Comments on: Verification 2.0

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:41:15 +0000

How do you take advantage of a rule? That is just plain dumb. If the NCAA want to change the rule then fine. The top tier schools will always find the best way to manage their roster. Let me ask you this, if a recruit was told that you are expected to work hard in the Football Program, but after 1 or 2 years doesn’t seem to put forth the effort, is it bad to release him from his scholarship? I guess what you would like is to move to an entitlement program where all scholarship players stay on scholarship and the team because… gosh darnit they deserve to.

By: Dr. Gonzo

Dr. Gonzo — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:56:46 +0000

I posted in an earlier comment, but I think it should be mentioned here as well:

Oversigning is currently within the letter of the law, but certainly not within the spirit.

The 85 player scholarship limit (down from 95 in the 1990’s) was created in order to produce conformity and parity throughout college football, in an attempt to promote fairness and uniformity throughout the country.

Plainly said, the rule was designed so every team would have the same number of players on a team.

However, what Alabama (and other schools have done) is skirt the rule by manipulating the system in order to still meet the mandated 85 limit. Instead of bringing in a maximum of 85 players on scholarship, the schools have brought in new prospects and found a way to marginalize mediocre players (whether by medical waiver, transfers, kicking them out of school).

In fact, many Bama blogs and ESPN article speculate on how ‘Bama will get down to 85 by fall camp.

This in itself is a violation of the spirit of the rule. This should not even be an issue. If Alabama would have been playing within the spirit of the rule (that most schools do play within) they would not have to find room for newcomers.

They would not have to have grey-shirts. They would not have to have guys pay their own way. They would not have to place guys on Bear Bryant scholarships. They would not have to encourage guys to transfer.

Sure, attrition happens everywhere. However, forced/manipulated attrition does not happen everywhere and it is a slimy game.

Bama (and many of its peers in the SEC), are currently taking advantage of the rules, but with proper attention the NCAA will probably put an end to this policy.

It is a HUGE advantage to be able to bring in 13% more players a year. If Alabama conformed to the rules, they would not have their Heisman Trophy runningback on the roster. He was the last recruit in the class and would have ended up at Michigan State. Alabama had already oversigned by a few players when they got Mark Ingram to verbal and eventually sign a LOI. However, because Saban knew he could make room he offered Ingram.

After the NCAA takes care of this rule Alabama will eventually find another loophole to exploit (like contacting kids on facebook, Twitter, webcams and e-mail to BlackBerrys- all of which Saban, Kiffin, and Meyer have pioneered).

Just another step for college football becoming professional.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:34:08 +0000

Yes. Also, there is no redshirt program at the service academies; everyone is expected to finish in 4 years.

http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/AMA/RAPIC/June%202010/RAPIC%20June%202010%20Report.pdf

http://rise.espn.go.com/football/articles/2010/Recruiting-Road-Series/05-military-q-and-a.aspx

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:49:05 +0000

What if a rule limited the number of LOIs that can be signed over a 4-5 year period?
Say, if a limit like 90 (or even 100) were in place over a 4 year period, that would limit
oversigning eventually. I’d even be willing to allow a certain amount of fudge-room
for injuries and transfers out, but a limit would force schools to:

(1) try to retain and develop the players they sign
(2) limit their pursuit of potential academic and character risks
(3) avoid relying on next-year’s class to fill this year’s attrition

HS Football players who get injured, though, would be hurt by this to a degree if I am
thinking correctly. But I don’t think its a picnic for them now either.

By: Les

Les — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:32:56 +0000

Josh,
How does it work with the service acadamies? I notice that Army (West Point) just announced their incoming class. It was 27 direct entry commits (no army prep school) and 26 kids coming from their prep school. Looking back that is their usual class size. Are they exempt because every kid who enters is on a scholarship? Just curious being this is one of the schools that has offered my kid and is under serious consideration by him.

By: DP

DP — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:38:58 +0000

No, I don’t know either but I’d say the weight of the evidence makes it likely that Grant quit football because he couldn’t stay healthy. I think there would have been a more substantial role for him last year had he been able to stay on the field. When he was healthy enough to play he returned kickoffs and he got a few carries at tailback in mopup situations. Saban talked about putting him in the slot in some offensive packages but shortly after that Grant was hurt again. I don’t think he was healthy enough to play in more than 5 or 6 games in either of the last 2 seasons. He was out for the SEC championship game and still wasn’t well enough to play over a month later in the BCS championship game. And he was hurt again at the end of practice this spring and didn’t participate in the A-Day game. His injuries have been a sports hernia and then repeated abdominal muscle problems. I suspect that most players who spent a significant amount of time 4 years in a row rehabbing from injuries would say enough is enough.

But Joshua, despite knowing all of this by now, writes that Grant was “cut”, then says he “quit football”. Those are 2 different things, but since Joshua has an axe to grind he starts with the unsubstantiated allegation that supports his thesis. No integrity.

By: catch 5

catch 5 — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:58:35 +0000

I don’t know, do you?

What would you do? I know going out on a high note (with his playing career) would be very appealing. Keep in mind that he has already graduated and is not the caliber of player the NFL is looking for. Add to that the injuries he has battled through his years at Bama, and is it not feasable that he decided a national championship would be a fitting end to the career as opposed to hanging around a campus just to play (sparingly it would seem) one more year? Why not get on with your life?

By: John

John — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:39:58 +0000

Verification #2 says “While the Tide did bring in a full group in the fall of 2009, three of those players were able to count towards the 2008 signing class.”

Seems strange, since Alabama signed 32 in 2008. ???

By: DP

DP — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:04:21 +0000

Joshua, here’s a simple question that will reveal your lack of character. Did Terry Grant quit football or was he cut?

By: deepsthboy

deepsthboy — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:01:44 +0000

I suppose I could just re-read the post before I hit the “Submit” button, but how much fun is that?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:22:44 +0000

lol…don’t worry, I know better. Btw…I checked on the editing option and this template doesn’t offer that option (well it does but only to the site administrator). However, if you have something that you want to edit, just put it in a reply comment to the original post you want edited and I will make the change and update the comment.

By: deepsthboy

deepsthboy — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:17:06 +0000

Don’t get too excited, Josh. I am not becoming an advocate for your cause, trust me.

The editing option would be a nice one.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:57:34 +0000

Who are you and what did you do with dsb??? We’ll check on the editing option and turn it on if possible.

By: deepsthboy

deepsthboy — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:26:52 +0000

I happened upon this link this morning. It explains in pretty good detail how to petition the NCAA to amend its bylaws. Unfortunately it requires the petitioner to have a certain status, but at least it explains how the process works. Now all that is left is for you to find someone with the proper status to act as your go-between.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2085378_petition-the-ncaa.html

You may have noticed that the NCAA is about to change or has changed when an LOI can be offered to a high school athlete–pushing the date out. This is designed to prevent kids that are too young to be wrestling with such matters from dealing with them until they are seniors. I couldn’t agree more with this idea.

On an unrelated note, is it possible for you to allow a poster on your blog to edit his/her comments? I pride myself on my ability to write, but not on my ability to type. My mother always told me it would pay off later in life if I would only learn to type when I was in high school, but alas, like so many things my mother told me, I ignored it. I am no stenographer. Thus, it would be nice if a poster had the ability to go back and edit a post with the purpose of correcting obvious typos.