There was no table. No caps lined up displaying the logos of various Division I football programs. Cameras and microphones were absent.
There were no serious decisions to be made on signing day Wednesday at Hinsdale Central..
Anyone familiar with Jack Allen and/or Scott McDowell understands why.
“I know Jack and Scott, and they’re not those kinds of guys,” said Mike DiMatteo, who resigned as Hinsdale Central’s football coach after the 2010 season. “In fact, Jack told me that if the school was going to plan a big announcement thing he was going to call in sick.”
Instead, both players signed and faxed their letters of intent — Allen’s to Michigan State and McDowell’s to Illinois — Wednesday morning with no fanfare.
“I got up kind of early because I had a couple of driveways in the neighborhood to shovel. I think I had six to do,” said the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Allen, a Tribune first-team All-State offensive lineman and undefeated heavyweight wrestler. “I signed the letter on the kitchen counter and faxed it in at 7:47. That was it.
“Flashy is just not me. I’m not into that kind of stuff. I say just get it over with. It’s been fun, but it’s good to have it over.”
McDowell, who orally committed to Illinois in September, planned to arrive at Hinsdale Central early Wednesday and fax his letter to coach Ron Zook from the athletic director’s office. With the school closed and roads difficult to navigate, McDowell and his family got creative.
“We were able to figure out how to use the fax on our printer this morning,” said McDowell, a 6-5, 280-pound offensive tackle. “I never really paid too much attention to the whole signing day thing. The hat thing on the table is kind of weird. I think you should take it more seriously than that.”
