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What do you guys think about oversigning?

Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:30 pm
Posted by catfish 62
Atlanta
Member since Mar 2010
4913 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:30 pm
I was looking at the UGA message board last night and saw a poster talking about January 9th being the 'Oversigning' bowl. The doggies, as well as others, seem to think that we (and Bama,UF) are committing a monumental violation of unethical proportions by signing 23, 25, 27 some-odd recruits each year and then "forcing 3-4 every year to quit" or medically disqualifying as to make the 85 max scholarship players. Does anyone think Miles is sitting there saying, "come here and you are guaranteed four years on scholarship no matter what, even if you make trouble, perform poorly academically, have compounding injury problems, or never touch the field and end up offering nothing to the team."
Or do you think it is perfectly acceptable to tell a recruit that he may not have his scholarship renewed at year end if an above scenario presents itself?
I guess the question is should a recruit have his scholarship guaranteed for four years no matter what? After all, they are renewed yearly, and not a 4 year promise
This post was edited on 12/13/11 at 7:33 pm
Posted by Tigerdogg
At least I have chicken!
Member since Feb 2005
1042 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:41 pm to
Scholarships should never be guaranteed because of instances where behavior or grades get in the way. Oversigning may not be the most ethical thing but its not against any regs. Its better than signing 20 guys then having 5 not qualify then your short players, other teams fans are just butthurt cause they can't recruit players that we have the past ten years
Posted by Pauldean
Red Stick by way of Syracuse
Member since Oct 2011
2629 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:44 pm to
ESPN Outside The Lines did a feature on oversigning. Prominently portraying LSU and Bama for some reason. It is done all over the country, but for some reason is felt to be mostly an SEC phenomenon.

If someone had more energy than me, they could google the results of last year's (this year's) vote at the SEC meetings about the matter.

I personally think it's lying to the student athlete. If you lose a scholarship player--for any reason--give that scholarship to a walk-on.
Posted by Pauldean
Red Stick by way of Syracuse
Member since Oct 2011
2629 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:46 pm to
quote:

Scholarships should never be guaranteed


Are scholarships guaranteed? For four years? Don't think so.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
260788 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:48 pm to
I only have a problem with it if you convince a kid to come to your school and then before fall practice, yank the schollie. If it's done through normal attrition, no problem.
Posted by boxcar willie
kenner
Member since Mar 2011
16035 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:48 pm to
To be the best you have to do what it takes. No way you could keep up with Alabama unless you play by the same rules Saban plays by. You have to bring in the full 25 every season then weed them out over time by using 'medical hardship', 'academic issues', 'discplinary problem' and 'not following the process', etc. If your not on the two deep by the time your a junior, these types of issues will suddenly appear for you and you will be out. Have to make room for the new recruits somehow and make the numbers work.
Posted by MoreOrLes
Member since Nov 2008
19472 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 7:54 pm to
I think over signing is horseshite.
I also think attrition is horseshite.

Having said that what do folks expect when $abun is allowed to do whatever.

The head coaches are being paid millions.... im sure many other corrupt issues exist.

Bama started the coaching arms race......the rest of us are just trying to keep up. It does have ripple affects. Oversigning is one of them.

When you make your HC the highest paid in the land before he has even stepped on your field ......
This post was edited on 12/13/11 at 7:55 pm
Posted by boxcar willie
kenner
Member since Mar 2011
16035 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:00 pm to
really it's a shame it has come to this, but you have to do what you have to do. Saban upped the recruiting arms race a notch with this policy and Miles followed suit. It's no accident these two teams are dominate on the college football landscape. Richt doesn't want to play that game and he won't be in the BCSNC anytime soon even though Georgia is ripe recruiting grounds.
Posted by Pauldean
Red Stick by way of Syracuse
Member since Oct 2011
2629 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:10 pm to
SEC votes to limit signees to 25

Sorry. It's a GG article.
This post was edited on 12/13/11 at 8:12 pm
Posted by boxcar willie
kenner
Member since Mar 2011
16035 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:12 pm to
limiting signees to 25 really isn't the issue at all. It's what you have to do to get the full 25 in every year.
Posted by jddawg58
Saban Nation
Member since Oct 2011
2157 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:12 pm to
I think that it is an unfortunate consequence of the BCS system. At Alabama, Saban does not promise anything but an opportunity to compete. I think he helps those players who are unsatisfied with their playing time to transfer where they may have better opportunities. As far as medical redshirts, the kids remain on scholarship but no longer play. If the kids don't progress, then their scholarship may not be renewed. This is a cruel reality.

The new SEC rules allowing only 25 LOIs per year and the fact that the SEC will oversee the medical redshirts should mean greater fairness for the student athlete. All coaches will now have some oversight as to their roster management.

I guess if you are substantially under the 85 you can take over the 25 if you have EEs in the middle of the year.
Posted by tigerinridgeland
Mississippi
Member since Aug 2006
7636 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:14 pm to
You find instances of over signing in other conferences as well, like the following non SEC schools who have signed 26 or more in at least one recruiting class from 2005 through 2011, and a number of them have done so more than once, and some signing 30+ recruits:

Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Louisville, Kansas, Southern Cal, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Illinois, Michigan State, Oregon State, Kansas State, Purdue, Oregon, Cal, Va.Tech, Colorado, Maryland, Washington, Syracuse, Miami, Clemson, Minnesota, Arizona State, Boston College, Southern Miss., North Carolina, UCLA, Penn State, South Florida, Michigan, BYU, Houston, Virginia, UCF and SMU.

I notice that there are several Big 10 schools in the list.
Posted by Pauldean
Red Stick by way of Syracuse
Member since Oct 2011
2629 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:17 pm to
I happen to agree boxcar. Attrition is one thing. But it's the other side of the issue that bothers me--"lying" to high school players to get them to sign, then at the last minute gray shirting them or medically redshirting them when they are healthy. Or worse, pulling their scholarship.

Complex issue...
Posted by graychef
Member since Jun 2008
28340 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:21 pm to
The only instances where a scholarship should be pulled is for academic reasons or if a player is not putting forth the effort that a coach expects. If he just happens to suck, so be it. Chalk that one up to the coaches and their evaluations. If a kid puts forth the effort, he should remain on scholarship. However, if he shows up, does nothing and doesn't try to help the team win, he should go.
Posted by dgnx6
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
68690 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:22 pm to
We havent really oversigned. Not even close to bama and auburn. That otl was shite. Go back and look at the numbers.
This post was edited on 12/13/11 at 8:25 pm
Posted by boxcar willie
kenner
Member since Mar 2011
16035 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:27 pm to
quote:

or if a player is not putting forth the effort that a coach expects.


that's a big gray area. If a player hasn't progressed to the point where he doesn't look like he will ever be a factor on the field for the team, is that proof that he is 'not putting forth the effort'?
Posted by boxcar willie
kenner
Member since Mar 2011
16035 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:30 pm to
we bring in 25 every year even when the attrition magically happens to make the numbers work out even when it appeared that it wasn't going to be possible. Doesn't matter how many you sign, you can only bring in 25, it's the 85 scholarship limit that generally looks like it's going to be the problem. You have to make room on the roster for the 25 that are coming in.
This post was edited on 12/13/11 at 8:34 pm
Posted by munchman
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
10322 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:33 pm to
Not against the rules....college football is big business. What is ethical will be sacrificed at the alter of winning.
Posted by graychef
Member since Jun 2008
28340 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:36 pm to
quote:

that's a big gray area. If a player hasn't progressed to the point where he doesn't look like he will ever be a factor on the field for the team, is that proof that he is 'not putting forth the effort'?


It's up to the coaches. Academic scholarships can be lost. Athletic scholarships should be based on performance, not necessarily on the field, in the coach's perspective.
Posted by bidnes
Richmond, VA
Member since Jul 2011
181 posts
Posted on 12/13/11 at 8:36 pm to
1. If we are forcing guys to quit, why is our graduation rate higher than UGA?

2. Just because a player is cut, doesn't mean he can't play elsewhere or finish college on his own like the rest of us.

3. The NCAA does not allow 4 year scholarships.

4. Anyone can see the number if commits before signing day and switch to another school
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