Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/140903
"You actually have a game, the colleges come to see that game years ago when he decided to divide the players up by home state and the kids get excited," Lemming said. "All year round the and let them compete in a format that more closely mirrors actual juniors and the sophomores want to be seen by college coaches football. That first impromptu contest six years ago ended with a for that whole month of May. College coaches swarm the South last-second touchdown reception and parents and players stormbecause they're allowed to see these kids play. ing the field to celebrate. "If these guys up in Chicago were allowed to play you'd get The next year Flenory retooled his business to focus most of more enthusiasm with the kids during the winter knowing that his energy on seven-on-seven tournaments. This March, 55 teams everyone is coming to watch you." showed up for an annual national competition in Las Operations like Szczesny's are trying to give play- "It's a different way Vegas. He said he expects more than twice as many ers in their area a reason to stay excited about footof life. Football teams from all over the country to sign up next year. ball for 12 months a year. There are a handful of "Everybody is up dancing now, you don't have to relatively new groups that run similar programs in is everything down stand on the wall and feel awkward," he said. "It's in the South. the area, such as Maximum Exposure in Detroit and happening. Everybody realizes this can help the game Athletes With Purpose from Fort Wayne, Ind., which It's a year-round if it's governed right." produced Smith, Notre Dame's incoming five-star deal down there." The seven-on-seven craze is rapidly spreading from linebacker. One of their best tools in that fight during traditional football hotbeds like South Florida to other Notre Dame the past five years has been the rise of competitive regions of the country, but it still faces a heavy dose of offensive seven-on-seven tournaments. skepticism in many places. coordinator These tournaments — which feature a version of Some are concerned that the sport's swift rise will Chuck Martin football stripped of its pads, linemen, tackling and lead it down the path of AAU basketball, a system a running game — are now a fixture of the springtime showcorrupted by men looking to exploit young athletes for money. case process for elite-level recruits everywhere in the country. Others question how much can be gained from playing it. They Regional and national meetings pit all-star teams from different worry that it carries too much weight and takes away from the areas against one another. The high concentration of talent attracts high school teams and coaches. recruiting analysts and helps prospects gain notice. "It's backyard football. It's not real," said JC Shurburtt, Players compete for bragging rights rather than running through 247Sports' national recruiting director. "It's always going to be the 40-yard dashes and agility drills that comprise other offseason about high school football programs and what you do in pads." recruiting combines. The added energy that a game-like situation Shurburtt and Lemming agree that the seven-on-seven tournacreates was evident immediately for Baron Flenory, who orgaments help some players get more recognition on a national level, nizes tournaments with his company New Level Athletics. but neither buys into the fact that it makes individuals into better Flenory was running a recruiting combine in New Jersey six football players. Nor do they believe that it's the answer for which Inside linebacker Dan Fox (Rocky River, Ohio) was the only defensive starter in 2012 that played his high school football within 700 miles of Notre Dame's campus. Photo by bill panzica 34 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 32-35.Can the North Rise Again.indd 34 6/25/13 10:45 AM