Robert Foster, former Rivals100 wide receiver from Central Valley High School in Monaca, Pa., has been eager to arrive in Tuscaloosa this summer. He jumped on a flight Tuesday morning.
"He is en route," said Central Valley head coach Mark Lyons. "He is on the plane heading to Alabama.
Foster hoped to arrive in Tuscaloosa earlier than today. He had to retake a summer course in order to qualify.
"There was some red tape from the NCAA," Lyons said. "Alabama was a little upset with the way the NCAA handled things. Alabama took it in stride. They have seen this before. It was just another bump in the road.
"Robert took an online science course. He made an A in the class the first time he took it. At one point the NCAA was fine with everything. Robert had improved his ACT score. They looked back through everything again. They said the course he took was not an accredited course. They didn't approve it. It was once an approved class.
"He took the course, made an A and then was set to begin classes in July. He finished the course in about 12 days. The NCAA didn't approve it because they wanted him to have 14-days in the class. Alabama appealed it, but by the time all the paperwork would have gone through to the NCAA it would have taken a while. We decided to put him back in the class and retake it. Honestly, he could have finished the class in eight or nine days. It's a mandatory 14-day class though. There wasn't anything he could do."
Alabama was eager for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound signee to show up on campus. It's better late than never.
"They have wanted him down there as early as possible," Lyons said. "He went down towards the end of school. They wanted him down as soon as he finished the class. They told him to take the test early. Alabama got word that it wasn't going to be accepted. That's where everything snow-balled.
"The Alabama athletic department and academic department did a great job. They did a great job informing us of everything that was going on. They remained positive with our administration, with me and with Robert. They have seen this several times. It's more of a patience thing.
"From my knowledge the unofficial transcript is good. The paperwork will get processed through the NCAA. Alabama is on top of it. They know once the paperwork is submitted it's nothing more than a formality. Alabama was eager to get him down there before camp started. I know they are excited, and he is just as excited."
Foster was regarded one of the premier high school prospects in the country. The Rivals100 member has been training hard this summer in preparation of the arrival in Tuscaloosa. Lyons knows why Alabama recruited the elite receiver.
"He's worked out with us this summer," he said. "He is always at the stadium running. He is excited. He is prepared. He is anxious. I think once he steps foot on the campus and puts the helmet on they will see why he is one of their top recruits.
"Through the process it's all about how big can you play. The schools from the south came up here. He has the SEC speed you don't see in the northern part of the country. The funny thing about the whole process is I don't think Alabama ever asked what his 40 time is. What separated him is he is extremely fast with the pads on. Some test well in shorts. He is fast on every play. I think that is the difference."
http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1530301
"He is en route," said Central Valley head coach Mark Lyons. "He is on the plane heading to Alabama.
Foster hoped to arrive in Tuscaloosa earlier than today. He had to retake a summer course in order to qualify.
"There was some red tape from the NCAA," Lyons said. "Alabama was a little upset with the way the NCAA handled things. Alabama took it in stride. They have seen this before. It was just another bump in the road.
"Robert took an online science course. He made an A in the class the first time he took it. At one point the NCAA was fine with everything. Robert had improved his ACT score. They looked back through everything again. They said the course he took was not an accredited course. They didn't approve it. It was once an approved class.
"He took the course, made an A and then was set to begin classes in July. He finished the course in about 12 days. The NCAA didn't approve it because they wanted him to have 14-days in the class. Alabama appealed it, but by the time all the paperwork would have gone through to the NCAA it would have taken a while. We decided to put him back in the class and retake it. Honestly, he could have finished the class in eight or nine days. It's a mandatory 14-day class though. There wasn't anything he could do."
Alabama was eager for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound signee to show up on campus. It's better late than never.
"They have wanted him down there as early as possible," Lyons said. "He went down towards the end of school. They wanted him down as soon as he finished the class. They told him to take the test early. Alabama got word that it wasn't going to be accepted. That's where everything snow-balled.
"The Alabama athletic department and academic department did a great job. They did a great job informing us of everything that was going on. They remained positive with our administration, with me and with Robert. They have seen this several times. It's more of a patience thing.
"From my knowledge the unofficial transcript is good. The paperwork will get processed through the NCAA. Alabama is on top of it. They know once the paperwork is submitted it's nothing more than a formality. Alabama was eager to get him down there before camp started. I know they are excited, and he is just as excited."
Foster was regarded one of the premier high school prospects in the country. The Rivals100 member has been training hard this summer in preparation of the arrival in Tuscaloosa. Lyons knows why Alabama recruited the elite receiver.
"He's worked out with us this summer," he said. "He is always at the stadium running. He is excited. He is prepared. He is anxious. I think once he steps foot on the campus and puts the helmet on they will see why he is one of their top recruits.
"Through the process it's all about how big can you play. The schools from the south came up here. He has the SEC speed you don't see in the northern part of the country. The funny thing about the whole process is I don't think Alabama ever asked what his 40 time is. What separated him is he is extremely fast with the pads on. Some test well in shorts. He is fast on every play. I think that is the difference."
http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1530301
