Just a year ago, shaving the logo of your chosen college football team was a novelty worth celebrating, for its sheer brazenness alone. Now? It’s becoming almost commonplace.
Well, maybe not commonplace, but the incidents are multiplying. A year after Adam McLean set the standard with a remarkable Nittany Lions logo shaved into his ‘do, two players followed suit at Nike’s The Opening: USC commit Daelin Hayes and, now, Florida pledge Chauncey Gardner.
In terms of sophistication, Gardner’s “Gators” script is clearly a cut above, all puns intended. Yet the decision by both teenagers to so publicly link themselves with their would-be future schools is a bold one. Like McLean, if they back out in favor of greener pastures, the photos of these fresh cuts will surface again.
Does two make a crowd? Maybe not, but it’s clear that top prospects noticed McLean’s dramatic move, and at least some were inspired to follow suit.
Not to worry for the moment about any of those concerns. As Gardner heads back to Cocoa, it’ll be a little more obvious who he’s helping recruit teammates and high school opponents for. Who needs the Gator chomp when people can just look at the back of your head?