When Tim Pernetti signed his letter of intent as a tight end for Rutgers in 1990, he recalls no media frenzy, just a photographer from a local newspaper.
It’s still that way for about 90 percent of the football players on signing day, plus a few TV cameras and some extra Internet buzz. Then there’s the handful who wait for signing day to make announcements.
Now that Pernetti, CSTV vice president for content, is responsible in part for the massive live coverage on the relatively young cable network and its website partner, there’s a whole new perspective.
“There’s not a better fit than for us to do this,” Pernetti said of coverage that starts at 8 a.m. Wednesday. CSTV launched its first signing day show in 2005. ESPN countered a year later with ESPNU.
Just as Colorado and Texas are battling to the wire for running back Darrell Scott, and four schools are in the fray for No. 1 overall recruit Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa., the two TV entities are similarly knocking heads.
Both are claiming the live Pryor announcement, although late in the week there was speculation Pryor would wait at least a day. This can be compared to the national championship game moving off its once traditional Jan. 1 date.
ESPN locked up Scott with its ESPN Zone location in Anaheim, Calif.
For the unfortunate souls who have to work that day but can still sneak a look on their computers, both websites will have live streaming news, and The Denver Post online site will break news of the Scott decision as soon as he makes his choice.
Final tidbits on the coveted duo: Penn State’s Joe Paterno made a rare high school visit to Pryor’s school this week, according to . . . . The Texas assistant working on Scott is former Boulder High/Northern Colorado quarterback Bobby Kennedy.
Late additions?
CSU pumped up its numbers this week, getting San Diego area defensive lineman Jason Klingerman back in the fold, and Dallas linebacker Chris Gipson and Santa Barbara Community College deep-snap specialist Scott Albritton.
According to ., CU was getting a late look from Jake Murphy, a four-star athlete committed to BYU and son of baseball player Dale Murphy.
Lunch plans.
When the NCAA gag orders come off and the news conference formalities are out of the way, coaches get to tell their boosters what really happened on the recruiting trail.
CU coach Dan Hawkins will address his fans Thursday at the Adam’s Mark in Denver at noon. Reservations close at noon Monday and more than 1,000 are expected.
New CSU coach Steve Fairchild will discuss his recruits and introduce his full staff at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Hilton Fort Collins.
Colorado State commitments
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. School
OL/DS Scott Albritton 6-4 225 Santa Barbara CC
DB Davis Burl 6-1 193 Grandview HS
DB Andy Clements 6-1 195 Chatfield HS
K Ben DeLine 5-11 150 Steamboat Springs HS
RB Jonathan Gaye 6-0 178 Mullen HS
LB Chris Gipson 5-11 238 Dallas (Texas) Kimball HS
DL Jason Klingerman 6-2 260 Valley Center (Calif.) HS
DT Jake Landers 6-4 270 Durango HS
WR Byron Steele 6-3 191 Arlington (Texas) Lamar HS
DE Ben Tedford 6-6 220 Columbine HS
DE Zach Tiedgen 6-5 225 ThunderRidge HS
CB Gerard Thomas 5-9 155 Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola HS
RB/SL Ja’Rodd Watson 6-2 250 La Jolla (Calif.) HS
DB Adam Wilson 5-10 199 Santa Maria (Calif.) Righetti HS
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Air Force players of interest
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Hometown
RB Irvin George 5-8 192 Orlando Fla.
RB Raylen Davis 6-2 205 Royal Oak Mich.
LB Austin Demmel 6-0 187 Highlands Ranch
DB Josh Hall 6-0 168 Duluth Ga.
TE Harry Kehs 6-3 239 Vienna Va.
LB Lindsey Leavoy 6-3 235 Baton Rouge La.
OL Austin Menner 6-4 269 Garland Texas
DT Cody Miller 6-1 270 Guyton Ga.
DB Ryan Misare 5-10 200 Castle Rock
DB Jake Sharum 5-11 195 Arlington Texas
LB Garrett Shinkle 6-0 193 Carrollton Texas
DT Kebin Umodu 6-2 244 West Covina Calif.
OL A.J. Wallerstein 6-4 274 Canyon County Calif.
QB Mike Whittier 6-2 197 Webster Groves Mo.
Note: Air Force is not bound by the NCAA letter-of-intent program. Players are admitted via the congressional appointment process.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
