Signing day Diary: Chamberlain

Times staff writer Joe Smith will trek all around Hillsborough County for national signing day, catching the sights - and sounds - at cermonies at several schools on high school football's biggest day.

First stop: Chamberlain

"I thought the press was coming but I don't know."

Chamberlain assistant coach Brian Turner made a quip just as I walked in to a near-empty room.

There were four hats on the principal's conference table. One for Elon, Eastern Kentucky, another Tusculum College (Greenville, TN) and another Illinois.

But there were no kids. So much for the surprise.

Chiefs senior defensive back Justin Bell was one of the last remaining signing day "surprises" - not anymore. Bell said he was sold on Eastern Kentucky by its "players and coaches." Not until after he learned a hard lesson of recruiting - its a business.

Bell loved Eastern Kentucky, but got his hopes up two weeks ago when Colorado State offered him a visit. The CSU coaches told him, if he came, they would offer him. Bell didn't want to go unless they would offer, since he had a few other schools wanting him to visit.

"They flat out lied to his face," Turner said.

Bell went on his visit, loved the Rocky Mountains and facilities, told the coaches he'd commit on the spot. New coach Steve Fairchild told him before he left, "we'll tell you either way on Wednesday." A call never came.

"It's ok," Bell said. "My mother told me, God never closes a door without opening another one."

Bell realized EKU had wanted him since his junior year. It was like a second home. After all, his mother, Karla, is from Lexington. His father, Cheser, is from Winchester. His grandmother, Judy Parker, is close by.

"He'll always have a place to eat on Sunday," Karla said with a smile.

The one blip? Bell called the EKU defensive back coach who recruited him - who was part of a reason he's going there. One problem? The defensive back coach let Bell know that he was let go; he won't be coaching him.

"It's disappointing," Bell said. "But I'm looking forward to working with the new coach."

As for CSU?

"Let's play them the first game."

Chiefs defensive back Deven Persaud wore a big grin as well. He signed with Elon after a flirtation with New Hampshire. Persaud said UNH coaches were ready to bring him up for a visit; he had booked his flight, got ready to go. Two days before, the UNH coaches called to say they've got a couple other guys in mind.

"I was kind of bummed," Persaud said.

But everything worked out - except for Persaud barely being able to put his fitted red Elon hat over his large hair.

Chamberlain senior lineman Zachory Ford didn't want the recruiting business to bite him. So despite Turner advising him to wait until after signing day - when another college coach see him drop in their lap - Ford signed with Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn - without ever seeing the campus.

One happy person was his mother Teresa, who gleamed as her 6-foot-5, 320-pound son signed.

"I just got a raise," she joked. "Someone else has to feed him."

Stay tuned for updates from Armwood....Hillsborough and on.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com