Manuel, according to FSU defensive ends coach Brad Lawing, assured the Seminoles’ staff that his commitment to Florida in early January was half-hearted.

“Shavar had told me the night before, ‘I’m a Seminole’ and then he committed to Florida,” Lawing said during FSU’s annual signing day party. “I called him up, asked what’s going on and he said ‘I’m just getting some pressure from people.’

“So he didn’t just flip tonight. We’ve known about this for about two weeks.”

Lawing, who coached at Florida in 2013 and ‘14, told Manuel to “play the game” and to “tell the damn Gators anything they want to hear.

It is unfortunate that what should be such a momentous day for these young men has become an opportunity for deplorable behavior, commonly enabled by the adults around them.  The hats and other gimmicks to create drama (I saw some kid apparently did a sky diving routine yesterday?!?) are just out of control.  I am not saying kids shouldn't enjoy this day, but the whole process is often very unbecoming for everyone involved.  Coaches sleeping over at player's houses or doing other ridiculous things to try and get a kid to play football for him.  Boggles my mind really.