Maybe the juiciest story to return out of school soccer’s Nationwide Signing Day centered not on a recruit however an ESPN analyst. Based on Dominic Raiola, father of prime three QB recruit Dylan Raiola, Kirk Herbstriet reached out to him to endorse Dylan flipping from Georgia to Nebraska.
Right here’s what the elder Raiola informed Rivals:
“When this was occurring, I’ll carry up one man’s title. His title’s Kirk Herbstreit. When he noticed the smoke about Dylan entertaining Nebraska, he known as me. He stated, ‘Dude, is that this true? [Dylan] obtained to do it. He obtained to do it.’ [Herbstreit’s] affinity for Nebraska, for a man like that to inform me and get behind me. Like, I knew, I knew [Dylan] wanted to do it. However I wasn’t going to sit down right here and say, ‘You must go change that place or be part of the change of that place.’ So when Kirk informed me that, man. I had different coaches attain out to me and say, ‘The place is particular. Coach (Matt) Rhule is a particular chief.’ It simply snowballed into one thing actually lovely on the finish of the day, and we’re actually pleased with the choice [Dylan] made,” Raiola stated.
For individuals who don’t know, Dominic was an All-American at Nebraska, and it’s clear he nonetheless loves the Massive Purple. Whereas it’s good to listen to that he needed to remain arms off along with his son’s determination, passing alongside favorable anecdotes about Rhule from Herbstreit and different coaches clearly helped sway Dylan’s option to grow to be a Cornhusker.
That is the place issues get dicey as a result of nothing stays a secret in faculty soccer anymore. There are too many shops, too many Twitter sleuths and an excessive amount of protection. For Herbstreit to allegedly name a recruit’s dad, unsolicited, and shill for Rhule, solely as a result of he likes him, is silly to the nth diploma. In case you’re essentially the most seen faculty soccer analyst within the nation, possibly ship a textual content, or have your alter ego, Kirk Henry, attain out with an atta boy.
You’d assume ESPN’s current Sports activities Emmy embarrassment would’ve prompted a bit extra discretion and self-preservation. I suppose while you get that Thursday Evening Soccer cash, one thing in your DNA adjustments and also you’re in a position to levitate above journalistic ethics and customary sense.
Whatever the validity of the report, Georgia followers are going to run with this and tout it as gospel. And why wouldn’t they? The Huskers misplaced extra video games final season than the Bulldogs have since 2019. UGA is objectively the higher program proper now, and doubtless might be after Dylan graduates or turns professional.
I don’t know if Dawgs followers will ever settle for Raiola’s determination, however given his household ties to Nebraska, they could’ve at the very least understood it. Nevertheless, they are going to by no means get previous their dislike for Herbstreit and now maintain a heavy disdain for an impressionable 18-year-old child simply attempting to do what’s in his finest pursuits.
This additionally comes after ESPN acquired the rights to SEC soccer, so along with pissing off UGA, Herbstreit probably upset his employer for steering expertise to the rival convention and community. I don’t know when School Gameday might be in Athens subsequent, but it surely’ll probably come earlier than they return to Lincoln, and I can assure you Herby might be violently booed each time it’s his flip to speak. I’d say simply wait and see what the indicators maintain in retailer, however my guess is most will violate FCC requirements/not make it on air.
This can be a horrible search for a man who performed within the Massive Ten, and made even worse as a result of Herbstreit will presumably name loads of video games between the hedges going ahead. School soccer followers maintain grudges for generations, love an excellent conspiracy idea and, writ giant, may be the nastiest sect of sports activities followers within the nation. (Soccer supporters take the cake internationally.) We’re speaking about individuals who actively observe and tweet at excessive schoolers, so, yeah, collude at your individual danger, Kirk.