Change to Committment Process Needed?

17-18yr olds are allowed to change their minds or have a change or heart. However there should be an early signing period. Coaches really don't know who's on board until signing day. If there was an early signing period at least they could have time to pursue viable alternates if they feel a commitment is wavering.

Something needs to be done.

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There should be an early signing period, that's all that's really needed.

Have one in September or December.

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What do you do for a player that signs early and then there are wholesale staff changes during the season or during bowl week? What about a scenario where a program is sanctioned after the player signs early?

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So you're saying we shouldn't be trying to sign Sci Martin because he's committed to TCU? Just asking.....

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How do you get that from someone saying that there should be an early signing period?

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How do you get that from someone saying that there should be an early signing period?

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The original post was about changes to the commitment process to avoid last minute switches that leave schools hanging. We're okay with it when the player switches to LSU but need to change the system when they switch to other schools.

Here is a rambling perspective:

I used to follow recruiting pretty closely, I would go to a few local games a year, I would listen on Fridays and follow national players through the websites. Over the past few years, and especially this one, I have just lost interest.

I think the thing I really liked about recruiting is getting to know the recruits before they made it to college (not unlike watching NFL to watch former college players) and forming an expectation of those players. It was never about counting stars and bragging about who "flipped" to us. However, the product we are being sold nowadays is more geared toward the latter. It is exhausting keeping up with recruiting, most of the media coverage revolves around where he wants to go to school and how many stars a faceless organization has awarded him. These All-American games, which are put on by the same rating agencies, have become more important than the games where they compete against their actual rivals with their actual teammates. It's a sad, diluted joke.

Every Article: "I spoke with a source close to this 17 year old kid, and he is down to 15 schools, and plans to trim his list to only 5 by the end of the season, and will sign on NSD.....UPDATE: I am now hearing that Texas is out of that 15, and UNC is in, according to a source close to the West Coast standout." Newsflash, the kids is going to USC or UCLA, and we won't know until the last day (or first day depending on how you look at it) you could possibly know.

The point is, the media is focused primarily on figuring out where these kids are going to go to school, rather than who is actually going to stand out. As an observer that has no affect on the outcome, I don't give a shite about what some writer's interpretation of how a kid is feeling about where he wants to go at the moment. Yeah, I'd like to know who is interested enough to visit, but if you say you are going to be a Tiger, I am going to be a fan of yours. Once you realize that you can't believe what any of these kids say, its hard to be really invested in the whole process.

So yes, I think something needs to change. I can't be the only one who feels like they have to tune out the entire process in order to be excited about incoming freshman. If I knew that a kid that said he wants to be a Tiger, is in fact going to be one because his commitment is binding, then yeah I might pay more attention and be more invested in reeling the uncommitted guys in. But, I cannot watch another kid pick up a hat and tell me where he is taking his talents to, when he has been "committed" to half the SEC in his short time as a recruit. Also, why was this ever the preferred method of announcing? Lebron had to move back to fcking Cleveland to try and wipe his public perception clean after that spectacle he put on that these kids are still imitating.

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What do you do for a player that signs early and then there are wholesale staff changes during the season or during bowl week? What about a scenario where a program is sanctioned after the player signs early?

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Kids have to take all of that into consideration anyway. Usually there are signs that changes will be made in some way long before the end of the season. Changes are still made after signing day and the kids are stuck with them. Until that is changed, I don't think there needs to be anything else other than an early signing period.

IMO, that is a terrible idea. You are dealing with kids who change their minds when the wind blows. What happens when they commit to a team in October and the coach that they are close with leaves to go to another job. They are stuck. As far as the greyshirting issue, I think if the coaching staff are upfront with the kid who is borderline but they like him then he needs to know the options. If they don't and spring it on him at the last minute I don't like that at all. One thing I have learned about recruiting is that most schools and recruits aren't totally honest the whole time. If a coach likes someone better they quit talking to the recruit and if the recruit likes someone then they go on visits.

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What happens when they commit to a team in October and the coach that they are close with leaves to go to another job

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Then wait for the traditional signing period?

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If a coach likes someone better they quit talking to the recruit and if the recruit likes someone then they go on visits.

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And an early signing day will prevent schools from backing out on recruits.

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who change their minds when the wind blows. What happens when they commit to a team in October and the coach that they are close with leaves to go to another job.

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They learn a life lesson.

Maybe they could then focus on degree programs, academic support, campus life and life after football. A life that, for the majority of them, will not include a post collegiate career.