Maybe I'm just too "old school" for my own good.

The again, maybe the new way of doing things is dead wrong and I'm 1,000 percent correct in my assertion.

No one can say for certain.

Nonetheless, I'll go on record and say it -- I'm not a big fan of the latest craze in college football recruiting. This whole "graduating early and enrolling in college in January" business puzzles me to the core.

Of course you probably know how this whole song and dance goes. A number of high school seniors -- normally the studs of the studs -- who are football recruits elect to expedite their required high school course work, graduate from their particular high schools in December of their senior year and head off to college in January. The premise is to get a jump start on the kids who choose to do things in the traditional fashion.

Two such players who have elected to go this route from this year's local crop of top talent are Greensburg Central Catholic's Nick Sukay and Gateway's Jon Ditto.

As you read this, both are students at Penn State.

Before any more is written, I need to come right out and say that Sukay and Ditto are marvelous young men. I've dealt with both of them on more than a few occasions and they truly are two of the most polite and appreciative kids whom I have met from the football recruits in the WPIAL Class of 2007.

I'm sure both took the necessary time to study and looked at all the particulars involved before making the carefully calculated decision to make the jump early.

That said, I just don't see the benefits outweighing the negatives when a decision such as this is made.

From my vantage, this whole topic is an indictment of the current day climate in amateur sports and shows that once-valued traditions no longer are important to kids.

Like I said, maybe I'm just too "old school," who knows.

But, to me, I see value in a final springtime with the kids you grew up with, doing all those things that college-bound seniors do as their high school days dwindle.

I see value in going to the prom. And also trying to get enough fortitude up to ask that girl who you really want to go with.

I see value in attending the graduation ceremony.

I see value in senior boys trying to figure out how they can get out of school an hour or so early and where they can assemble (without adults knowing) to watch those early afternoon NCAA basketball tournament games.

I see value in all that stuff that happens from January through June of your senior year in high school. All that stuff that you get only one chance to experience.

For the ever-increasing number of football players who are heading off to college campuses for the spring semester, they will undoubtedly get a chance to get a head start in the weightroom and in the classroom on their classmates who show up at the traditional time.

But, does that head start outweigh all they miss?

The answer here is "no." Not even close.