Brett Goetz, the Fort Lauderdale stock broker who created the traveling seven-on-seven team two years ago, knew his players far too well to fall for their ruse. Still, he had his own issues. As he sat in the first row, Goetz pressed an iPhone to his ear.
"Which NCAA rule is it?" Goetz asked, knowing he didn't want to hear the answer to his question. In the next few hours, Goetz would receive an unpleasant piece of NCAA news, one of his assistant coaches would be locked in the bus bathroom for several hilarious minutes and several players would commandeer the bus microphone for a freestyle rap contest that didn't conclude until every passenger had been properly skewered. Only hours into the six-day trip, Goetz stood in the aisle and yelled to no one in particular.
"I've lost [bleeping] institutional control!"
Welcome to the nascent world of elite travel football, the burgeoning sport that could someday mirror AAU basketball, with apparel companies footing the bill for teams loaded with top prospects to criss-cross the country to face other teams loaded with top prospects. Until that happens, Goetz will continue to scrounge for sponsor dollars, cut deals with bus companies and stay only in hotels that offer a free hot breakfast. Last week, Goetz allowed SI.com to ride along as his 25-man team -- made up of some of the best skill-position players in South Florida -- visited colleges en route to the Badger Sports Elite 7-on-7 National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Along the way, the Express endured NCAA issues, traffic jams, larcenous team members and the combined flatulence of 33 males cooped up in a bus. Players also formed friendships that will last long after their return home. They devoured 26 slabs of ribs, a gallon of baked beans and five quarts of banana pudding at a world-famous barbecue joint. At the tournament, some turned in performances that will draw more scholarship offers. Best of all, they took home a national title.
Fun with the NCAA
Goetz already has a name in the world of college football recruiting. It's just not the name he wants. During an interview with a BCS-conference head coach in May, Goetz's name was mentioned. "Oh," the coach said. "The Ohio State guy."
Goetz acquired that reputation because linebacker Etienne Sabino, one of the players from the Optimist Club football league Goetz runs in Miami Beach, signed with the Buckeyes two years ago along with Dr. Krop High teammate Travis Howard. Goetz has taken other prospects to Columbus while visiting Sabino. He also has taken players to his alma mater, Florida, and to a variety of other campuses, but Ohio State is the one everyone associates with Goetz. For the tournament trip, Goetz made plans to stop at Florida State, LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State so his players -- most of whom are heavily recruited -- could tour the campuses and meet with coaches in what the NCAA terms "unofficial" visits. After the tournament, which took place on Alabama's campus, Goetz planned a stop in Gainesville.
"This is the cover-up trip," Goetz said, laughing at his reputation as a shill for the Buckeyes. Sabino and Howard, Goetz said, were turned on to Ohio State by the late Sonny Spielman, a Dr. Krop assistant coach and the father of former Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman. Goetz admits he likes the Buckeyes' staff and program, but he said he appreciates a lot of excellent programs. That's why he wanted his players, most of whom can't afford to pay for multiple unofficial visits, to see as many campuses and coaches as possible on the trip.
Unfortunately for Goetz, the NCAA had other ideas.
The Express assembled at 6:30 a.m. on June 29 in Hollywood, Fla. On the bus were Lyons and Dubose, who have each received more than 30 scholarship offers. Joining them were Boyd Anderson High linebacker Kent Turene, who is coveted by most of the programs in the top 25, and Miami Southridge High defensive backs Gerrod Holliman and Andrew Johnson, who each hold more than 20 scholarship offers. The team also featured committed players such as Plantation High linebacker Ryan Shazier (Florida), Plantation safety Jeremy Cash (Ohio State) and Miami Northwestern quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Miami).