Recruiting Confidential: A Father, a Son, and Big Time College Football [Hardcover]

David Claerbaut (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2003

What is it like to be a heavily recruited high school football star? James and step-dad Dave learn the ins and outs of the college courting process and share their inside story in Recruiting Confidential. With all the controversy surrounding NCAA compliance breakdowns, booster bribes and big time pressure in coaches and athletic staffs to bring the best of the best to their institution, how do this father/son duo navigate the murky waters of big promises and big expectations? Claerbaut reveals in honest reflection how the schools go about bringing star players to their team, what impressed them and what turned them off to various coaches and campuses. As the journey to a college decision nears, father and son discover a bond that has developed and hopefully will grow as James announces to the world where he will spend his college days—on and off the field.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Velissaris' recruiting tale has many twists and turns, and every athlete dealing with big-time recruiting can probably learn something from his story. (Steve Tucker Chicago Sun-Times )

...an interesting read. Velissaris emerges as an honest, if tactiturn, soul in a somewhat dishonest world. (Barry Temkin Chicago Tribune )

Recruiting Confidential is an intriguing look at the world of college recruiting, but most interesting is the personal story of James and his stepdad as they slowly negoiate the proces of deciding which college is best for James. (Steve Powers Dallas Morning News )

Recruiting Confidential is an intriguing look at the world of college recruiting, but most interesting is the personal story of James and his stepdad as they slowly negoiate the proces of deciding which college is best for James. (Steve Powers Dallas Morning News )

It offers the story we don't get to see very often unless we personally know someone who is being recruited by the 'big boys.' In short, Recruiting Confidential is just that—an inside look at something we read about, hear about and wonder about. (Don Whitten Oxford Eagle> )

It offers the story we don't get to see very often unless we personally know someone who is being recruited by the 'big boys.' In short, Recruiting Confidential is just that—an inside look at something we read about, hear about and wonder about. (Don Whitten Oxford Eagle> )

Insider politics, personal grudges and dishonesty can all be factors that make college recruits feel confused. David Claerbaut's new book informs and empowers families of would-be recruits in his story of how his stepson James is pursued through his junior and senior years of high school. It takes you behind the scenes of the Midwest college football recruiting machine and shows how the top programs really select their talent. (Nick Parish New York Post )

High school athletes and their parents, high school and college coaches and anyone else interested in the world of recruiting should make Recruiting Confidential a must read... (Burt Angeli Iron Mountain Daily News )

High school athletes and their parents, high school and college coaches and anyone else interested in the world of recruiting should make Recruiting Confidential a must read... (Burt Angeli Iron Mountain Daily News )

Claerbaut weaves a suspenseful yarn about Velissaris weighing his various scholorship options. In the process, Claerbaut has opportunities to expose the absurd nature of big-time recruiting, which features grown men who happened to be college football coaches calling Velissaris at home and solicitously inquiring, "Hello is James there?" (Sean Callahan Washington Post Book World )

Claerbaut takes readers inside the process and its absurdities through the experiences of his stepson, James. Claerbaut names names and points fingers, all the while attempting to point out what's wrong with the recruiting world today. The story will be of interest to any athlete, parent, or fan who wants to know more about getting from here to "there". (Erie Times-News )

Recruiting Confidential is the book to help prepare you and your sports phenom for the wicked ride of college recruiting. (Spencer, Brad Chicago Parent )

Recruiting Confidential is the book to help prepare you and your sports phenom for the wicked ride of college recruiting. (Spencer, Brad Chicago Parent )

About the Author

David Claerbaut is the author of 10 books, including two Taylor titles:The NBA Abstract andDurocher's Cubs. He resides in Chicago, IL.

David Claerbaut is the author of 10 books, including two Taylor titles:The NBA Abstract andDurocher's Cubs. He resides in Chicago, IL.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st Taylor Trade Pub. Ed edition (September 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589790251
• ISBN-13: 978-1589790254
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #802,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as advertised, very average!!!, April 6, 2004

By 

Oscar Moreno "kewlfx" (Grand Prairie, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recruiting Confidential: A Father, a Son, and Big Time College Football (Hardcover)

The description on the cover reads like this is a big-time football star and is wanted by several very major college football teams. Truth is that he was a very good player in Illinios, but not a Blue Chipper that is sought by all of the major college football teams.

If you consider "Big-Time" college football as Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Northwestern then you won't be disappointed. There are mentions of a few big college football schools, but nothing serious. There are some very good academic schools that are interested instead cause the kid is smart.

You can tell this father cares about his step-son and his step son is a bright person willing to put in the time it takes to be a good athlete. There's also a few mentions of the Olive Garden throughout the book if you're hungry.

If you're looking for a recruiting story that involves under the table cash, cars, girls and all of the other stuff you hear about, this is NOT the book for you!!! If you just want to read about the average college recruiting experience, this is your book. I was disappointed!!! The ending also was not very good, but it's how it happened.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick read!, January 11, 2004

By 

B. Carter (Reno, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recruiting Confidential: A Father, a Son, and Big Time College Football (Hardcover)

I, too, enjoyed this book. I was less putoff by the author than other reviewers although I can certainly understand some of their points. Still, he's a father looking out for his son and, well, I guess I could understand the lengths he went to help and protect his son during the recruiting process. By the end I was really pulling for the kid to do well and I was anxious to read his decision. You really can't ask for more from a Sunday afternoon read. I had wished for a different ending but, hey, it's not my life!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book., November 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Recruiting Confidential: A Father, a Son, and Big Time College Football (Hardcover)

Good story about how a kid gets recruited to play college football. The recapping of his high school games gets tedious though. Either buy it or go to the library because it is worth reading.