Feaster gets Nicked up in recruiting war

Published 6:00 am Sunday, February 19, 2017

It’s quite possible that this is only more collateral damage from yet another classic internet overreaction.

It mostly involves college recruiting, although you probably already guessed that.

But a high school football coach in Bossier City, Parkway’s David Feaster, is now out of a job in what is being viewed in some circles as a victory for Nick Saban and, in others, more proof that you don’t mess with St. Nick.

Quite possibly it’s neither.

Unless you’re Feaster and suddenly looking for work beyond teaching math, it’s likely that it’s much ado about nothing.

LSU, of course, fits in here somewhere.

But Feaster drew the ire of his principal when he spoke openly about something that happened four years ago — namely, that he would just as soon Alabama, and presumably Saban, stay away from his high school campus.

Feaster apparently has always been a bit of a loose cannon, never afraid to speak his mind.

So when he went on a Baton Rouge radio station last week, never mind that he was talking about old news when he recalled how he “banned” Alabama coaches from his campus back in 2013.

The ever-alert internet ratcheted up to Def Con 1, much of it fueled by the notion that Parkway High School again has two top recruits for next fall in quarterback Justin Rogers and receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.

The swipe at Bama was backlash over what he called “unethical” tactics by the Tide in the recruiting of his then-quarterback, lad named Brandon Harris, in 2013.

His contention was that, after some confusion on whether at one point the Tide was offering Harris a scholarship or just an opportunity to attend the Alabama summer camp, in due time a bona fide scholarship offer did come. And then it was apparently retracted.

“It was a scholarship offer,” Feaster said. “Then we Skyped Nick Saban a while later and he said he wanted us to go to camp. When he got there in June — and I’m not saying Brandon was going to commit to Alabama — but it (a scholarship) wasn’t an option.”

Again, none of this was new. Feaster had said basically the same thing a couple of years ago on another radio station.

LSU didn’t get off scot-free, even though Feaster several times admitted to being a Tigers fan.

The Tigers, of course, eventually landed Harris despite getting in the recruiting game late on him. But Feaster isn’t sure his quarterback got a fair shake at LSU before winning and losing the starting job and recently announcing he would transfer.

A more impartial observer might have deduced that there was, at the least, enough blame to spread around in the LSU-Harris matter.

It certainly wasn’t like Harris wasn’t afforded enough chances.

But Feaster’s view was that Harris was hampered by the archaic offenses before Les Miles and former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron were fired four games into last season.

“I would’ve loved to see Brandon Harris play against Missouri with (new offensive coordinator Steve) Ensminger calling the plays,” Feaster told the radio station. “He could throw the ball to wide-open receivers on first down. They even went no-huddle. I would’ve loved to have seen him with the athletes we have with Brandon Harris the trigger guy. I’m disappointed that never happened, but optimistic about the future of LSU football.”

OK, fine.

Feaster certainly isn’t the first high school coach with a blind spot when comes to one of his former star players.

But a few things were still out of whack here.

Two years ago, Feaster told a another radio station that “I will never allow Alabama in our field house ever again.”

That’s why Tide fans are feeling a bit smug at his dismissal.

A victory for Nick.

For internet’s sake, it comes at a time when LSU fans are feeling special angst in the wake of Bama signing six Louisiana players, all while new coach Ed Orgeron talks about building a wall around the state for recruiting.

Actually, I’m guessing that if you’re a parent with a promising football star under roof, you don’t want any school taken out of the equation, let alone one of Alabama’s stature.

Nor should any coach be haphazardly deciding who can and cannot come on publicly funded property.

Feaster did point out that, “My guys can go to Alabama, but I’m not going to help Alabama recruit my guys.”

It’s nice to know that they still have that option. And no coach is under any obligation to assist any school.

But is it that big of a deal?

It sends shock waves through the recruiting geeks, of course, as if a high school coach who’s not on board with a certain school can set up a blockade.

There was near hysteria last week amidst unfounded rumors of a boycott of LSU by New Orleans-area high school coaches.

But, really, do high school coaches have that kind of power over their players?

I doubt it.

Most parents of 17-year-olds wish they had that kind of influence.

Meanwhile, Feaster is out of a coaching job.

“I have no plans at this point,” he told The Times of Shreveport.

LSU fans would probably just as soon he got hired over at West Monroe.

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Scooter Hobbs covers LSU

athletics. Email him at

shobbs@americanpress.com