Taking it to the House

• Published: Jul 14, 2009 - Page: 1C
• Today’s feature on Drew Dileo is the second of a five-part series looking at college football prospects in the Baton Rouge area.

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On a recent Saturday afternoon, Drew Dileo sat in front of a 60-inch flatscreen with remote control in hand.

The player’s digital likeness provided about 15 minutes of entertainment, repeatedly slicing and shifting and darting toward the end zone like a video-game creation.

“The infamous DVD,” Mike Dileo, Drew’s father, calls his son’s highlight video.

Several months ago, coaches at Parkview Baptist — the school Dileo began attending in the seventh grade — shipped copies of the DVD to college football offices across the nation.

Dileo, listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, expected limited feedback.

“I was thinking I might end up at Louisiana Tech, a smaller school like that,” he said.

Dileo’s first scholarship offer arrived March 17, a letter signed by University of Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

In blue ink, below formal printed statements regarding monetary aid, Rodriguez left a personal touch.

Drew:
I loved watching your hi-lites! We hope you’ll give us a good look.
Coach Rod

Three more scholarship offers followed, from Stanford, Rice and Tulane.

“Of all the coaches that came through,” Parkview assistant David Simoneaux said, “Michigan was the most aggressive. They said they just had to have him.”

On April 30, six weeks after Rodriguez’s letter came, Dileo committed to play for the winningest program in college football history.

His highlight of highlights, thus far.