Hey, the 10-second substitution proposal has already exposed one fault line among football coaches, so what’s another NCAA rule that might stir some bad blood?
If the NCAA moves forward with an early signing period in college football, it will be staunchly opposed by Stanford coach David Shaw.
“I might be alone in this, I think it’s terrible,” Shaw said following the Cardinal’s spring practice Saturday. “I think it’s terrible. The reason [for an early signing period], in my opinion, is coaches don’t like when kids commit and switch late.”
… “On top of that — and I’ll be honest here, which is rare for a football coach in a setting like this — but we have a lot of kids that don’t know if they’re going to get into school until after that early signing day,” Shaw said. “So we’re going to punish the academic schools just because coaches don’t want a kid to switch their commitment?
“People can make whatever argument they want, it boils down to that. … Coaches don’t want to keep recruiting an entire class all year.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there was a divide and conquer strategy in play here, except I don’t think the NCAA is devious enough to pull something like that off and I have no idea what’s to be gained by it in any event. Still, I figure we’re one lobbying the Conference Commissioners Association story away from things getting really personal. Again.
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I don’t see Shaw’s argument. You don’t have to sign anyone in the early signing period. It would be beneficial in that a kid could go ahead and sign and end his recruitment if he is sure where he wants to go. Also, it combats the last minute scholarship pulls by coaches right before the February signing day. You offer a kid a scholarship early and he can sign early.
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I disagree that this somehow benefits the athletes. If a kid shuts down his recruitment, it might not eliminate all contacts, but they will eventually taper off. No, the only parties that I see benefiting are the schools and coaches by locking up players and not having to recruit until February and face losing last minute decommits. Shaw is right.
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If the player gets hurt after the early signing period then the school is stuck with him. The player gets his scholarship and the school can’t renege after the injury. That’s a benefit to the player
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If his coaches leave between then and NSD, it’s worse for him…he’s stuck with the school.
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Shaw is worried about how the rule would affect Stanford; namely that there will be players who want to sign early (& are elite talent) but cannot be expedited thru Stanford’s admissions office fast enough. Or there is a lingering question until 1st semester senior grades are in that they would academically qualify for Stanford.
Don’t know enough about their signing practices, but I would guess they take a lot longer to make an initial offer based on academic concerns too.
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Wait a football coach expressed an opinion on a proposed new rule? OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!!
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Sounds like collateral damage here. Despite Stanford’s success, I can’t believe they’re a target for something like this.
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What’s the big deal? If you don’t know for certain a kid will qualify and be admitted, don’t sign him early. I’m sure that’s what Georgia would do. If a school is totally on the up-front with kids, as Georgia is, there won’t be any problem at all, that I can see.
I do think if there is an appeal process, it should be limited to cases of deception or sleazy behavior by the schools, not just because a kid has a change of heart and wants to change his mind. If that happens, the signing would mean nothing more than commitment does now, which isn’t much.
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Shaw is just whining and trying to pretend he does things better at Stanford. He is a solid coach but this silliness sounds like Spurrier’s constant crying. I see no disadvantage to the athletes, or the schools, and significant plusses for both. If you don’t like it, don’t sign early. There will still be drama queens around for NSD.
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Man, sports has gone full politics recently. 1 – Find someone with a different opinion than yours. 2 – Shred their opinion and attack their character and motives.
I became a sports fan to get away from that sort of stuff.
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