Fans Need Perspective When it Comes to Recruiting

National Signing Day is like Christmas for people from all walks of life. High school athletes will make the biggest decision of their young lives, providing the culmination for years of hard work. Fans wake up with hopes of the top talent in the nation signing on the dotted line and suiting up for their favorite team.

However, when the athlete doesn't pick a fan's alma mater, once glowing fans can turn ugly, and it's never been more evident during the age of social media.

The Internet has given fans an unprecedented level of access to athletes, with most sending generic praise to their favorite player or just hoping to interact with those they see on TV. It can be a beautiful thing. However, anyone who has been to a live sporting event can attest to the fact that fans can turn from level-headed to insane, hate-spewing volcanoes as quick as the wind changes.

Fans have a right to complain when a team under performs or a player doesn't give their 100 percent. Fans are the reason these players are in which they find themselves. If the fans stopped showing up, the players don't get paid.

But the thing people lose sight of in all of their fanaticism; high school athletes don't get paid.

The need for restraint has never been more evident than it was on National Signing Day, with No. 1 receiver Dorial Green-Beckham picking Missouri over Arkansas. Fans took to social media, with some taking out their frustrations.

"#DGB is an idiot. Anywhere in the nation ND he picks a bottom feeder from the Big 12 that's going to be on the bottom of the SEC. DGB=Joke"

"#DGB is an absolute idiot…Could have went to top 3 program ever in #OU & he goes to #Mizzou? He must be dumb. He will never play in BCS"

Take that in for a second.

These are a few of the more tame tweets, but adults have taken to the Internet to call an 18-year-old high school senior names simply because he didn't pick their favorite school. Imagine how this behavior would be received without the anonymity of a keyboard and a computer screen? Harassing anyone in the street, let alone a high school student, would at the very least warrant a few choice words from an angry parent.

The childish behavior wasn't limited to the fans, though.

At his National Signing Day press conference/rally, LSU head coach Les Miles took it upon himself to sling barbs at former LSU commit, and newest member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Gunner Kiel.

"We needed a quarterback," Miles said. "We lost two. We needed a quarterback in this class. There was a gentleman from Indiana that thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and the ability to lead a program, so you know."

An 18-year-old decided to stay in his home state to play football, and a 58-year-old millionaire thought it was prudent to take a shot because he didn't come to play for him? Les has been known for his antics and outlandish media presence, but there's a line and if this isn't over it, it's pretty close.