Early Signing Period

[jbcarol]

ESPN CollegeFootball ‏@ESPNCFB  19h
College football is taking steps toward establishing an early signing period http://es.pn/O2x4p4

Susan Peal, NCAA associate director of operations, said the continued acceleration of recruiting has led the Conference Commissioners Association to consider an earlier date to supplement the long-existing date in February, similar to the structure for basketball and other sports.

"I think everyone wants an early signing period," Peal said this week. "It's just trying to nail down what's the appropriate date for that."

The letter of intent program is governed by the CCA, a 32-member panel of Division I conference commissioners. The group will meet in June to review an agenda that includes an early signing period.

The usage last fall of financial-aid agreements, available for January-enrolling prospects on Aug. 1 of their senior years to secure a scholarship, is among the accelerating factors. Prospects who sign financial-aid agreements and enroll early do not sign letters of intent.

Peal said the NCAA recently surveyed coaches about an early signing period. Most of the disagreement, she said, involves the actual date.

Options could include a fall date, late-summer or early-summer. No consensus exists.

"I know the [Southeastern Conference] coaches are not in favor of changing the recruiting calendar," Kentucky's Mark Stoops said in January...

Peal was the former Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance at The Ohio State University per her professional social media bio.

[hawg IQ]

I like the idea of an early signing period.  Several things it would help on.

1.  allow a high school senior to thoroughly enjoy their last year of high school.

2. assuming some sort of limit as is in basketball (somewhere around 12), it would allow coaches a better evaluation of remaining pool of recruits for February.
3. take some of the tremendous recruiting pressures away from what is a huge disadvantage to coaches, teams, families of players ,coaches alike.
4. I think it would be an advantage to teams such as Arkansas and allow high school players to really find a college that is the best fit for them.

as to the early sign date, I would think July, after the camps and before fall practice. that's a perfect time frame, I see other dates earlier or later conflicts  to players and coaches.

[rhog1]

I hate this idea. It will eliminate a lot of the flips. Seems like it would benefit somewhere like Alabama a lot more than us.

[hawg IQ]

I hate this idea. It will eliminate a lot of the flips. Seems like it would benefit somewhere like Alabama a lot more than us.

I see the contrary on flips. I think it creates more. Say kids stay for later dates thinking they get marquee bama, lsu or similar..when the remaining scholarships gets gobbled up some are left with no place to go but the lower tiered teams. If the kids wants the SEC, well he has fewer teams to pick from, it could create a little more parity in sec.

[rhog1]

I see the contrary on flips. I think it creates more. Say kids stay for later dates thinking they get marquee bama, lsu or similar..when the remaining scholarships gets gobbled up some are left with no place to go but the lower tiered teams. If the kids wants the SEC, well he has fewer teams to pick from, it could create a little more parity in sec.

You will have schools like Alabama saying if you don't sign during the early period then you may no longer have a scholarship here, as a pressure tactic. This will lock down some of the undecideds who probably would have went somewhere else.

[CDBHawg]

Let the Bama's, Texas's, etc. fill up early.

I think it's be good for us.

[onebadrubi]

This will not result well for Arkansas.  Coming to memory, we wouldn't have got JoJo, Cornelius, Kirkland, Edwards and more.  This will not help a school that has a successful year, kids will be signing before even a game is played this year, not good for us.  We are banking on a some big games, huge crowds, and a couple of nice wins to swing some big recruits our way. 

[CDBHawg]

This will not result well for Arkansas.  Coming to memory, we wouldn't have got JoJo, Cornelius, Kirkland, Edwards and more.  This will not help a school that has a successful year, kids will be signing before even a game is played this year, not good for us.  We are banking on a some big games, huge crowds, and a couple of nice wins to swing some big recruits our way.

That's assuming those other schools take their commitment and allow them to sign. Kirkland is the only one on that list we probably wouldn't of signed.

I would argue it'd help us in recruiting.

Where it truly hurts is during a coaching change.

[The real Hogules]

I hate this idea. It will eliminate a lot of the flips. Seems like it would benefit somewhere like Alabama a lot more than us.

Yes, but that's a double edged sword!

Some greats will sign early as will some perceived greats and once the ink has dried on the scholarship offer you can't ask them to grey shirt.

[hawg IQ]

You will have schools like Alabama saying if you don't sign during the early period then you may no longer have a scholarship here, as a pressure tactic. This will lock down some of the undecideds who probably would have went somewhere else. 

thing about Alabama , they already sign about 15-18  5 stars and the rest abunch of 4 stars, maybe 1- 3 star. How they might get some better players out of this, than what they get already, is beyond me.
They usually steal some away in the last day or two anyway. I say fewer numbers in February for them would help an Arkansas.
    The other advantage for teams like ours, lets say Alabama or teams that caliber load up on skill players early and plan on getting lineman in the feb and a few skill kids have banner senior seasons...it would benefit us.
I can see more upside than downside..
   besides its working fine in basketball, why be afraid of change in football?

[hawg IQ]

That's assuming those other schools take their commitment and allow them to sign. Kirkland is the only one on that list we probably wouldn't of signed.

I would argue it'd help us in recruiting.

Where it truly hurts is during a coaching change.

on the coaching change, I agree,  however there would probably be a rule of not having to honor LOI's in the event the coach terminates..

[ChicoHog]

I think it might have been Petrino, not sure, that said an early signing period would hurt Arkansas as our best bet is to get kids on campus in the fall to see our facilities, experience a game day atmosphere, etc.,  Many of our recruits come from a long distance relative to most SEC schools and they have no idea what Arkansas is like. I'm guessing most of LSU, UF, Bama, UGA recruits have been on many unofficial visits as they live much closer to campus.  If they do an early signing period I think it should be limited to 12 or 15 people at most. 

[HogPhilosophy]

I think an early signing period should only apply to those who qualify for early graduation.

[CDBHawg]

I think an early signing period should only apply to those who qualify for early graduation.

This makes most sense.

[Hogtimes]

This will not result well for Arkansas.  Coming to memory, we wouldn't have got JoJo, Cornelius, Kirkland, Edwards and more.  This will not help a school that has a successful year, kids will be signing before even a game is played this year, not good for us.  We are banking on a some big games, huge crowds, and a couple of nice wins to swing some big recruits our way. 

Hopefully the reverse will happen and Arkansas will not have to  depend on swaying late decision makers.  We will be winning and have kids committing early to Arkansas instead of what we have now.

[Hogtimes]

I hate this idea. It will eliminate a lot of the flips. Seems like it would benefit somewhere like Alabama a lot more than us.

Hpefully in the future  we will be in a position like Bama and the shoe willl be on the ther foot.

[rolyat_2008]

wouldn't be good for us but some will say it would be

just like they said A&M coming to the SEC would be good for us (recruiting in TX)

[Wahls]

just like they said A&M coming to the SEC would be good for us (recruiting in TX)

I got lambasted on here for saying everyone was retarded for thinking that.

[PygmalionEffect]

I think it might have been Petrino, not sure, that said an early signing period would hurt Arkansas as our best bet is to get kids on campus in the fall to see our facilities, experience a game day atmosphere, etc.,  Many of our recruits come from a long distance relative to most SEC schools and they have no idea what Arkansas is like. I'm guessing most of LSU, UF, Bama, UGA recruits have been on many unofficial visits as they live much closer to campus.  If they do an early signing period I think it should be limited to 12 or 15 people at most.

I believe in this scenario above, thus it would not help us to have recruits signing in the summer.  I do think the early enrollees should be able to sign when they sign their financial aid paperwork like happened with Peavy and Cornelius this past year.

[Hawghiggs]

 I'm fine with this as long as we are allowed to bring juniors in for official visits and would be able to get the scholarship back if the athlete doesn't qualify before December.

[Dark Helmet Hog]

Not sure this is a good thing. I can't say it's helped any other sport.

[Beavthompson]

thing about Alabama , they already sign about 15-18  5 stars and the rest abunch of 4 stars, maybe 1- 3 star. How they might get some better players out of this, than what they get already, is beyond me.
They usually steal some away in the last day or two anyway. I say fewer numbers in February for them would help an Arkansas.
    The other advantage for teams like ours, lets say Alabama or teams that caliber load up on skill players early and plan on getting lineman in the feb and a few skill kids have banner senior seasons...it would benefit us.
I can see more upside than downside..
   besides its working fine in basketball, why be afraid of change in football?

15-18 5* that would be the greatest class ever!! Find me any school that signed 15+ 5*!!

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell ‏@RecruitingAJC ·2h
Richt on early signing period: "I've got a feeling it will be like 'Why in the world did we do that?'" http://wp.me/p3Xdrl-nX

[Wildhog]

Real bad for Hogs if it happens.

[tbhogfan]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. -Bert Lance

If it ain't broke, keep tinkering with it until it is. -NCAA

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell ‏@RecruitingAJC ·55 mins
Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin favors early signing period in August or Dec: http://wp.me/p3Xdrl-o7

Miami's Al Golden is campaigning for not 2 but 3 signing periods.

[wholehog92]

This would be bad for AR.  Our biggest battle is getting kids on campus to shoot down the national stereotypes.  If we don't get the opportunity to get them on campus before they even make a decision, we've lost our biggest battle before we ever start.  The more time we have to get them here the better.

[Wildhog]

This would be bad for AR.  Our biggest battle is getting kids on campus to shoot down the national stereotypes.  If we don't get the opportunity to get them on campus before they even make a decision, we've lost our biggest battle before we ever start.  The more time we have to get them here the better.

Absolutely 100% on the money.

[mpt]

Let them visit in the spring of their Jr. year, it would give the spring games on campus a much more important role in showing a kid what the fan base is like.  Not sure this would help the hogs based on the number of fans that show up for the game.  Not when bama has 90,000  show up for their spring game.

[colbs]

IMO this wouldn't be good for the hogs.

[hawg IQ]

IMO this wouldn't be good for the hogs.

I don't see a down side.. A lot of juniors coming to campus right now.
If a kid come and has a good visit, why not sign him in early signing. I think it hurts the higher ranked marquee teams more.

[hawg IQ]

15-18 5* that would be the greatest class ever!! Find me any school that signed 15+ 5*!!

Well how about 7 - 5 star ( 7 parade all American) and 19- 4 star then ! I think about 15 was in one of high school army all American type games.
the point was Alabama gets em anyway.
Don't see them "doing better" with signing date?

[rolyat_2008]

the coaches in talent rich areas are all in favor of it

for them they can get recruits on campus quicker and lock them up

then move on to the other blue chippers

[Melorock089]

I think it helps the elite teams. Kids know elite teams cherry pick their players and can easily pressure any kid to sign early. It's bad for that kid because he could have buyer's regret.

Many of our marquee signees are recruits we've battled with other elite colleges. I don't mean to bad mouth Arkansas but some of them chose us because we were the next best option.