Richard Flick had waited for this day since his son Ben was five years old. It was better than expected.

“I’m on top of the world right now,” Flick said. “I’m very proud. It’s a great day.”

National Signing Day was a celebrated across the country Wednesday and locally inside the Ronald Reagan Lodge where the Greater Miami Conference held its 13th annual National Signing Day Ceremony.

Ben Flick and his Hamilton teammate Marcus Oliver were among those recognized for signing letters of intent to Cincinnati and Indiana, respectively.

For both it was a sigh of relief. Their routes had a couple curves.

Flick originally committed to Cincinnati in the summer under then-head coach Butch Jones. Since then Jones left for Tennessee and new UC coach Tommy Tuberville caught flack for not honoring previous offers by the former staff.

One offer Tuberville made sure to uphold was Flick’s.

“The whole coaching change was a little nerve-racking,” Ben Flick admitted. “I’m sure as heck glad that we both stuck through it together and I feel like I’m actually a better fit with Coach Tuberville.”

As for any negative feelings toward his future coach from others?

“At such late notice (with the coaching change) you have to do what you have to do,” Flick said. “Some things weren’t popular, but you can’t get around that.”

Oliver almost didn’t get offered by IU.

Despite being the GMC’s defensive player of the year, Oliver had to work to receive his Big Ten offer. Thanks in part to Middletown head coach Troy Everhart he got it.

IU position coach Mike Ekeler wanted to offer Oliver, but head coach Kevin Wilson was hesitant. Everhart persuaded him.

“(College coaches) don’t take the word of your head coach because they could be attached,” Oliver said. “Coach Wilson kept calling around looking for defenders and my name kept getting brought up (especially by Everhart). What’s ironic is that Coach Ekeler told me to move on. I was going to commit to Miami and then IU just came out of the blue and offered a couple hours before.”

Oliver’s week only gets better. Today he’ll attended the OHSFCA North-South Game luncheon in Columbus. Friday he celebrates his birthday and senior night in boys basketball.

“It’s the high school life,” Oliver said. “It’s the dream life.”

*Lakota West had five players sign, including offensive lineman Kyle Meadows (Kentucky). Others were LB Mike Kelly (Navy), OL Ben Pendry (Dayton), OL Drew Garbenis (Robert Morris) and DB Nick Bengal (Gannon).

Meadows said he’ll be issued an eligible number and utilized as an offensive tackle and tight end (in short-yardage situations). He’s looking forward to playing in the Southeastern Conference.

“It’s such a tough schedule,” Meadows said. “I can’t wait to play at South Carolina and Florida, but my favorite will be when we play Alabama. I can’t wait to play against my former teammate Ryan Kelly.”

*Lakota East signees included LB Keith Brady (Columbia), LB Jake Chestnut (Notre Dame College), OL Richie Gould (California, Pa.), RB Will Mahone (Notre Dame College) and RB Chamoda Palmore (Georgetown College).

*Fairfield DB Mike Williams signed with Urbana University.

*All 10 GMC schools had at least one player sign a LOI. Colerain led the way with seven.