Friday night was a fitting send-off for Tyler Caldwell.

One of the greatest quarterbacks in state history, Caldwell — a recent Cullman High graduate — got one last chance to shine in the prep spotlight. And it happened in front of a surprisingly nice crowd at Alabama A&M;’s Louis Crews Stadium.

But let’s throw nostalgia aside for a minute.

Why? Because the AHSAA’s North-South All-Star football game would be better off showcasing rising seniors — like every other sport at the AHSAA’s All-Star Sports Week — instead of players that have already graduated.

Here’s why: By having the game feature graduated seniors, the AHSAA misses out on having some of the state’s top prospects show off their talent in Huntsville.

The reason is as simple as this: Their future colleges won’t let them do it.

While Friday night’s game was certainly a showcase of some great talent, take a look at just a few of the names that were missing from the North roster alone.

Tana Patrick, linebacker, North Jackson — committed to Alabama.

William Ming, offensive lineman, Athens — also committed to Alabama.

Dre Kirkpatrick, defensive back, Gadsden City — also committed to, you guessed it, Alabama.

Tim Simon, tailback, Cordova — committed to Ole Miss.

And that’s just to name four.

But if the game featured rising seniors, I’d be willing to bet all four would have chosen to play. That is, in July of 2008.

After all, out of that group, only Ming committed before the end of the last prep football season.

So you’re telling me that you wouldn’t have been much more interested in that game? Didn’t think so.

Granted, there were some compelling stories to be told Friday night in Huntsville. Like Dez Polk, the receiver from tiny Class 1A Speake who, by turning in an MVP performance, got a little closer to his dream of playing next season for Ole Miss.

Or like Buckhorn’s Lameco Miller, who answered the call at the last minute to be a replacement player for the North. He’ll play this fall at Cumberland in Tennessee.

And then of course, there’s Caldwell, the state’s all-time leading passer, playing for the final time in the prep ranks.

It’s a good story. But an equally good story might have been Caldwell, as a rising senior, wowing all the college recruiters while playing against a stronger team.

Since it would have been just a month before his senior season, Caldwell — like all the others — would have been less rusty than he seemed Friday night.

And, as everyone who watched him play in high school already knows, given the right opportunity, Caldwell could have really shined.

It wouldn’t have been the first time, or the last.

‰ Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 258.