Thoughts on David Sills.

I am going to try and get into the habit of just writing regularly, even if what i churn out isn't very good quality...

Has everyone read the David Sills piece on ESPN? http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4891901. It is both amazing and sad. In a nutshell Steve Clarkson, who has pipelined several famous USC qbs including Leinart and Barkley, found this 14 year old kid from Delaware. He was so impressed with the kid that he convinced Kiffen to extend a scholarship offer.

I am cynical enough not to expect anything more from USC, much less from Lane (violation) Kiffen, and I can't really blame a kid in middle school for the lack of foresight, but what the heck were his parents thinking? This kid's chance at a normal childhood is ruined. The way I see it whether or not this kid pans out he is going to be in deep trouble.

Scenario A: David Sills is a flop: I say there is at least a 65% chance that this kid doesn't become a top college prospect. I understand he has a professional quarterbacks coach which will help, but as far as I know the competition in Delaware isn't exactly stiff. More importantly, this is a prepubescent kid we are talking about. Sure he might have the technique down, but he might not develop physically. What happens when he turns 18 and is only 5'10 and can barely bench 220 and he gets his scholarship revoked? Do you really think that this kid is going to be taking high school seriously? Of course not, our Qb at a school with a crappy football team couldn't even handle the pressure. The kid ends up going to a JC, until he finds a dead end low quality job. And unlike most football would-be's he doesn't talk about how he almost won the state championship for the most of his life, rather he talks about his pop warner championship.

Scenario B: David Sills is the reincarnation of UCLA's Troy Aikman: There is about a 1% chance this happens. But with life long coaching from professionals, its possible that a squad of experts can help this kid develop physically and mentally into in all pro quarterback. Plus, assuming USC continues to recruit as well as they do (and why wouldn't you go to USC its in LA and the boosters pay you) this kid is going to have an all pro offensive line and running game to protect him, as well as tremendous athletes to chuck the ball to. At first glance it all appears to be great, the only problem is that child athletes always end up messed up. They spend their whole lives being propped up on a footstool and being told how great they are, that they begin to think that the rules of life don't apply to them. They fail to develop the necessary attributes that come along with rejection and disappointment. Perhaps I am just overreacting to the Tiger Woods scandal, but this explanation makes intuitive sense to me.

Bottom line, I'm ok with this kids father giving the kid a professional coach, or heck even a slew of professional coaches, but don't sign with USC. Let the kid experience high school, enjoy winning at that level, and not spend his whole life waiting for college.