The walk-up to the signing period, which launches tomorrow with football as the marquee sport, is filled with bizarre recruiting tales with coaches promising the moon to kids and their parents or dishing dirt on competitors. It's the silly season magnified.

But few stories apparently will top that of Kevin Hart, an offensive lineman from Fernley, Nev., who called the now requisite press conference last Friday to announce that he would attend California next fall, as opposed to Oregon. Hart was primed to become the first player from his school to receive an athletic scholarship. Cameras recorded the moment for posterity, while newspaper reporters diligently wrote about the event. Smiles, hugs and tears were exchanged. It was a beautiful, Norman Rockwell moment.

Trouble is, there is apparently no record that Cal or Oregon or any other Division I school ever recruited Hart. The local sheriff's office, as well as the Nevada state high school athletic association and the NCAA are investigating the matter.