Aww shit, I was getting my high schools mixed up. Dokie (not Doakie) played for El Camino which is the other HS in Oceanside. Anyway, here's an interesting article I dug up with some familiar names (I graduated from OG in 78 when Salisbury was a freshman).
Recruiting memories are vivid.
More than 30 North County high school football players today will sit down at a table or desk, sign a piece of paper and look to the future.
Today is national letter of intent signing day, the first day when football players officially can sign a NCAA document that binds them to a certain school.</SPAN>
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The long recruiting process, which can be humbling and numbing, is finally over. It is a right of passage for these athletes, almost as important as getting that diploma in June.
As I reflect on this day, some of the more memorable recruiting stories I have heard or covered over the years come to mind.
In 1981, Orange Glen High's Sean Salisbury was the hottest quarterback in Southern California. Every school wanted him, including Notre Dame.
Gerry Faust, a terrific recruiter, coached Notre Dame.
Faust showed up at an Orange Glen basketball practice to visit Salisbury, who was also a star on the Patriots' hoops squad.
The two were standing a center court when Faust offered Salisbury this challenge: "Here's the deal, Sean. I'll give you first shot from here and if you make it, you can go wherever you want," Faust said. "But if you miss and I make it, you are going to Notre Dame."
Salisbury, now a commentator for ESPN, agreed. His shot missed the mark.
Faust bounced the ball a couple of times, then let go with a two-handed set shot that hit nothing but the bottom of the basket.
There was stunned silence in the gym before Faust said, "See you on campus."
North County Times staff writer Terry Monahan, who was working for the Escondido Times-Advocate at the time, witnessed the shot and recalled, "It was the first time I have ever seen Sean at a loss for words."
Of course, Faust did not hold him to the deal. Salisbury went to USC.
El Camino's Dokie Williams was one of the most sought-after talents in 1977.
As a track and football star, many schools wanted him to participate in both sports. Trouble is, Williams could not make up his mind.
He arrived at school the morning of signing day not knowing if he was going to go to USC or UCLA. It was an emotionally draining time for Williams, who did not want to let anyone down but wanted to make the right choice.
He seemed totally confused, until El Camino teacher Lillian Adams came to his rescue. Adams put Williams in a room with the letters from both schools and said, "Don't come out until you sign one."
Coaches from USC and UCLA were anxiously awaiting his decision, which took about three hours to reach. When he came out, Williams said he was going to UCLA. The response from UCLA assistant coach Frank Gansz was priceless.
"God bless you Dokie," Gansz said.
Adams, by the way, is one of the finest members of the Oceanside Unified School District's board of education today.
In 1987, Junior Seau had narrowed his choices of colleges to Colorado and USC.
Seau was very impressed with Colorado during his recruiting trip. As he was having dinner with then-head coach Bill McCartney, a group of football players came in with a cake and sang happy birthday to Seau.
His birthday is Jan. 19.
Seau really wanted to go to Colorado to be with his cousin, Sal Aunese, the team's quarterback.
It never happened. Junior's father, Tiaina Seau, was not as impressed with Colorado, which took the liberty of extending Seau's recruiting trip by one day without his dad's permission.
That pretty much sealed the deal for USC.
On national letter of intent day in 1991, Carlsbad High linebacker Ted Johnson had nothing to sign. He was ignored.
Johnson had played on a losing team, and at 210 pounds, was considered an average high school player.
But a reporter had a chance conversation with a Colorado assistant coach and raved about Johnson.
As luck would have it, a player Colorado thought it was getting withdrew his commitment several days later. That left a scholarship open, and Colorado took a chance on Johnson.
Johnson played four years, three as a starter. By the time his senior year ended in 1994, he was a first-team All-American. In 1995 he was New England's second-round draft pick.
Sunday, he will play in his fourth Super Bowl. Not bad for a guy who was never recruited.