BCS Frenzy - College Football News and Opinions

The SEC: Stuck in their Signing Ways?

by Allison on May 30th, 2008

This past week, the SEC head coaches (well, the majority of them anyway) proposed that an early signing day be added to the schedule, allowing prospects to sign on the Monday before the start of the contact period (Dec. 1). In effect, the proposal would have split the signing period in two, but it looks like that isn’t going to happen…at least not this year.

Last year, the SEC head coaches voted 9-3 in opposition of the signing schedule changes, but with the revisions made this year, the vote was 9-3 in favor. SEC coaches voting nay were:

• Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
• Urban Meyer, Florida
• Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

The new schedule would allow prospects to sign early, provided that they haven’t made an official visit. That’s something athletic directors and presidents alike didn’t like about the proposal. Says Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton,

“I think that’s part of the experience, going out and visiting with professors, seeing the campus and meeting with everybody.”

So why were coaches in favor? Well, currently, students are “committing” in December and January, which puts schools on hold for recruiting. However, it is common for a student to commit and then drop that decision after taking time to look around. An early signing day would put more weight behind a commitment (ie, only people who really wanted to commit would sign).

After much debate, the SEC presidents and athletic directors decided not to endorse this proposal, which means that the SEC will not favor it before the NCAA. However, I don’t think they’re opposed to the idea - they just want the kinks worked out first.

What do you think about adding an early signing day?

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POSTED IN: Debates, Recruiting