The circus atmosphere that unfortunately has become a part of national signing day was refreshingly absent. Granted I didn't attend a ceremony involving an area player signing with an SEC school this year, but for the families and friends, faculty and coaches of the players I spoke with, the day couldn't have brought more pride.
The smaller scale events also were a reminder of the actual importance of the day. Whether the scholarship papers are with teams who appear on national television every Saturday or with mapdot NAIA schools, it is an opportunity to not only continue playing football, but more importantly to further their education.
And nowhere was there a bigger reminder of the significance of the day than at one of the area's smallest programs. Four players at Lookout Valley High School signed with Campbellsvile University, and two of those - lineman Anthony Douglas and defensive back Tay Vaughn Wynn - are the first in their families to attend college.
"Football gave me the opportunity to do something nobody in my family ever has," Douglas said. "I love playing the game, but I want to be able to come back and say I made my mama proud.
"It's cool to see those other guys picking between the big schools, but I'm just happy I don't have to worry about college anymore. I know where I'm going and I've got three guys that I already know going with me, so I'm excited about the next step."
The moment was so big for the school - it was the first time the program has had four players earn scholarships in the same year - that Yellow Jackets coach Tony Webb brought the entire team into the library to watch the proceedings and hopefully gain an understanding of the consequence of not neglecting their grades, even as underclassmen.
After all, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, approximately one in 17 high school players will sign college scholarships and only 1.8 percent of those will be drafted by an NFL team. That reality is why Michael Williams, father of Brainerd receiver/safety Jermaine Williams, helped in the decision making process of choosing Tennessee Tech.
"As parents, we're excited and very proud of him because he did the work to get this far," Michael Williams said. "I know kids don't usually look at the same things parents do when visiting a college campus so we tried to remind him he is going to be a student first and then an athlete. Choosing a college isn't about how big the stadium is. We want him to have a good time at college and playing football, but I'm proud of him for realizing education comes first."
During last year's signing day, I stood in North Jackson's gym, which overflowed with not only classmates and faculty of the school's star linebacker Tana Patrick, but also students who were bused in from local elementary schools, and dozens of people from the small Alabama community as well as nearly 30 members of the media and internet recruiting services. We all watched anxiously as Patrick pulled a University of Alabama cap over his head, then signed with the Crimson Tide.
Half an hour later, after the crowd and other media had left the gym, Chiefs coach Shawn Peek put his arm around Patrick and advised him that day was just the beginning.
"All these people are gone now," Peek reminded Patrick. "They'll move on to the next hot-shot prospect for next year so it's up to you to make the most of what you've got now, son."
When I spoke with Peek earlier this week about his program's future prospects, invariably the subject of Patrick and Ali Sharrief, another former Chiefs star who played for Alabama last year, came up. The first thing the old coach mentioned wasn't the fact that his two former players had earned national championship rings with the Tide last season.
"Ali has already graduated and Tana is doing great in school so I couldn't be prouder of them," Peek said. "Not every kid has the size or talent to play at that level, but if you get the chance to keep playing and have college paid for, that's something special."