There are fanatical football fans and then there are recruitniks. Fanatics may paint their faces, have all the latest gear and attend every game, but a recruitnic is a student of the game’s esoteric lifeblood. To paraphrase the 20th-century poet and philosopher, Jerome Garcia: Recruiting is like licorice, not everyone likes recruiting, but those who do like it a LOT. National Signing Day used to rule the recruiting world.
 
 

 
 
Yes, the hard-core will continue the tradition of gathering at The Blind Pig (and, perhaps, another spot or two in Athens) today but there will be no organized activities at Butts-Mehre. Perhaps a few of the old-guard will gather on the third-floor to reminisce, but there will be no TV lights, comments from coaches or commentary from media personalities. I’m going to miss it.
 
 
The hype and circumstance that was the essence of the First Wednesday have moved to the early signing period in December. It is time to move on. February signing day will still have its moments but the recruiting torch has been passed. Time to start planning for December 2018 and the 2019 signing class.
 
 
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