Juwaan's National Signing Day

Another National Signing Day has came and gone and as I reminisce about Juwaan’s National Signing Day, I can truly say that it was a life lesson for the whole family. We learned a lot as a whole that we will put into play when we do it all over again in five years!

The journey of a student-athlete is a long and hard one, one that is hard to understand unless you have been a student athlete or part of their supporting cast.

The recruitment process can be rigorous for the student athlete as well as the student-athlete’s family.  It has two major parts that play a role before colleges will even inquiring about you: Athletic ability and good grades.

When Juwaan first came home with the flyer from elementary school to play football I was a little less than enthusiastic, mainly due to the fact that I didn't understand the game other than the basics! The first year that Juwaan played football, I was a nervous wreck because he would get hit and it would seem like eternity to me as his mother for him to get up. Then, watching these people decorate their cars, hair, make t-shirts and noise makers at a kids’ game. I said to myself, “That isn’t going to be me!” My sister, Adrienne, my sister's friend, Yolanda, and I would all look at each other and say, “Are these people for real?” It’s a kids’ game!...Needless to say, the next year, that was us at EVERY game.

It’s just something about being your child’s #1 fan and cheerleader that you’ll do whatever it takes for them.  For me, the college games just seemed overwhelming. One time, I was given tickets to a University of Georgia football game and at that time the crowds of people were overwhelming. To me, it was three Black Fridays at Best Buy rolled into one event within a 10 mile radius. The traffic was ridiculous! To an extent, I feared the college games.  I also remember how Juwaan’s face would light up when Coach Miller and his family would invite Juwaan to go with them to Auburn’s football game.  Juwaan became exposed to college and football at early age, which was beneficial to us in the long run. He knew early on that his main focus was to do well in school and keep his room clean (although, sometimes keeping his room clean was a huge task). I could always count on Juwaan to make the honor roll!

As Juwaan entered into the football program at Tucker High School, I recalled meeting with Coach Franklin Stephens and discussing his football program. Juwaan had always been academically strong, making straight A’s and a couple of B’s here or there. The agreement between Coach Stephens, Juwaan and I was that Coach Stephens would help Juwaan develop, if he demonstrated the work ethic that he wanted to play on the next level. Juwaan’s responsibility was to work hard on and off the field. My job was to stay on top of Juwaan’s academics. We worked as team to ensure that Juwaan’s athletic ability would afford him the opportunity to go to school on a scholarship and play the game that he loved.

National signing day for me was closure and final confirmation for me that GOD had answered another one of my prayers. As a mother, you pray and make decisions for your children that you feel will most benefit them in their future endeavours. At times, I questioned all of the decisions that were made throughout this journey but National Signing Day came and Juwaan’s letter of intent to the University of Oregon was a blessing! It gave me the answer to the prayer that every parent has “How would we afford to send my child(ren) to school?” Because of his hard work ethic, God given talent, and most importantly, faith, Juwaan was afforded the most wonderful opportunity to continue bot his football career and his education.