Why allow late signing?
I understand National Signing Day. I also understand that things get messed up in delivery (fax machine jammed, computer is gagging) so you need a short grace period. However, why would you allow recruits to not sign for an undetermined amount of time (yes, at some point you need to enroll at a school)? I saw an article on Bryce Brown waiting until March to sign and thought back to the Pryor saga, it seems a bit silly to me that you drag out these schools. I think about the NFL draft and sweeping up the free agents shortly after the deadline if spots are open. Give me some religion on this one.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
Why FORCE kids to choose what school they're attending 6 or 7 months before they have to enroll?
If schools want to wait on a kid, that's their prerogative. They're the ones putting themselves on the line. If six schools keep a spot open for _____________, then five of them are going to end up with an empty spot in their class.
Besides that, NSD is the FIRST day kids can sign. What's your solution? Make them ALL sign on one day and one day only?
"You can choose whatever school you want, but if you don't choose February 4, then you can't ever play football in college."
January 26th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
I honestly think that is a decision that should be made by the recruit and the school. I think a lot of times we forget that these kids are making the biggest decision of their young lives so if they are gun shy we should be understanding and respectful of the due process. Now granted, I do agree that we don't want to have a lot of Terrel Pryor sagas unfolding before us. But we don't. So if a kid is moving like molasses when it comes to his decision making process. That's cool, as long as it isn't grand standing like Terrell did last year.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:34 PM ^
it's not actually late until school starts.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
Odoms signed after nsd as well.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:45 PM ^
that why make a "big deal" out of National LOI Day if you can, you know, NOT sign on National LOI Day?
I feel this way too. It always reminds me of that Simpsons episode where the Monster Truck Rally commercial screams "SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!" then whispers "and saturday". It just seems strange to make a big deal out of some random day in which a player does not have to actually sign.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
Teams have more scholarships out there than those available and if someone doesn't sign on LOI day then they run the risk of having their spot filled. i don't know the technicalities of it but i know when pryor didn't commit, the Mexicutioner got a scholarship. thank god pryor didn't come here. can you imagine a UM world with out the Angry Enchilada. I don't want to.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
Is that the nickname you have given the poor guy in your pic?
January 26th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
Coaches don't have to allow late signings if they don't want to. They can tell a recruit, "I'm holding a scholarship for you for signing day, and if you don't take it, it's off the table." But it would be silly - and unfair to a lot of schools/players - for the NCAA to outlaw it. Some guys need more time to make up their minds. Some schools need to fill spots late. Why punish them - especially when college basketball has a signing period in April/May?
January 26th, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
A definitive deadline for a recruit to make a decision would not hurt the elite prospects or schools; however, I can see how it could hurt those on the outside. I have no support of the assumption I am going to make; however, recruits earn last minute scholarships (Morales) that allow them to take advantage of an opportunity that they may not have had. Also, it allows other recruits to further assess their situation and decide whether they will ever have an opportunity to contribute. If a class fills up, it allows schools from the MAC, C-USA, etc. to swoop in and get a recruit that they may not have had the opportunity to secure. This is purely speculative...