College football could be moving to a change in the recruiting game by offering an early signing period. Sensing momentum and a possible need to change the standard procedures, the Conference Commissioners Association will review the possible plans to add an early signing period in football based off the model used for basketball at a meeting later this year.
“I think everyone wants an early signing period,” NCAA associate director of operations Susan Peal said this week, according to ESPN.com. “It’s just trying to nail down what’s the appropriate date for that.”
Peal said the topic has been discussed before by the commissioners, but the time to revisit the idea has become more necessary now due to the NCAA altering recruiting regulations in recent years. The momentum for discussing an early signing period may be there, but not every coach will be in favor of it. Adding the early signing period means adjusting the recruiting calendar, and possibly distracting from other items of business during the football season.
There is no doubt the early signing period would have some benefits for the game. Players would be able to commit to a program and avoid the headaches of months of recruiting pressure and sales pitches while at the same time showing their commitment to a program. In return, those players would feel security knowing those programs are truly committed to them. Coaches could then spend more time working on recruiting other players waiting until National Signing Day to sign, rather than waste time on a player that has been on board since the summer or previous spring. It would seem to be a win-win scenario for players and programs, at least in theory.
Not every prospect would sign early of course. National Signing Day would still remain a significant day on the college football recruiting calendar, and some players will still use the day to hold press conferences and bask in the national spotlight. Hey, that’s their choice. For those who would choose to avoid that hoopla and just focus on other things, an early signing period would be a welcome addition.
There will be plenty of details to iron out before this become a reality. This topic is expected to be on the agenda for a June meeting of the Conference Commissioners Association. Do you like the idea of an early signing period for football? Why or why not?
Link: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/07/possibility-for-early-signing-period-in-football-appears-real/
“I think everyone wants an early signing period,” NCAA associate director of operations Susan Peal said this week, according to ESPN.com. “It’s just trying to nail down what’s the appropriate date for that.”
Peal said the topic has been discussed before by the commissioners, but the time to revisit the idea has become more necessary now due to the NCAA altering recruiting regulations in recent years. The momentum for discussing an early signing period may be there, but not every coach will be in favor of it. Adding the early signing period means adjusting the recruiting calendar, and possibly distracting from other items of business during the football season.
There is no doubt the early signing period would have some benefits for the game. Players would be able to commit to a program and avoid the headaches of months of recruiting pressure and sales pitches while at the same time showing their commitment to a program. In return, those players would feel security knowing those programs are truly committed to them. Coaches could then spend more time working on recruiting other players waiting until National Signing Day to sign, rather than waste time on a player that has been on board since the summer or previous spring. It would seem to be a win-win scenario for players and programs, at least in theory.
Not every prospect would sign early of course. National Signing Day would still remain a significant day on the college football recruiting calendar, and some players will still use the day to hold press conferences and bask in the national spotlight. Hey, that’s their choice. For those who would choose to avoid that hoopla and just focus on other things, an early signing period would be a welcome addition.
There will be plenty of details to iron out before this become a reality. This topic is expected to be on the agenda for a June meeting of the Conference Commissioners Association. Do you like the idea of an early signing period for football? Why or why not?
Link: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/07/possibility-for-early-signing-period-in-football-appears-real/