Mr. Picker, I wonder what it takes to get a good student athlete to come to your high school? I bet its a good chemistry program or perhaps, a charming English Literature instructor.

It is pretty ridiculous. Having graduated from Union in the last ten years I can tell you football never stops. They honestly scout the talent starting in the 7th grade. I hated football while in high school because of it.

Advice to parents. Do not let your highschooler take a class taught by an assitant football coach, unless they have a good sense of humor and just need the class for credit.

Picker, I agree BUT I think that you are pigeon holing the topic to make High School football look bad. The truth is that any over-dedication to anything at all is bad. What about kids that are training to be professional dancers, or gymnists, or musicians since they were toddlers? Do they not feel the same pressure from parents, schools, and coaches that football players do? Don't they miss out on the fun of being a high school kid all the same? Maybe it's the fact that we live in a part of the country where football gets all the limelight, but I guarantee for every blog written criticizing the treatment of youth football players there should be 20 more written about the various other student recreations that share the same practices and resulting consequences.

Slip of the tongue or not, Union and Jenks do recruit a few kids now and then. Not like it's some secret; see Kejuan Jones and just go up the line from there. Dominique Franks, Tony Moore. The list is long.