His adoptive parents, John and Tracy Beckham, had never pressured Dorial about his college future, and because they did not, it was rarely discussed. But when the Hillcrest High School star wide receiver, who is the top high school football recruit in the Class of 2012, said those five words, his pa
parents of his decision, there was still plenty of other drama, such as his college choice being reported a day later by the Tulsa World, an Arkansas booster leaving a voicemail on John Beckhams cell phone indicating he was considering making a financial donation to Hillcrest High, and Tracy Beckham t
The Auburn coaches discussed the Cam Newton saga openly with the Beckhams and insisted investigations determined no wrongdoing. But when the family returned home, Tracy Beckham was disappointed to read comments on the Internet that suggested the Beckhams had made the visit in seek of financial gain.
Dorial also told his parents he was dropping Texas but wasnt able to follow through on doing so, Tracy Beckham said. If Dorial struggled on the field or in the classroom, John Beckham thought, Texas coach Mack Brown could be trusted the most.
I felt very bad for him, Tracy Beckham said. I dont think hes some crazy drunk. I do think if that could have been other places Alabama, Arkansas it would have never happened.
A couple of days after Missouris in-home visit, Dorial and two of his brothers made an official visit to Arkansas without their parents. During the visit, Tracy Beckham said, fans bought Dorial alcoholic drinks unsolicited.
The day Dorial returned from his visit to Arkansas, he and his family gathered for dinner at a Houlihan's restaurant to celebrate John Beckhams 50th birthday. The meal illustrated exactly what John and Tracy Beckham battled with Dorial.
Dorial jokingly told the waitress he wanted a pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea. She nodded, without asking for his identification, before John and Tracy Beckham told her their son was not old enough to drink.
When they asked the waitress how old she thought Dorial was, she said 24. While others ordered, Dorial again jokingly requested a Long Island Iced Tea, which the waitress seemed ready to bring him until John and Tracy Beckham insisted they werent joking about his age.
An Arkansas fan also tried to make a pitch to the Beckhams. Although Tracy Beckham insisted her family was never offered anything against NCAA rules, she said it received a call from a Razorbacks booster.
The day after Dorials return from Arkansas, Oklahomas Stoops and Norvell made an in-home visit with the Beckhams. At dusk, John and Tracy Beckham showed Stoops some of the familys cows and they talked about limousine cattle for a while.
Later in the week, Texas Brown visited Hillcrest High, where he lived up to Tracy Beckham's nickname of "Mr. Picture Guy" by posing for plenty of photographs. That night, Arkansas had its in-home visit without Petrino.
d offered a scholarship to Dorials younger half-brother, Darnell. But, unlike Arkansas, Tracy Beckham said, the Tigers coaches told the Beckhams the offer stood regardless of Dorials college decision and that if Darnell was unable physically to play football, he could be a student assistant.
But Tracy Beckham insisted Dorials college decision was not made based on Missouris scholarship offer to his younger half-brother, even though she admitted there is now a better chance they attend college together.
The day before Dorials announcement, John and Tracy Beckham sat in a barbecue restaurant in Springfield and discussed their fondness for Texas Brown. John Beckham had sent him a text message earlier in the day that in part said that Dorial was staying close to home.
