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Two years ago, Barron Collier football had six signing-day signatures to celebrate. But not this kind of star power.

Of the four players who signed Wednesday inside the school's gymnasium, two of them, Matt Clements and Greg Williams, are bound for BCS conferences.

Clements, a 6-foot-1,180-pound receiver, signed with South Carolina, where he will catch passes in Steve Spurrier's offense. Williams, a 6-3, 205-pound running back, chose Pittsburgh.

Barron had not had a player sign with a Southeastern Conference school during Bill Sparacio's tenure. In fact, South Florida running back Moise Plancher, one of the Class of 2005 signees, is the only former player at a BCS school.

But that is about to change.

Joined at the signing table by tight end Sean Cullen (New Hampshire) and free safety Mike Barry (Colgate), Clements and Williams turned National Signing Day into a history assignment.

A teaching tool, too.

Sparacio, who has coached the Cougars for five seasons, hopes some of his underclassmen were inspired by Wednesday's signings, seeing it as a foundation for future seniors to build on.

"Kids are lifting their butts off every day," Sparacio said. "We're in February. What a great incentive to sit out here and say, 'Hey, maybe that can be me one day.'"

Hence the show, a full-fledged event complete with highlight videos, player introductions and baseball caps. Each player donned his future school's colors as he signed the papers.

Barry was the first to sign. He will play in the secondary at Sparacio's alma mater, the school he visited on a snowy weekend last month. He can handle the cold, he said, since he is a native of Massachusetts.

Cullen was the last to sign.

He will catch passes in a wide-open offense led by quarterback Ricky Santos, the reigning Walter Payton Award winner, as he transitions from wide receiver to tight end.

In between, Clements and Williams completed their respective journeys. Neither signing produced much drama — after all, each player announced his intentions months ago — but they were both significant nonetheless.

Clements called Wednesday a dream come true, and it must have been extra special considering where he'd been. At one point in the fall, he wondered if college coaches would question his character.

For a week of his senior season, Clements was not a member of the Barron team. He and Sparacio had a falling out, their differences later resolved after a meeting with the school's athletic director.

On Wednesday, Clements spoke of Sparacio as a mentor.

He said the coach had helped guide him through the recruiting process.

"We joke around all the time," Clements said. "Everything is good between me and him."

Sparacio agreed.

"I'm as excited as all get-out for him," he said of Clements, one of Southwest Florida's top prospects. "I'm just really happy for him and his family. I think it's a wonderful opportunity he has to play college football and get a free education. I really do wish him the best, and I think he has the potential to be something special."

He said the same about Williams, who has been a study of consistency in the Barron backfield. He selected Pittsburgh in part because of Dave Wannstedt, a part-time Naples resident.

The choice should make life interesting for Williams when the Panthers play USF. That's because he once backed up Plancher at Barron, and the two have remained friends through the years.

The matchup will be equally intriguing for Sparacio, who spoke of such head-to-head affairs as he addressed the crowd.

He pointed out that Colgate and New Hampshire met in the Division I-AA playoffs two years ago.

Could happen again, he said.

"We will follow these guys," Sparacio told the crowd, about 200 strong. "We sure wish them the best."

Sparacio expects four more players to sign in the weeks to come. The 2005 class, which had six signees on National Signing Day, ultimately sent 12 players to the next level.

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