BlockM

February 28th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^

We'll find out in a couple of years whether this is a token gesture or not. I'm guessing we'll see just as many medical hardships, etc. as before, just with more elaborate excuses.

If he's serious about it, this could equalize some of the talent differential.

TTUwolverine

February 28th, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^

Since four-year scholarships are being offered independently by schools and conferences at this point (at least, that is my impression), I want to know if there are any differences between scholarships offered by different conferences/schools.  Is the wording in these scholarship "contracts" (if there is such a thing) different between the SEC and Big Ten?  Do they have different release clauses which would make it easier/harder to cut a kid loose?  Or are they all using the same contract with the same stipulations?

Dailysportseditor

February 28th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^

when it comes to scholarship offers. For the athletes' sake I hope Alabama and the other SEC schools limit forfeitures of 4-year-scholarships to academic ineligibility or serious misconduct.

Hardware Sushi

February 28th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^

You can still kick them off the team - you just have to look hard enough for something that breaks the scholarship requirements.

I bet we see a lot more "team rules violations", positive drug tests, felonies that would've been misdemeanors staying felonies, etc. Plus, you know he's going to make life hell for the guys he says should leave and end up staying.

I would say more medical hardships but I don't really know how Saban will increase more and not make it more obvious than it already is....

SAvoodoo

February 28th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^

That's all well and good until he cuts a kid after 2 because he got hurt. He will claim he meant 4 one year scholarships, renewed at his discretion.  Sure, he offered them, and then pulled said offer from the table when he needed the spot.

Lionsfan

February 28th, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^

I seriously doubt it changes anything. This is just something that people who defend oversigning will look at and say "See, Saban offers 4-year schollies just like Big Ten schools."

LSAClassOf2000

February 28th, 2012 at 6:36 PM ^

I dare say that the scholarship policy at Alabama is also the policy which governs medical hardships, greyshirting, signing entire counties to the team, and telling kids that you'll offer them next year if they would just wait.

Just remember, Nick, if you offer it to one recruit, it's only just to offer the same deal to your WHOLE recruiting class...

Ventilator

February 28th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^

He will still find a way to get rid of players, I bet. One-year scholarships are not attractive to every recruit so it makes since to offer four-year ones to stay competitive with all the other schools that do.

BrownJuggernaut

February 28th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^

"We don't cut players," Saban said. "I don't know anyone who does. So I don't think that's an issue."

I'm interested to see if Saban follows through with this or not. I'm leaning towards the latter.

myrtlebeachmai…

February 28th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^

to allow over-commiting, then pull out the carpet from under kids' feet at signing day, more secretly "uncommitable" offers, so to say.  It may just push the cut line to the front of the process, since it won't be allowed in the middle anymore.

AthensoftheMidwest

February 28th, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^

Since many people on this board think Saban's old scholarship possibilities were a huge part of his success, that means those same posters will now predict Alabama will start to take a swan dive in wins now, right?

Yeah. We'll see how that goes.

Skunkeye

February 28th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^

He won't pull a kid's scholarship.  He will pull the kids tutors off and wait for a legitimate excuse.  Don't ever think that Saban will change his ways; just his tactics.

Tater

February 29th, 2012 at 9:20 AM ^

It doesn't mean that kids won't suddenly find themselves with no scholly on NSD.  It doesn't mean he won't have the "heart to heart" with non-producers were he tells them they aren't projected to see the field and might have more fun at a smaller school.  

All it means is that if he really wants to get rid of someone, he will have to "cross his t's and dot his i's" a little better in the paperwork.  It's really a great move on his part, because he sees that he could start losing recruits to schools that offer four years.  

When I see kids who don't see the field except in fourth quarter blowouts getting degrees from Bama, I will be a lot more convinced that he is being sincere.