Army All-Americans feel for Landon Collins
SAN ANTONIO - When Landon Collins' mom stunningly upstaged his announcement on national television that he was headed to Alabama over in-state LSU Thursday night with her on-camera disapproval, both fan bases reacted with tirades and taunts.
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Top recruits at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl watched in stunning disbelief.
"That is embarrassing for him," Ty Darlington of Apopka (Fla.) High said.
Collins, a five-star defensive back from Geismar (La.) Dutchtown, was the subject of heated recruiting battle between Alabama and LSU - the two schools which will play in the BCS National Championship Game next week.
His announcement may have been the most anticipated of signing season. In Louisiana, top recruits are expected to head to LSU - a school whose following is more fervent in the state than even that for the Saints.
Collins' mom apparently feels that way. She angrily disagreed after the announcement, which happened late in the Under Armour All-American game in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I feel like LSU is a better place for him to be," she said. "LSU Tigers, number one. Go Tigers."
She even gave a "Geaux Tigers" on television.
Darlington said Collins is as fault as much as his mom is.
"How do you not work that out with your parents beforehand," he said. "I think that is on both of them at that point."
The decision is not final - it is only a verbal commitment. All commitments are non-binding until a Letter of Intent is signed on National Signing Day on Feb. 1.
You can bet Collins' mom will make her feelings known more between now and then.
Some players, however, feel she shouldn't have a say at all.
"My mom doesn't know where I am going," Tracy Howard said. "And it isn't her decision to make for me."
Howard is the No. 1 cornerback in the nation hailing from Miramar (Fla.) High.
According to his Rivals.com profile he is down to a final six schools: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, and West Virginia.
He says the decision is all the players to make and that Collins' mom should have been there for her son.
"It's ignorant (of her)," he said. "She should support him."
The support - or lack thereof - was what puzzled Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco defensive lineman Darius Hamilton.
"There is a way to conduct yourself in those situations," he said. "When you are on national television she shouldn't have done that to her son.
Click Here to view this Link."There is still a long way to go until National Signing Day and whatever issues she has should have been worked out behind the scenes."
Hamilton is the No. 5 overall player in the country and has been pretty quiet on the recruiting front. He has taken two official visits to California and Florida with Miami and Rutgers in-line to receive an official in January.
He says there is no chance that a situation like that would occur with his college choice.
"None," he said. "No way. My family will have all of that worked out privately."
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