No longer the parent of a UM Recruit

[Carolinacane83]

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.

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

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

IT'S A CANE THING AND THOSE ON THE BOARD UNDERSTAND IT!

 

[ghost2]

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.

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

What a great story. Thank you for sharing your journey.

 

[Ohio_Cane]

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.

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

What an awesome story. Thank U for sharing this journey with all of us!

 

[UMFarArcher]

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.

You done good.

Real good.