Seventh-year Husker football head coach Bo Pelini has an idea to ease the strain of recruiting: end National Signing Day. While doing so might increase an offer’s significance and slow down recruiting, there’s a severe flaw that could hinder recruits and programs alike.
Pelini’s suggestion of an offer being a potential iron-clad contract makes sense. However, he’s not taking a standard 17-year-old prospect’s judgement into account.
If the Nebraska staff decides to take a shot on a kid that it likes and feels it can develop, giving that prospect a chance to sign on the dotted line immediately could result blowing up in its face.
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Take wide receiver Spencer Tears who just decommitted on Wednesday.
I’m going to guess it’s no coincidence that he happened to say “no thanks” after the transfer of Damore’ea Stringfellow. Tears committed after the Red-White Spring Game back in April.
He obviously had a good time since he decided to pledge allegiance. What happens if he signs on the dotted line, finds out about the transfer and has to spend at least one year as a Cornhusker?
Pelini officially has a guy that doesn’t want to be in Lincoln, NE. Tears essentially becomes a wasted scholarship for a season. What if a significant number of other prospects sign in haste either of their own will or pressure by a coach or family member?
Pelini goes on:
"“Why does there have to be one specific day? And it will get rid of some of the stuff that goes on, kids pulling the hats and so forth.”"
I see where Pelini’s coming from and share his feelings towards one specific day. The “one day” part, that is.
I‘ve been a strong proponent of an extra early signing day for a long time. That stance isn’t changing. You give kids a chance to camp, take in a few campuses/meet the staffs and if they’re truly content, they can sign on the dotted line before their senior year. August 1 seems reasonable.
When it comes to Pelini’s issue with “pulling the hats and so forth”, that ranks up there with alternate uniforms. To quote one of my favorite lines from Bomani Jones, “it ain’t about you.” This is a prospect’s ride and if they want to be flashy and have some fun, that’s on them.
Also, prospects will still have hat ceremonies at their high schools and they’ll be streamed. Such a policy changes nothing there.
It comes as no surprise that the Nebraska head coach doesn’t like the glitz and glamour that comes with some recruits. He’s a blue-collar guy and not into the flashy stuff, but that’s how the game is played. Either you adjust or you risk losing out, much like in an actual football game.
Yes, I’ve ragged on some of Pelini’s points so far, but we share a common bond when it comes to recruiting. We both feel that when a new head coach comes in, players should be released from their National Letters of Intent. This goes back to the Tears situation.
A coach doesn’t want guys who don’t believe in his system on his bench. That’s space for someone who does buy in. If Tears was locked in, but there’s no coaching change, why should he care if the team wins or loses? Lincoln, NE’s not where he wants to be.
"“Some of these kids get 60 offers. Some of these people don’t even know who a kid is. The whole thing gets watered down. There’s no way some [team] can take that many guys.”"
No team can, but that’s not the point. If a staff is going to recruit properly, it has to have a Plan A through J. It’s not expecting to take 40 commitments, but it’s cultivating relationships early in case things go south.
I’ll point back to Stringfellow again. If Nebraska wide receivers coach Rich Fisher hadn’t built such a strong relationship with him before he bolted Seattle, it’s far more unlikely he’s a Husker today.
Apparently, Pelini doesn’t feel his plan would be implemented because current policy has been in place for such a long time.
That’s true for most of it, however the issue we agree upon may be the most likely change. I can easily see coaches getting their wish of an early signing day.
This helps both recruits and coaches without putting the latter at a distinct disadvantage by not even being able to make a first impression.
I get where Pelini’s coming from, but he’s not seeing the process entirely from the recruit’s point of view.
He’s opened discussion and that’s where the beginning of change happens, but implementing a system that results in piles of transfer paperwork isn’t the answer.
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