Strangest Recruiting Story EVER.

[cboom4250]

didn't see it posted and i just heard them talking about it on 107.5

Less than 10 hours after Fernley offensive lineman Kevin Hart announced Friday in front of the entire student body he would be signing a letter of intent to play football at California, questions were raised about the validity of the commitment.
At issue is whether Cal or any other program has actually offered the 6-foot-5, 290-pound left guard a scholarship.

Reached Sunday, neither Hart’s father, Richard, nor Fernley coach Mark Hodges would confirm the status of any offers — Nevada, Illinois and Oklahoma State were said to be other finalists. Both men also declined to comment in depth on the entire situation because, as Hodges said, it is under “law enforcement investigation.”

Contact has already made with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department and the NCAA, Hodges said. The LCSD could be reached for comment Sunday.

“This is involving law enforcement and may involve other departments, other than the NCAA, that are bigger than local,” Hodges, who has been in coaching for 20 years, said. “I would love to tell you everything I know, but I can’t at this time and I’m not even sure what I know.

“Up until the other night I was a happy man.”

Doubt started to set in about 9 p.m. Friday, 81/2 hours after Hart announced during a school assembly he would sign with Cal over Oregon on National Signing Day, which is Wednesday.

“The Cal staff has had no contact whatsoever with Coach Hodges or Hart, and that they have not visited him; nor has Hart been on a recruiting trip to any school,” recruiting Web site rivals.com reported.

College coaches are prohibited from commenting on a recruitable athlete, including to verify if an offer is on the table. Phone messages left for Cal co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Michalczik on Saturday were not returned, nor was an e-mail to Michalczik, Cal head coach Jeff Tedford and two recruiting assistants.

The Rivals report differs significantly from statements Hart made Friday, including that he made an official visit to Oklahoma State the previous week.

“Coach Tedford and I talked a lot, and the fact that the head coach did most of the recruiting of me kind of gave me that real personal experience,” Hart said in meeting with the media that attended the announcement ceremony.

Hodges, Fernley athletic director Jay Salter and other district administrators were in meetings most of Saturday “peeling back the layers of the onion,” Hodges said.

“We have a young student-athlete and a program to protect,” Assistant Superintendent Teri White told Rivals. “Our investigation has just begun. There’s certainly no evidence that any school knew anything about this.”

If there is an offer out there, Hart would be the first Fernley athlete to receive a full scholarship to a Division I school directly out of high school.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20080203&Kategori=SPORTS&Lopenr=80203018&Ref=AR



My question is, how do they not realize that it's not Tedford they are talking to?!?! Apparently the whole situation is under investigation by the NCAA and police (not sure if FBI).

They said there were basically two theories: the kid was in on it OR the guy who played "Tedford" was trying to screw the kid over.

[jaytda4th]

yeah i read about this yesterday.. i figured it was just a kid trying to pull a fast one

[Ga_Gamecock]

so is there a ficticious coach impersonating tedford or is the family just lying and making all of this up? I initially thought the latter upon reading, but who knows ...

the recruit could say all of this to create a buzz and garner more offers

[jaytda4th]

hmm.. 6-5 290... why don't we offer him? lol

[cboom4250]

so is there a ficticious coach impersonating tedford or is the family just lying and making all of this up? I initially thought the latter upon reading, but who knows ...

the recruit could say all of this to create a buzz and garner more offers
from what i've heard, there was a guy impersonating tedford and he was able to 'trick' the kid, his family, and his high school coach into believeing he was tedford.

also, he receive ZERO offers before this 'offer." i just don't think he's that good.

[gamecocknva]

I read this too. Apparently someone was impersonating Tedford and called him for a while and "offered" him over the phone. I also read that someone was impersonating the Oregon coach and calling him too. If this is a prank I feel bad for the kid to get his hopes up like that. I can't imagine that he wouldn't have a real offer out there somewhere as big as he is.

[jaytda4th]

in the article it said he had no upper-body strength (the one i read) and was very slow

[FinchMcCrunkNasty]

Maybe the ultimate senior prank?!

[The Dude]

This is strange, but in my opinion the strangest one this season is the Nebraska linebackers coach who visited a recruit and pulled up his sleeve to reveal the kid's name tatooed on his arm.

Me, personally- I'd consider that creepy.
The recruit was apparently impressed by it- he committed.

[gamecockphan]

So has Illinois or Oklahoma St offered him or not?

[cboom4250]

So has Illinois or Oklahoma St offered him or not?

no, he has not been offered a scholarship anywhere. a few teams have recruited him, but no offers were made.

[usc90grad]

Investigation looks into prep opting for school that didn't recruit

February 5, 2008

Students, television and newsprint reporters packed the gym at Fernley
(Nev.) High School to hear offensive lineman Kevin Hart give a verbal commitment to play football at the University of California. He chose Cal over Oregon.

"They really sold me," Hart said, according to USA Today. "Coach [Jeff] Tedford and I talked a lot, and the fact that the head coach did most of the recruiting of me kind of gave me the real personal experience."

The only problem … neither Cal nor Oregon recruited Hart.

Now, it's a "law enforcement investigation," said Fernley football coach Mark Hodges, according to the newspaper.

"This is involving law enforcement and may involve other departments, other than the NCAA, that are bigger than local," Hodges told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "I would love to tell you everything I know, but I can't at this time and I'm not even sure what I know."

It was unclear whether Hart was duped by persons impersonating recruiters or if he was staging a hoax himself.

In a blog for the Reno newspaper, reporter Chris Gabel wrote: "But, I am told, the ending is not going to be pretty. Not for the kid, coach, school or town."

In a press release from the Lyon County (Nev.) school district, superintendent Nat Lommori and associate superintendent Teri White said that the incident is under investigation.

"Although only in a preliminary stage, the district's investigation to date has been unable to verify that Kevin Hart was ever offered an athletic scholarship or letter of intent to play football by the University of California, University of Oregon, University of Nevada, Washington University or Oklahoma State University. … The district will continue it's investigation into these serious allegations and will provide additional details, to the extent it is permitted to do so by law, in the future."

[ShutTheSuccop]

I don't know what to say....that is just crazy

[usc1]

its already been posted here

[Gamecock Rob]

I heard this yesterday, i hope its not the kid playing a joke. Feel bad if he got duped.

[hardcock2]

If the kid is playing a joke....I think it's pretty funny myself. That's what the media gets for being up everybodies ass.

Now, if the kid got duped, which I doubt, then I feel for him.

[TaterHater1984]

It's a damn funny joke, if that's what it is. If he got duped, I feel very sorry for the kid.

[cboom4250]

It's a damn funny joke, if that's what it is. If he got duped, I feel very sorry for the kid.

if the kid was playing a joke, then he is in HUGE trouble. from what it sounds like though, he was duped. at least that's what i get out of it...apparently his coach and father were tricked too...at least that's what was said on the radio yesterday.

[COCKDIESEL]

How did he talk to jeff tedford if they never offered?

[PyroPepper]

Just damn.

[cboom4250]

How did he talk to jeff tedford if they never offered?

according to the kid, someone impersonated tedford.

this is what has me somewhat puzzled -- how does the kid's parents or coach not say, "hey, jeff tedford doesn't look like that..."

[ShutTheSuccop]

Ok, this sounds really fishy...did he ever visit anywhere on an official visit? This sounds like a joke and I think that there is no way that they got duped...it will be really interesting to see how this ends up

[Uhaul]

How would he have gotten the impression that the other schools wanted him?

[gamecockphan]

sounds like the kid is delusional

[cboom4250]

How would he have gotten the impression that the other schools wanted him?

in the article i posted yesterday, i think it said a few schools were talking to him, but no one offered.

[cock13]

thats funny. I wanted to do that when i was a senior in high school too. Just commit to play for some school that never offered me

[Crazy_Gamecock]

Just Kidding!!!!


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=3234302

Nevada high school football recruit made up story


RENO, Nev. -- A Fernley High School football player who said he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at Cal admitted Wednesday he made up the story.

Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman, offered a broad apology in a statement he issued Wednesday afternoon through the Lyon County School District. He said he had wanted to play football at a Division I school "more than anything."


Earlier Wednesday, Lyon County sheriff's detectives were trying to corroborate claims Hart paid a man who duped him into believing he was recruited by a Division I collegiate program.



"We do have a report of some sort of a recruiting deal with Kevin Hart," Lt. Rob Hall said. "There's a lot of facts that we're trying to run down to corroborate what he's telling us."


Hall said Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman, alleges he paid someone money, though the detective wouldn't say how much.


Hart spoke with deputies Saturday, a day after he announced at a school assembly and a press conference that he would sign with California.


At the announcement ceremony on Friday, Hart, with Fernley coach Mark Hodges at his side, said he talked Cal head coach Jeff Tedford many times, and that "personal experience" led to his decision to choose the Golden Bears over Oregon, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.


But the announcement was questioned almost immediately, and on Monday officials with California and University of Oregon said Hart was never recruited by their programs.


Hall said he received the report of Hart's interview with deputies on Wednesday.


"Nothing has been corroborated," he said, adding, "There are some things that appear to be inconsistent with how the [recruiting] process works."


Hall said Hart claimed the alleged recruiter was named Kevin Riley, and that he believed he was from Las Vegas.


Hart, however, was "unable to provide any phone numbers, addresses," or other contact information for the purported recruiter, Hall said.


Lyon County detectives intended to contact Las Vegas police, to see if their fraud unit was aware of any similar instances.


"It would seem kind of odd if there wasn't," Hall said, noting that to pull off such a scam, someone "would be pretty knowledgeable, pretty smooth," and "would probably have done it before."


Hall stressed that the investigation was in the early stages.


"We're not prepared to say it's true, it's untrue," he said. "We're still evaluating if any of these actions took place, and if so where was it committed and by whom."


On Tuesday, Lyon County School District administrators said an internal investigation showed that none of the universities once thought to have pursued Hart -- including Nevada, Washington and Oklahoma State -- were involved.

Superintendent Nat Lommori and Assistant Superintendent Teri White, in issuing the statement the day before recruits across the country sign letters of intent to play for college programs, said they wanted to relieve concerns prospective recruits to those schools might have because of the Hart matter.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Ga_Gamecock]

the 1st time i heard this story i knew the kid had to be up to something. ... what kind of an idiot would impersonate a coach just to mess with the kid's emotions? ... my initial reaction was the kid or the fam made it up to garner attention and hope that it snowballed into other offers - other actual offers...

anyway, i wonder whats going to happen to this guy now

what an idiot

[eklypised]

The story of the "recruitment" of a little-known Nevada offensive lineman took another bizarre twist Wednesday, with the player admitting everything was a hoax.
Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder from Fernley (Nev.) High, apologized in a statement issued Wednesday - National Signing Day - through the Lyon County School District.
"I wanted to play D-1 ball more than anything," the statement said. "When I realized that wasn't going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality. I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High school, the involved universities and reporters covering the story."

Last Friday, Hart committed to California in a ceremony at the Fernley High gym. Most of the student body turned out, as did two TV stations and reporters from a local newspaper.
During his announcement ceremony, Hart said he and Cal coach Jeff Tedford "had talked a lot, and the fact that the head coach did most of the recruiting of me kind of gave me the real personal experience."
But there was one problem: No one from the school ever talked with Hart.
BearTerritory.net (http://cal.rivals.com/), a site on the Rivals.com network that covers Cal athletics, began to investigate the situation further. They learned that Hart had not been offered a scholarship by the Bears. After doing some more digging, they received scouting reports that the prospect was likely a walk-on at best.

Once other media outlets learned that Hart wasn't considered a prospect by schools he said were recruiting him, Fernley High coach Mark Hodges said the matter was "being investigated by law enforcement."
Saturday, sheriff deputies interviewed Hart, who told them someone by the name of "Kevin Riley" acted as a middle man in the recruiting process. A sheriff's report said Hart told a deputy that "Riley" told him there were scholarship offers available. Hart also told deputies he thought "Riley" was from Las Vegas.

Tuesday, Lyon County sheriff's detectives said they were investigating Hart's claim that he paid "Riley" to help him get a scholarship. "We do have a report of some sort of a recruiting deal with Kevin Hart," sheriff department Lt. Rob Hall said then. "There's a lot of facts that we're trying to run down to corroborate what he's telling us."
Then Wednesday morning, Hall said Hart had been "unable to provide any phone numbers, addresses" or other contact information for "Riley." Hart came clean later in the day.
After Hart's statement was released, Teri White, assistant superintendent of the Lyon County School District, told the Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal that the district is continuing an internal investigation into the situation.

[Mecklenburg Cock]

I just saw this. Pretty amazing that know one caught on to this.

[heathbates]

haha...that is terrible

[CoolCockyChick]

I kinda feel sorry for the kid. Obviously, he didn't expect the media to pick up on it. I wonder what he was planning to tell his friends and family once it came time to start school though.

[The Dude]

I kinda feel sorry for the kid. Obviously, he didn't expect the media to pick up on it. I wonder what he was planning to tell his friends and family once it came time to start school though.

no way...what did he think was going to happen when he claimed a major D-1 program was offering him a scholarship?

did he think he could fool Cal into thinking they HAD offered him a scholarship?

this kid sounds like he might be a habitual liar.

[CoolCockyChick]

no way...what did he think was going to happen when he claimed a major D-1 program was offering him a scholarship?

did he think he could fool Cal into thinking they HAD offered him a scholarship?

this kid sounds like he might be a habitual liar.

I don't think he thought about what would happened. And I don't think he was trying to fool Cal into thinking they offered him. I think he made up a small lie about being recruited so that he wouldn't feel like he let his parents down or whatever and then it kinda snowballed from there. You know how you tell a small lie and then it can get bigger and bigger and bigger? I don't know. For all we know he could have superdemanding parents who expect a lot and he wasn't sure what to do so he started by telling one lie that turned into a lot.

Certainly think what the kid did was wrong especially with his coaches and student body being brought in, but I doubt he intended it to go that far. But I have no idea what was going through his head.

[2000grad]

I think it's hilarious. Way too much hype put into the whole recruiting thing with TV stations putting a camera in the face of an 18 yo just because of where he will be attending college. Shows you the type of society we live in...drive-by media!

[d20636]

I guess a coach that had never had anyone recruited might fall for this - I mean the kid told everyone he was being recruited and the coach was at the 'signing press conference' holding the mic. Obviously the coach was never contacted by anyone,,,

There's talk of prosecution - what the heck would you charge the kid with? Having too much hope and desire and not enough common sense? Maybe the school shelled out a few bucks for Kool-aid and cookies at the press conference....

[The Dude]

I don't think he thought about what would happened. And I don't think he was trying to fool Cal into thinking they offered him. I think he made up a small lie about being recruited so that he wouldn't feel like he let his parents down or whatever and then it kinda snowballed from there. You know how you tell a small lie and then it can get bigger and bigger and bigger? I don't know. For all we know he could have superdemanding parents who expect a lot and he wasn't sure what to do so he started by telling one lie that turned into a lot.

Certainly think what the kid did was wrong especially with his coaches and student body being brought in, but I doubt he intended it to go that far. But I have no idea what was going through his head.

i understand what you're saying, and im not trying to argue...but if he thought that claiming a major D-1 program had offered him a scholarship was a small lie, then hes just outright dumb, and thus deserved whatever happens.

I mean I cant say that anymore plainly...dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. The epitome of stupidity.

I've known people who create their own little fantasy worlds that start with a small lie and it snowballs...but the one thing I've noticed with all of those people- they're batshit crazy.
:lol:

[hardcock2]

I think it's hilarious. Way too much hype put into the whole recruiting thing with TV stations putting a camera in the face of an 18 yo just because of where he will be attending college. Shows you the type of society we live in...drive-by media!

ditto!:lol:

[CoolCockyChick]

i understand what you're saying, and im not trying to argue...but if he thought that claiming a major D-1 program had offered him a scholarship was a small lie, then hes just outright dumb, and thus deserved whatever happens.

I mean I cant say that anymore plainly...dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. The epitome of stupidity.

I've known people who create their own little fantasy worlds that start with a small lie and it snowballs...but the one thing I've noticed with all of those people- they're batshit crazy.
:lol:

I agree with you 100%. What he did was completely stupid and he should have known better. I still kinda feel bad for the kid though, guess that's just the "female" in me :lol:

[The Dude]

I agree with you 100%. What he did was completely stupid and he should have known better. I still kinda feel bad for the kid though, guess that's just the "female" in me :lol:

true....y'all tend to be more compassionate that most men...
I can be downright cold-hearted at times...but hey, at least I recognize it!

[gamecockphan]

No sympathy for this kid. How did he expect to get away with this. I bet his folks are completely embarassed. What a loser.

[theuscerock]

sounded fishy to start with...
glad the truth came out

[usc90grad]

Now is probably a good time to announce I too have accepted an offer from California!

[behindenemylines]

6'5 290 dude must have two left feet or run a 10 minute 40. Couldn't we use him?

[FeartheSpur]

he is a LOSER!!! what kind or idiot would try something like that...this kid has major issues

[FeartheSpur]

the worst thing is he probably could have gotten an offer from a D2 school or something as big as he is...now a pee wee football team wouldnt take him

[Love Boat Captain]

What a dumba$$. I'm sure his father is proud of him now. The fact that he held a press conference is the most amazing thing to me. Lie all you want. Make up your little California story so Daddy will still love you. The kid obviously has issues. However, what kind of a nimrod holds a press conference to generate national attention on his hurling towards complete implosion lie?

[cbarnes]

HAHA! What a joke! I bet he thought he could pull a fast one. The only thing he is pulling now is his new CAL hat over his face to hide the egg. What an idiot.

[LurchCock]

I plan to sign my LOI with Clemson at a news conference this afternoon... that should bring their recruiting class rank down to somewhere between Tulsa and Buffalo.

[LollerCock]

I think it's hilarious. Of course, his life is basically ruined now, but, hey, what a way to go!

[TaterHater1984]

:rotfl: :lol:

[carolinathru&thru]

I sort of feel bad for him. It was a dumb thing to do. But, he started off telling a lie, hoping it would be come a reality. As usually occurs with a lie, it kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger until it just snowballed out of control. Towards the end there, I'm sure that he was regretting what he did. But when you get to a certain point (signing day) it's kind of hard to take back what you said. Imagine how hard it would've been for him to say to his parents or coach, "I'm not getting a scholarship. I may not be going to college."

Considering it was from a small town in a Nevada (they may have never had any BIG NAME recruits before) and that he is a BIG guy, I'm sure that it was EASY for people to believe that he was recruited by Cal. I'm sure a lot of people at his High School, his coaches, his teammates, his family, and maybe much of the town were very excited. I'm sure he didn't want to let them down.

I will concede that he was an idiot for doing something like that. But, he's still just a kid (him doing something like that demonstrated that very fact).

[Ga_Gamecock]

i dont feel for him and find it all hilarious ... seriously, hes branded himself "that guy" for quite some time LOL

what an idiot

[sc455]

i guess i should come out and tell you all now that i am a secret commit and will start at wr in the fall

[Ga_Gamecock]

i guess i should come out and tell you all now that i am a secret commit and will start at wr in the fall


Im holding a PC @ 2 on the local news.

Im going to accept an extremely high-paying position, one which i am severly underqualified for, with a company here in Atlanta who has no idea who I am ...

Sounds like a win-win to me

[KadCock]

I find this hard to understand! How in the world could his coach and parents not know that this was untrue? I mean, coaches have in-home visits, they visit the coaches of the player, they send letters to their home and to the school. Do the coaches and parents know absolutely nothing about the recruiting process? Wouldn't they notice that no phone calls, letters and visits took place? That's just plain weird. The dude must have been one heck of a liar to have gotten that far without being found out.

[d20636]

Im holding a PC @ 2 on the local news.

Im going to accept an extremely high-paying position, one which i am severly underqualified for, with a company here in Atlanta who has no idea who I am ...

Sounds like a win-win to me
I'll have my film crew there and put it on the Tonight Show tonight - I've accepted Leno's position - I guess I'll have to find a new band too...wonder if Guitarcock's interested?

[Ga_Gamecock]

I find this hard to understand! How in the world could his coach and parents not know that this was untrue? I mean, coaches have in-home visits, they visit the coaches of the player, they send letters to their home and to the school. Do the coaches and parents know absolutely nothing about the recruiting process? Wouldn't they notice that no phone calls, letters and visits took place? That's just plain weird. The dude must have been one heck of a liar to have gotten that far without being found out.


The kid faked it all and apparently paid a man to impersonate Tedford, who then came onto campus to meet 'the recruit' and his coach

[MDCox]

What a total loser.

[SNEEZ]

if the kid was playing a joke, then he is in HUGE trouble. from what it sounds like though, he was duped. at least that's what i get out of it...apparently his coach and father were tricked too...at least that's what was said on the radio yesterday.

how is he in trouble

[cboom4250]

how is he in trouble

that's just what was said on the radio a few days ago... i was kind of taking their word for it.

[Ga_Gamecock]

how is he in trouble

Im not a lawyer, but i think he initially lied to his coach, family, and eventually the cops ...

how i understand it - when the scholie was found out to be a fake, the cops were brought in thinking there was a guy acting like tedford and duping the kid, but in reality the kid paid him to act like tedford so he would actually appear to be recruited by Cal

im assuming he lied to the cops initially (they were looking for the impersonator) and then he came clean ...

any lawyers on here? im sure lying to the cops is a crime, but hes going to have to live the rest of his life as the "fake recruit" ... IMO the later is worst than the former

[eggroll]

Geez, talk about a few lies snowballing out of control. A sitcom or soap opera writer couldn't top this.

[SnellvilleSpur]

How long before someone in Hollywood writes a script on this? It would make one helluva comedy farce.

[The Dude]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=3246467


The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman sat before a packed gymnasium at a Feb. 1 school assembly to announce his choice between California and Oregon. Surrounded by Hodges and other school officials, Hart donned a Bears cap to indicate his choice as the crowd cheered.
Hart later claimed he had been the victim of an impostor posing as a recruiting promoter before he apologized Feb. 6 and admitted that he had made the story up. None of several colleges Hart boasted about had, in fact, contacted him.
On Thursday, a lawyer representing Hodges and Hart said that what really had transpired was that the student had played a "prank" on his classmates, coaches and neighbors in the largely rural community 30 miles east of Reno.

[scfan2001]

I remember seeing this posted a while back on here. I can't believe someone would have the nerve to do something like that. Especially with a news crew there. Obviously that kid isn't working with a full deck.

[FinchMcCrunkNasty]

wow...what a big dumb dodo head

[RudeCock]

I'm not sure if he can be charged with anything. Maybe 200 hours of community service would be called for, unless I'm missing something (I'm not sure how the hoax got this far), a little goodwill in the community for his stupidity.

[NastyNash]

Who didnt see that coming

[bhusc2002]

i just saw this on MSNBC.com. apparently the coach of this guy is suing the school district for making the coach the scapegoat of all this.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23174437/

EDIT: the suit is against the school district, not the school itself

[morgan n' 7]

I've never seen the actual announcement. Kinda awkward to watch. Seems like he convinced himself it was real.


xQE87qfLpqM

[Ga_Gamecock]

Hahahaha

You know there was a backup DE sitting in the assembly saying to a classmate "that idiot cant even block me - i dont know how he got a ride to call"

haha

he should have said its all ashton's fault and he was getting punked

idiot