This is the moment when players who have received verbal offers from college coaches make their sports scholarships official by signing their National Letter of Intent. Signing Day is the opening day of the signing period, and it is celebrated with parties, displays, and a lot of college stuff. The first national signing day was held in February 1879 at Chicago's Northwestern University. The morning began with a mass execution of signed letters of intent by members of the university community following a parade through downtown Chicago. That same day, students across America walked out of class to celebrate the coming of spring and the start of a new academic year. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed a committee to propose changes to existing rules regarding athletic recruiting. One recommendation made by this group was to establish a single day each year when colleges could announce their football intentions. The president then followed up with an executive order that created what we know today as National Signing Day. In 1971, Congress passed legislation making February 1st National Signing Day. Over the years, National Signing Day has become a major event on the college sports calendar. It is now considered the kickoff to the recruiting season for many athletes and the beginning of early entry opportunities for high school seniors.