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A call from the big man
Gwaltney receives phone call from USC's Pete Carroll an hour after winning national title
BY GREGG SARRA
STAFF WRITER
January 6, 2005
When the phone rings at 1 o'clock in the morning you're never sure if it's bad news or not. But for North Babylon halfback Jason Gwaltney, it was almost too good to be true.
Gwaltney picked up the phone and on the other end was Pete Carroll, the hottest coach in college football. About an hour after Carroll's USC Trojans demolished Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, 55-19, behind Matt Leinart's five touchdown passes, Carroll already had recruiting on his mind.
And why wait to check in on one of the country's top recruits? That attention will make any high school senior feel special.
"I was in total shock when I realized who it was," said Gwaltney, Long Island's all-time rushing and scoring leader. "I congratulated him and we talked for a few minutes. When I hung up, I looked at the clock and I still couldn't believe it."
Carroll's aggressive pursuit of one of the nation's top big backs left Gwaltney in awe. It also left him more confused as to which school to attend next fall.
"The phone call from Carroll left quite an impression on Jason," North Babylon coach Terry Manning said. "The guy just coached the national championship game and has the presence of mind to call on a recruit. That is very powerful. That's why he's the best."
Manning said the call came on the heels of a three-hour visit from Ohio State coach Jim Tressel on Tuesday afternoon.
Gwaltney has narrowed his choice to Ohio State, USC or West Virginia, which he orally committed to and will visit this weekend. The 6-1, 230-pounder, the only two-time winner of the Hansen Award, given to Suffolk's top player, rushed for 7,800 yards and 135 TDs in his four-year career.
Manning said that Gwaltney has struggled with his decision. "Jason really enjoyed winning the Long Island championship, but making the choice of which college to attend has been a tremendous strain on him," Manning said. "What should be an exhilarating experience is turning into something loaded with pressure and anxiety. I've sat with him for hours and we've gone over all the options and it's still a very hard decision."