forums

No longer the parent of a UM Recruit

Advertisement
Sending your boy off to school - forget football and all of the recruiting nonsense - its got to be a great feeling, brother. Congrats. Great day in the Quarterman family. You won't forget it. Alzheimer's-proof moment.
 
Congrats to your son and family. I have 2 boys I hope to send to Miami one day and I hope they handle it with the same class and integrity as Shaq did.
 
UknowWhat said:
It has been a surreal journey... Shaq's recruitment.. which has now come to an end. One of the first thing coach Richt told Shaq while he was recruiting on behalf of UGA the summer before Shaq's junior year...was the recruiting process will be exciting for you, but you will be happy the day it comes to an end. Well it has now come to an end... and I have to agree with coach Richt... I'm glad it is over. I will miss the excitement of the visits and meeting the other families on the trail... I won't miss opening the mail box and finding it full of recruiting propaganda. I feel I can write a book about this journey... the does and don't of the camp circuit, the visits, the calls and all the people you meet along the way. It saddens me a bit to close that chapter, but I look forward to the years to come. I can remember like it was yesterday coaching Shaq in Pop-Warner and it was yesterday when we drove off campus... starting a new chapter in his life. Since his commitment to the University of Miami.. the summer before his junior year of high school I have been a nervous Nelly following the chaos the ups and downs at the school... the whole time Shaq's dispositions was it will all work. His first offer to play D1 football came from Ron Dugan while he was working for Louisville and his first offer extended by a head coach came from coach Richt while at UGA... it looks like Shaq was right it will all works out. So this is my last post as a parent of a recruit... my next will be as life long fan and the parent of a Miami Hurricane.
Click to expand...

Congrats sir and let me say I'm glad your son is a Cane for sure.
 
Congrats to you and family. Thanks for sharing something most of us will never experience. My father is getting a bit long in the tooth and recently stopped playing golf; the one thing he loves and follows is U football and recruiting...we discuss in depth every day. We are very excited about the new staff and direction of the program. We are equally excited to watch your son develop/play etc.
 
Advertisement
So I'll eat my crow. Once everything started to go south with Al I posted on here I felt you and Shaq were hedging your bets, and he'd eventually decommit. Huge kudos to you both for being patient, and riding the firing out. You seem like a solid parent and fan. Congrats to you and your son!
 
UknowWhat said:
It has been a surreal journey... Shaq's recruitment.. which has now come to an end. One of the first thing coach Richt told Shaq while he was recruiting on behalf of UGA the summer before Shaq's junior year...was the recruiting process will be exciting for you, but you will be happy the day it comes to an end. Well it has now come to an end... and I have to agree with coach Richt... I'm glad it is over. I will miss the excitement of the visits and meeting the other families on the trail... I won't miss opening the mail box and finding it full of recruiting propaganda. I feel I can write a book about this journey... the does and don't of the camp circuit, the visits, the calls and all the people you meet along the way. It saddens me a bit to close that chapter, but I look forward to the years to come. I can remember like it was yesterday coaching Shaq in Pop-Warner and it was yesterday when we drove off campus... starting a new chapter in his life. Since his commitment to the University of Miami.. the summer before his junior year of high school I have been a nervous Nelly following the chaos the ups and downs at the school... the whole time Shaq's dispositions was it will all work. His first offer to play D1 football came from Ron Dugan while he was working for Louisville and his first offer extended by a head coach came from coach Richt while at UGA... it looks like Shaq was right it will all works out. So this is my last post as a parent of a recruit... my next will be as life long fan and the parent of a Miami Hurricane.
Click to expand...

It has been fun to follow and I would love to read that book. Congrats!

UM
 
You got me right here (hand on heart).
Congratulations and good luck to you and your family.

See you on Saturdays....and hopefully a Monday night in the near future.

GO CANES!
 
Awesome post Papa Shaq. Thank you for all your insight and updates a long the way. Look forward to seeing Shaq tear it up in this new but "old school" attacking 4-3 defense!! Go Canes!!!
 
CONGRATS and congrats on having a great young man w/ a great head on his shoulders……….sounds to me like he really gets it…….
 
UknowWhat said:
WR Cane said:
Just curious Mr. Q...in what section will you be sitting? (Not asking for the row or seat #) just curious what section to know if we are near each other? And most importantly, what lot will you be tailgating in? :sneakiness:
Click to expand...
I guess the family section..not sure which endzone..but it near one of them...and tailgating the two opportunities i have had i just showed up and parked as i was lead by the parking mafia...obviously i got to find me a regular spot..reminds me i got to step up my tailgating game also...noticing those around me tailgating is an art form.. I showed with bottle red solo cups and ice.. got a few weeks for my first rehersal for the spring game..
Click to expand...

Green Lot, Shaq Daddy! Opens an hour earlier and more importantly- it's the only one with no directional parking. You choose your own spot.
 
Advertisement
INCaneFan said:
If you don't mind, describe your feelings on pulling away from campus a bit more if you don't mind. I literally dread that day as a parent on one hand, but the other will be me being excited for him. It would be nice knowing he has all of the coaching staffs support as well as his teammates, rather than just some roommate he's never met. Stuff gets me all emotional thinking about that day to come, will I have prepared him enough, what could I have done better, etc.
Click to expand...
It was tough pulling off for a couple of reason..one obvious..but the other is my wife and i drove to San Antonio from Jax ..at one point everyone was going so we were going to rent a van to accommodate everybody..but the closer we got to our date our list dwindle..so it ended up being my wife and I and one of Shaq's sisters...any ways we left Wed evening and arrived in San Antonio early Thur morning we ran around a bunch in San Antonio going to practice award event earing down on the Riverwalk...busy...up early in the bed late. As we were heading back to our hotel after the game on Saturday...still in the parking lot at the Alamo bowl..we get a call from UM saying Coach Richt was having his first team meeting on Sunday at 5 and wanted to know if Shaq could make...Eventhough they said if at all possible...my wife and I felt obligated. ..we called Shaq and told him... when he got back to his room pack up you are not flying home you are now riding with us...he was excited and did just that..We left San Antonio about 6 pm arrived home in Jax around 11 am got the rest of Shaq stiff took quick Showers out the door about 11:58...We reached the Hect at 5:15 Baez quickly scooped Shaq up... took him to the meeting..then came and took us to the dorm to unload Shaq's stuff...Shaq told us when he walked into the meeting coach Richt introduced him and told everyone Shaq drove more than 20 hrs to make this meeting. .and his next point was dont't be late... So we stayed in Miami for two days following the recruits as they processed in..that was fun they have already bonded...I hate making this longer but this was good...They had to go to Jackson Memorial for blood work for their physical. ..we loaded up in a van and Jack hops in the front seat...Zach cries out you think because you are a QB you automatically get the front seat..Jack replies exactly...Mike then chimes in on Zach ..dude you need to change your hair style it looks too much like mine..they got back and forth. .then Pat looks at me and does the universal ur crazy sign..Mike ask him what does that mean ..Shaq blurts that you all are crazy...it went on there and back..but i was all with good fun...Back to the original question...when we finally headed out the gate we knew we were heading back to an empty nest ...i didn't say it but i know our home will never be his permanent home again...my wife was suffering enough...we were tired and still had the last leg of a long journey... it didn't really hit me until i passed his room...turned the light on and then quickly turned it off..it will be some getting use to...you would think after 7 kids you would at some point start rejoicing. .. you don't
 
UknowWhat said:
It has been a surreal journey... Shaq's recruitment.. which has now come to an end. One of the first thing coach Richt told Shaq while he was recruiting on behalf of UGA the summer before Shaq's junior year...was the recruiting process will be exciting for you, but you will be happy the day it comes to an end. Well it has now come to an end... and I have to agree with coach Richt... I'm glad it is over. I will miss the excitement of the visits and meeting the other families on the trail... I won't miss opening the mail box and finding it full of recruiting propaganda. I feel I can write a book about this journey... the does and don't of the camp circuit, the visits, the calls and all the people you meet along the way. It saddens me a bit to close that chapter, but I look forward to the years to come. I can remember like it was yesterday coaching Shaq in Pop-Warner and it was yesterday when we drove off campus... starting a new chapter in his life. Since his commitment to the University of Miami.. the summer before his junior year of high school I have been a nervous Nelly following the chaos the ups and downs at the school... the whole time Shaq's dispositions was it will all work. His first offer to play D1 football came from Ron Dugan while he was working for Louisville and his first offer extended by a head coach came from coach Richt while at UGA... it looks like Shaq was right it will all works out. So this is my last post as a parent of a recruit... my next will be as life long fan and the parent of a Miami Hurricane.
Click to expand...


This could be a record number of Up Votes 366 and counting!
 
UknowWhat said:
INCaneFan said:
If you don't mind, describe your feelings on pulling away from campus a bit more if you don't mind. I literally dread that day as a parent on one hand, but the other will be me being excited for him. It would be nice knowing he has all of the coaching staffs support as well as his teammates, rather than just some roommate he's never met. Stuff gets me all emotional thinking about that day to come, will I have prepared him enough, what could I have done better, etc.
Click to expand...
It was tough pulling off for a couple of reason..one obvious..but the other is my wife and i drove to San Antonio from Jax ..at one point everyone was going so we were going to rent a van to accommodate everybody..but the closer we got to our date our list dwindle..so it ended up being my wife and I and one of Shaq's sisters...any ways we left Wed evening and arrived in San Antonio early Thur morning we ran around a bunch in San Antonio going to practice award event earing down on the Riverwalk...busy...up early in the bed late. As we were heading back to our hotel after the game on Saturday...still in the parking lot at the Alamo bowl..we get a call from UM saying Coach Richt was having his first team meeting on Sunday at 5 and wanted to know if Shaq could make...Eventhough they said if at all possible...my wife and I felt obligated. ..we called Shaq and told him... when he got back to his room pack up you are not flying home you are now riding with us...he was excited and did just that..We left San Antonio about 6 pm arrived home in Jax around 11 am got the rest of Shaq stiff took quick Showers out the door about 11:58...We reached the Hect at 5:15 Baez quickly scooped Shaq up... took him to the meeting..then came and took us to the dorm to unload Shaq's stuff...Shaq told us when he walked into the meeting coach Richt introduced him and told everyone Shaq drove more than 20 hrs to make this meeting. .and his next point was dont't be late... So we stayed in Miami for two days following the recruits as they processed in..that was fun they have already bonded...I hate making this longer but this was good...They had to go to Jackson Memorial for blood work for their physical. ..we loaded up in a van and Jack hops in the front seat...Zach cries out you think because you are a QB you automatically get the front seat..Jack replies exactly...Mike then chimes in on Zach ..dude you need to change your hair style it looks too much like mine..they got back and forth. .then Pat looks at me and does the universal ur crazy sign..Mike ask him what does that mean ..Shaq blurts that you all are crazy...it went on there and back..but i was all with good fun...Back to the original question...when we finally headed out the gate we knew we were heading back to an empty nest ...i didn't say it but i know our home will never be his permanent home again...my wife was suffering enough...we were tired and still had the last leg of a long journey... it didn't really hit me until i passed his room...turned the light on and then quickly turned it off..it will be some getting use to...you would think after 7 kids you would at some point start rejoicing. .. you don't
Click to expand...

That is impressive to turn around and drive for the meeting. Shows elite work ethic for all of you.
 
Back
Top