In this file photo, Mark A. Emmert speaks during a news conference after being announced as the president elect of the NCAA in Indianapolis in April 2010.For the purposes of privacy I’ll call him Jim Chappel, though that isn’t his real name. But 40 years ago at Vestavia Hills (Ala.) Junior High he was generally regarded as one of the top five or 10 football prospects in the state.
Standing a little over 5-9 and weighing more than 170 pounds, Chappel played quarterback, though he was basically a glorified running back. He led the county in rushing and was said to already be receiving letters from Bear Bryant.
Then an unfortunate thing happened to Vestavia’s Can’t Miss Kid. He quit growing taller, quit picking up speed and quickness, started gaining some weight.
By the time he was a senior he’d been moved to offensive guard, still a very good player, but in no way gifted enough to become one of Bear’s Boys.
All of which brings us to 14-year-old Tate Martell, a rising eighth grade quarterback who accepted a scholarship offer to Washington on Wednesday.