Two interesting tidbits from this Al.com piece…
One, there’s already an SEC program that’s run afoul of the new rule about hiring high school coaches as analysts, and, no, it’s not Nick Saban’s. But it’s close.
In Alabama alone, Auburn can’t recruit local Opelika High School for the next two years because the school hired Brian Blackmon in February as an analyst.
It’ll be interesting to see if there are any major recruits coming out of there in the next two seasons and where they go.
Then there’s the new early signing rule, which is portrayed as the product of a political collaboration meant to find the sweet spot among all sorts of competing interests. Guess who was among the collaborators.
Still, the approval this week was a long time coming for the MAC commissioner who in some ways was the face of early signing period legislation. For nearly four years he’s been involved in some capacity on the hot button issue. He worked with former Auburn coach Gene Chizik and Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity, among many others, as part of a working group trying to put together an early signing period solution palatable enough to a diverse group with many different wants and needs.
“This was in many ways one of the most collaborative pieces of legislation I’ve ever been a part of,” he told AL.com. “I thought there was a lot of good discussion. A lot of good work done to listen, to absorb and then try to craft a package that hopefully advances the needs of our student-athletes, is respectful of the coaches time and is ultimately in the best interest of college football.” [Emphasis added.]
Man, taking time off from the reserve fund, this must have been a serious interest for McGarity. I mean, there’s no monetary angle, right? Right?
Get The Picture 
Hired in Feb…rule enacted in April. This is ex post facto.?
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First off, it ain’t the federal government we’re talking here, so skip the Constitutional concerns.
Second, it wasn’t exactly sprung overnight. Gus took a gamble and lost.
Then again, maybe there isn’t much talent coming out of that high school in the next couple of years. 😉
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Yes, while limiting, the new rule will do more overall good than any problems it causes, imo. It is one school, and only two years of a blackout, plenty of other places to catch fish. If you really need the HS coach badly, that isn’t such a big deal, go ahead and hire him….at least it will be for a valid reason. Shutting down the potential for “bribery and corruption” in this one area is worth it.
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It is important for us to ensure the early signees are drug-free and do not become eligible for COA stipends any earlier than the mandated date.
It is also important for us to remind the Alabama reporters to use the proper salutations when addressing our privately-funded associates.
#COMMITTOTHEG
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Does this mean a kid from Opelika can’t go to Auburn for the next two years, even if he wants to?
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yep. Just another instance in a long string of screwing over students. A rising Junior from that school who may be a D1 recruit and always loved Auburn is now shut out of that opportunity because of a decision that a coach at Auburn made, that likely wont even be there when he would have attended Auburn
Or the flip side, why would any top program hire any coach from Grayson for any position if it meant not being able to recruit Grayson for 2 years. So now those coaches are now shut out of a portion of the job market.
Its a stupid rule passed by petty people. It was passed based on a perceived slight, not an actual provable offense, but just one that they thought was happening.
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Just to be clear, rule only applies to analyst hires. If you want to hire a high school coach to join your assistant staff, restrictions don’t apply.
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Isn’t that a distinction without a difference? It still limits the opportunity for H.S. coaches to advance in their careers while potentially limiting the choices for any future recruits from that school.
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If you value the coach’s skills highly enough, you hire him.
If a HS coach wants to go to the next level, there’s more than one school hiring analysts.
If a recruit is good enough to come to the attention of a school like Auburn, there are likely other programs interested.
If you’re Gus and you want both the coach and the recruit, you have the option of doing so.
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Boosters can also just pay for the kid to receive a “scholarship” to a Single A sized private school that has no recruits (or IMG) so he can sign / be recruited from there (along with any other top players for the next two years) and still get the coach. Following the intent of the “rules” is for plebs.
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Neither stupid, nor petty. Based on sound logic, not addressing the issue would continue to lack of wisdom from the “leaders”.
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I usually agree with the Senator, but I’m more in line with DP here. A 3rd generation legacy that may not be on anyone’s radar as a sophomore is now prohibited from fulfilling his dream to go to AU? A
junior transfers into the school due to a parent’s job relocating from Texas and now the kid has to eliminate AU from consideration?
I know the above hypotheticals are slim, but it’s just silly that the primary impact of this rule is to limit options for the athlete, and not the analyst/coach. I would be OK with a rule that says an analyst/coach can not have any contact with a recruit from his old school for 2-3 years, with scholarship penalty to the school or termination of the coach if not adhered to.
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Kids “transfer” from one high school to another all the time. Every year. If a coach or former coach suggests to the kid to “transfer to receive better opportunities” at the college level, that’s what will happen.
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Your last paragraph is spot on.
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That was for DawgPhan not the senator.
Sure wish we could edit or delete comments on here.
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I’ll echo the sentiments above. This is a stupid rule. If the NCAA has a problem with schools like Alabama (and now Georgia!) hiring large support staffs with off-field analysts, they need to man up and ban the practice. Make some rules that regulate coaching staffs. If they’re not willing to fight that fight, then they need to just take their hands off of it.
I used to cover Opelika High School sports as part of my beat when I was a sports reporter. It’s a perennial power house and I guarantee you that they’ve got prospects. I can also guarantee you that there are a large number of kids on that team who grew up hoping and dreaming of being Auburn Tigers. Now, because the NCAA is clutching the pearls over concerns that Auburn may have a recruiting edge because they can afford to hire analysts and Troy can’t, those kids are screwed over.
The first rule of the firing range is to know your target and know what’s beyond it in case you miss. The NCAA continues to spray student athletes with missed bullets as they try to take shots at the power teams in power conferences.
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McG supporting the early signing period makes since as once an athlete is signed they can stop recruiting. Think of the savings.
Long live the Reserve Fund.
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