I respect the position of those who vehemently object to the practice of oversigning, even if I’m not as worked up about it as they are.
That’s not to say that there aren’t aspects to the present day recruiting scene that don’t offend the bejeezus out of me. For one such current signing practice which really chaps my ass, turn north, my friends, to that fine academic institution in Knoxville, Tennessee for the story of one of its basketball signees who’s having a spot of trouble qualifying.
“I’m going to Brittain Academy in Charlotte,” Jones said, before discussing his reason for leaving Oak Ridge. “It was academic. … I talked to the coaches and we decided I should go somewhere I could get better grades. It’s not because of behavior or basketball-wise. I need to be able to better understand my work, and I can do that at Brittain Academy.”
The website for Brittain Academy touts a high school diploma program that allows those who register to graduate in 30 days or less. The program consists of one test, and those who fail can retest at no cost. The record time for completion of the program, according to the website, is 7 hours.
That sounds just like Choate. And if you’re wondering how UT feels about the young man’s choice, fear not. The Vols are down with it.
… Jones said that Tennessee is aware of his situation and supportive.
“I’ve been talking to them all week,” Jones said. “They told me it was a great choice because the way it was looking, it didn’t look good. But they said I’m making a good choice. … It just dawned on me. What am I playing basketball for if I’m not going to be cleared? I had to make a decision.”
SEC Dean’s List, here we come.
Get The Picture 
I was thinking Groton, but I see your point.
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Holy diploma mill Batman!
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Good Lord….Why even enroll. Do like Auburn and just drive by the Deans Office with your windows down.
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I thought that only happened at Teeccchhh.(Throat clearing implied).
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I’m sure the UT coaching staff is just thrilled that he’s making these comments. I think we just might have a clue in the mystery of why he was struggling at Oak Ridge.
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I would love to believe this would not happen at Georgia. I know, in spite of what some think that since Jan Kemp, it is less likely to happen.
Meat for the grinder, that’s what this stuff produces, and what Richt has steadfastly opposed, at least publicly.
It seems to me this is just a different kind of oversigning. Oversigning is evidence of an institutional lack of interest in what is best for the individual kid, and so is this.
Having said that, Senator, I think you might want to think through your attitude about oversigning as it relates to what is good for the kids.
Both these things are equally bad.
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This high school diploma mill way of business just fuels the oversigning. If a kid is struggling in high school, it’s just a matter of time until he becomes a casualty at the college level. If UT, Alabama, or any other school courts a player not rated a 5-star in the classroom, it only makes sense for them to have another kid, be it a gray-shirt or an over-the-scholarship limit one, to fill the slot left by the young man who fails out. Jan Kemp taught Georgia a hard lesson many years ago and, while Richt has his critics, I can’t imagine anything like this would ever take place on his watch.
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re: Oversigning… I would probably be opposed to it if Georgia engaged in the practice. But yeah, I’m not of the mind that it should be addressed. I just don’t care.
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If oversigning was standard and the kids didn’t care, I could not care as well. But if only some teams do it and get to reap huge benefits, yes it’s a problem. It’s like having the DH in baseball, but only one team gets to even when they play each other. Sure one solution is to just play better, but how long before we realize we are giving them an unnecessary advantage. Plus what makes this MOST frustrating is that there’s an easy solution that’s fair to everyone. Except Satan, er Saban.
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If you can’t even “understand” your high school coursework without going to a fake diploma mill, you have no business in college, no matter his skills you are. Sorry. NBDL, my friend.
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I don’t care about the BB side of it, but it is hard to not get worked up about the NCAA allowing schools to negate the rule on scholarship limitations in football. The intent was to level the playing field with 85 schollies and limiting classes to the differential with a cap at 25. The current free-for-all is just another example of the NCAA being clueless in defending their rules.
I have no issue with them allowing an extra 1-2 above the differential to account for attrition, but it should be the exact same overage for every member institution. Those who do a better job of recruiting players who stay healthy and eligible get a slight edge over those who do not not. The daily exposure of “oversigning abuse” being reported is another black eye for CFB. Know I have said it before, but it is past time for the NCAA, and Slime, to man-up.
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It’s very interesting (and puzzling) that illegally paying players or getting them into school via tricks like this “offend the bejeezus” out of you… while lying to players and kicking them off teams or out of school doesn’t really bother you.
Both provide huge competitive advantages, but whereas the former at least puts some money or benefits in the players’ pockets, the latter harms them in several ways.
That’s a pretty bizarre stance you’ve taken there.
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It would be, if that were the case. However, you haven’t stated my position accurately.
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