aspect, which would be ND or NC. Given that Davante’s inclination was supposedly wanting to stay home, you’d have to think his Dad would be able to understand that at least enough to not have the whole thing blow up at the last minute.
But then again, we’re clearly dealing with some highly emotional and indecisive people here, so typical logic might not apply to this situation.
Put the kid in an elementary school, during recess…..shoulda figgered.
Maybe Dad’s a little tired of the games too.”Son, maybe it’s time to be thinking about leaving the nest.”
I am not surprised at that–kids at this age might do anything
look at JJ Gustafon=said he loved ark fans,was impressed
with walton school of buss. ,loved coaches, and really liked
the weight rm–so what did he do-pledges to A&M I am glad
I am not a coach=hard to deal with,but Coach Pat. can and
does an excellent job!!!!! Sometimes these kids will tell richard anything==he does an excellent job!!!
I was watching the live feed and there were like 50 plus elementary school students all sitting on the floor of the area he was going to announce. They watched a highlight tape of him and then he was supposed to arrive. I don’t know if he ever called or not. But a reporter there said before the announcement time that he was told Neal was not coming and the reason was over a dispute over his college choice with his father. That his father wanted him to go to notes dame and he wanted to stay close to home. We were apparently the fathers second choice, but Neal wants to stay in Arizona. I normally don’t pay attention to reporters, but he knew before anyone else that Neal would not be coming, because of a source. But u never know, maybe Arkansas is the middle ground for him and his father. We will have to see.
I would like for the Arkansas coaches to stop dealing with athletes that have “mentors”. To me it seems like the dad wants the spotlight. He wasn’t in the young man’s life until later, probably after the young man began displaying elite athleticism.
Ron: what y’all have to remember is that people are going to tell Richard exactly what they think he wants to hear, when asked what they thought of or how try like Arkansas. They say similar things about all the schools that are recruiting them. They don’t want to burn bridges by saying I don’t want to play at Arkansas, I just want to stay in Texas.
This is stupid, and you can’t fix stupid.
If he doesn’t stay home, he won’t last a week on any other campus. He’ll be singing the homesick blues. Next…….
didn’t show for an assembly of 600 elementary school kids, not to mention the press that made the effort to be there from all over the country. regardless what Daddy tells him
m, no kid is all that.
Just like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my unwavering commitment and support for the University of Arkansas and all of their athletic teams. Thanks so much for coming and hearing me out. Sincerely, Shaft.
Forget him; Give me McKay!
More and more kids are becoming prima dona’s. I blame that on the media. When I was in HS, we had a pretty good running back. I overheard a newspaper reporter ask our coach about his “great” RB. Coach answered by saying “he wouldn’t make a yard without the other ten players, I don’t have a great player, I have a great team”. Nowadays, these kids that have great talent are put on a pedistal and treated like they are the almost a god. They start believing that of themselves. They either have never been taught the team concept or just don’t give a damn. We want great athletes to come to Ark, but we need “team oriented” players, not prima dona’s.
Peyton Hillis did something like this not to long ago except worse. Who here didnt like what kinda kid Hillis was when he was here?
Some people believe that we didn’t have the TV media when I was in HS.
I know that they tell Richard what he wants to here==that is
my point sometimes they do not really mean it. A person’s
word doesn’t mean what it use to I feel sorry for the little kids,
the people that were in charge and the newspeople that were there. That was sorry to do that to everyone. My
experience in watching this blog==which has been said=the
last to visit school is a plus and they commit to school on
spot==at least and I mean this we get kids that want to be
HOGS. All the worries we as fans do=we need to let coaches worry why big bucks! But i still worry some All I say
is GO FORWARD GHG WPS
‘
What I love is that Coach Petrino has a back up plan. Who knows maybe McKay comes to Arkansas and is a two time All-American. I would rather have someone who wants to do the work, is willing to compete and wait his turn if necessary (but is preparing all the time to play and wants to play), and is a good student and person than these big headed or immature kids. We made the mistake of letting players get bigger than the program when HDN was coach. All you HDN apologies calm down. It is just a fact. I am not hating on Coach Nutt. I appreciate what he did. But the whole Gus, Williams, Mustain thing was a mess no matter whos fault it was. And players and coaches got bigger than the program. Always a bad thing.
HOW ABOUT OUR BASEBALL HOGS!!! WPS!
If he wants to go to Arizona as some people are saying, he would never be happy at Notre Dame (his father’s choice). You might as well let him go where he wants. I agree they are giving too much attention to these high school kids that have not yet proven themselves at the next level.
Btw Rodriguez is doing some of the same things Nutt did with Mustain to land Neal. He recruited his friends from the same team, who he may or may not want. He gave his head coach a position on the Arizona staff. Something tells me this will be like the Nutt situation and come back to bite Rodriguez in the buttocks.
I would say the most likely scenario is that the school he intended to sign with pulled the offer. In any event, for me, I would rather have a signed McKay than a dangling possibility of Neal.
I told you guys he moved his date to March 32nd . Lol
we wouldn’t be bring McKay for a visit unless we were on the outside looking in. Drop him and go for someone that wants to be a HOG
I think we all agree that too much attention is being paid to these kids. National media, local media. National press, local press.Prima dona football players, with so much clout, they can command prime time audiences with 600 grade school kids. They hold a spell, over an entire nation awaiting their decision. No telling how many recruiting blogs just like this one, wait a minute…… If we’re not part of the solution, I guess then, we’re part of the problem.
No don’t say it, I wouldn’t miss the drama of it all either. They’ve taken all of the Soap Opera’s off of TV. So I guess as one of the greatest philosophers of all time,Clint Eastwood, once said,”Then you learn to live with it.”
As for those poor kids left sitting on the floor of that gymnasium, well, when I was a kid, Ida rather sat on that floor for four hours than take that damn spelling test anyway.
maxkilian: you’ve just given hope to 600 little kids in Arizona, who are circling the 32nd on their calender right now.Just like a snow day.
The board of education at that school needs to take a close look at the principal that took kids out of class for such a stupid reason anyway. What a waste of time.
I am beginning to think the best think for Neal is North Carolina. If he has a father trying to run his life, he could end up like Mustain. He just get as far away from Arizona if possible.
Today’s events kind of play into my theory about signing day cap swappers………….. will continue to monitor
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/2/21/2813939/davonte-neal-commits-notre-dame-arizona
Meanwhile, in China, 600 million grade school children were busy working on their quantum physics, and calculus equations.
Rumors are Neal’s father was shopping him around like Cam Netwon’s father and that’s the reason Ohio State wouldn’t sign him.
Methinks the coaches knew all this for some time. Just goes to show you that you have to temper your enthusiasm over these young men. Glad I did not get into the I want Neal fervor.
good luck to Mr. D. Neal except if play HOGS!!! Randy Moss
and Terrell Owens have a reputation to be “bad medicine to
the place they go.”
The coaches did know, he made up his mind weeks ago and informed everyone involved… then out of nowhere, McKay’s name pops up for the Hogs (whom I like more & has a far greater ceiling of potential). McKay is the way, Neal was a bad deal. Win, win… if McKay signs with us.
I was just looking over my Christmas Present list. All we got out of that was Austin Flynn. We had Pennel until the academics caught up with him. Jacobs, Santos, Diamond, DB-G, and others went in a different direction.
In one sense, it does make progress in recruiting. In the past we were not on any high rated recruits’ radar at this stage of recruiting.
And This class may be a top 20-25 class. In the past we would call that a great class. Our expectations are so much higher now. Most if not all of us think of this class as a good workmanlike class, but not great. We now expect to have a 5 star or two, or three, and maybe 10 four stars. We are close. We just have to keep working.
What a joke. I’m truly glad he chose neuter dame.
I agree bigfoot. We had a fine class this year and close on some bigtime 4-5 stars, but a lot of solid players and people who will grow and get better doing it THE ARKANSAS WAY! My high school basketball coach has a favor saying, “my way or Trailways.” We just need to keep competing and digging for talent. We are close to being a top 5 recruiting program. Nationally recognized recruiting usually trails success on the field.
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Flag this comment" link in the comment to alert our online managers.
By commenting you agree to our terms of use.