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Dear Class of 2014,
High School is over. You are no longer "prospects" or "commits" or "signees" or "recruits." You are no longer "kids." You are Scarlet Knights. Welcome to the B1G time. We need you, and we are glad you are here. Now get to work!
Very Truly Yours,
An Excited Rutgers Fan.
* * *
Some of the class of 2014 is already here, and has been here since January. Lott, Lister, Applefield, Russell and Wiafe came first, and were here through the spring semester. Dre Boggs got here a few weeks ago. These players have already begun turning heads, and getting better
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Excited for the rest of my class to get here in 4 days. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CHOPNation&src=hash">#CHOPNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RU18&src=hash">#RU18</a></p>— Kam Lott (@KillaKam_RU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KillaKam_RU/statuses/479263852845334528">June 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The rest (most of them anyway) are coming now. Most will check in tomorrow, and begin their collegiate careers On the Banks.
Some are coming from far away.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The journey starts tomorrow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CHOPNation&src=hash">#CHOPNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rutgers&src=hash">#Rutgers</a> <a href="http://t.co/I5rqhCdHic">pic.twitter.com/I5rqhCdHic</a></p>— cal ibanez (@CalIbanez) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalIbanez/statuses/479760061435105280">June 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Finally leaving for college.. Crazy to think about everything I leave behind, but even more crazy to think about what's ahead of me <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23chop&src=hash">#chop</a></p>— Giovanni Rescigno (@G_Rescigno17) <a href="https://twitter.com/G_Rescigno17/statuses/480170069775773698">June 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Some are coming from just down the road.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The wait is finally over, finally get to go to work starting tomorrow.</p>— Saquan Hampton (@TDC_7) <a href="https://twitter.com/TDC_7/statuses/480434683571105792">June 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I leave Sunday everybody ‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Roadtorutgers&src=hash">#Roadtorutgers</a></p>— SID #5 (@_RUbagin) <a href="https://twitter.com/_RUbagin/statuses/480075817910042624">June 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Some are coming from very different ways of life from what they will find in the Northeast
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Country boy big city dreams (time square) <a href="http://t.co/uoGmW9BdnP">pic.twitter.com/uoGmW9BdnP</a></p>— Sam blue (@samblue82) <a href="https://twitter.com/samblue82/statuses/480203182250139649">June 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>.
Some have already started transforming themselves from kids to men.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Big Tariq Cole, 2014 Rutgers signee, looking trim <a href="http://t.co/8PixilWwOA">pic.twitter.com/8PixilWwOA</a></p>— Matt Hladik (@MattHladik919) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHladik919/statuses/480194270473641984">June 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
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They are coming from different places, and in different sizes and shapes, and states of readiness. But they are coming, and soon. When they get here, it won't matter where they came from, or how they got here. They will move together toward a common goal. There will be doubters and haters and questioners along the way. There will be bad losses, and injuries, and academic struggles, and hurt feelings over playing time.
But there will be big wins, and much success, and F.A.M.I.L.Y. and happiness. So we leave them with this, and our best wishes:
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein
#chopnewchallenges #makeusproud #havefunandwin