A signing day custom as old as the fax machine continued Wednesday morning at Jesuit, when nine Tigers athletes outraced the sun to school and formalized their college intentions before the first bell.
Among the signees: TE Travis Johnson, a onetime Miami commitment who chose Cincinnati over USF, in part because of the new Bearcats staff's liberal use of tight ends.
Johnson, one of the bay area's few signing day mysteries, kept the audience of more than two-dozen in suspense until brandishing his ballpoint. Even the placard bearing his name was blank where the school normally is listed.
After signing, he said the potential NCAA sanctions awaiting Miami led to him spurning the program he had loved since childhood. Different scenery -- and climate -- also were factors, he insisted.
"I never had that childhood of going outside and playing with snowball fights and things like that, so a part of me actually wants to do that," said Johnson (6-foot-4, 243 pounds). "I can fulfill that in college and also get a great education."
Jesuit's 2013 signees
Reggie Brown, football (Florida Atlantic)
Tim Foley, football (Valparaiso)
Robby Garcia, football (Iowa State)
Travis Johnson, football (Cincinnati)
Will Lucas, football (Colgate)
Matt McDonald, football (Occidental)
Joe Metzger, soccer (Holy Cross)
Cameron Ruff, football (USF)
Brad Smith, football (Lehigh)
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Nine Jesuit Tigers sign, Travis Johnson picks Cincy
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