As a 9th grader just pray the coach will be there in 5 years ..only top 5 or 6 most likely will ..can't say in 8th grade you are going because of the school and the academics they are offering in your sons major..so you will most likely be scrambling for another college in 2-3 years ..I see now some people say they are commiting to the process verbally . Is that the new way of putting it or is it all window dressing in case the kid doesn't have the grades or the school or he backs out???