Posted by bambi2godzilla on 4/19/2008, 1:34 pm
63.249.102.18
It sure seems college football coaches (especially) could use some of their now free time to develop relationships with their CURRENT players. Either that, or make an effort to improve judgment ability beyond the time in the 40 and how many reps at 225 pounds a player can do.
COLLEGE INSIDER
New NCAA rule a loss for coaches, recruits
Dave Curtis
Orlando Sentinel Columnist
April 19, 2008
The best coaches will say recruiting is all about relationships. And how better to develop a relationship, they'll say next, then to spend time around a prospect and speak with those closest to him or her?
Yet the NCAA seems intent on stripping away the opportunities for head football coaches to develop such relationships with high school players. The association's latest strike against coaches took effect this week, with college head coaches no longer able to recruit off campus from April 15 until May 31.
The rule revolves around the SEC -- league representatives proposed it, and many around the country feel it targets the conference's most zealous recruiters. In some circles, the legislation has acquired a catchy nickname -- "The Saban Rule." And its namesake isn't real pleased about losing his time on the road.
In a teleconference Thursday, Alabama Coach Nick Saban called the new rule "ridiculous." He said he always tries to judge an incoming player's character himself, knowing his bosses and fan base will hold him responsible if a player fails off the field. Now he's lost half his time each year to get close to his future players.
"We will be held accountable in the long term," he said on the call, "relative to decisions we make on character and all those factors."
The change comes from concern over coaches violating an established rule that prohibits them from speaking with recruits on spring visits. Players from all grades figure to seek out major college coaches when they roll through, even to say hello or receive a handshake.
"Sometimes, when a head coach walks into a high school, it almost ends up an event," said Tennessee's Phil Fulmer, who also opposes the change.
But most coaches value the time to watch in person as players practice. Saban said he also benefited from chatting with teachers and guidance counselors; Florida's Urban Meyer has said he tries to find a female faculty member who can discuss how a potential Gator treats women.
But those springtime opportunities are gone, delegated now to assistants, who remain on the road. Head coaches remain in their offices, grading talent by video, learning about their recruits' personalities and behaviors by phone.
No doubt, though, the relationships between big-time prospects and big-time coaches will be much weaker. And that hurts everybody involved.
COACHES GONE CRAZY
College football coaches wish springtime were solely for player development and booster-club speeches. But often the multi-million-dollar men find themselves making fools of themselves in defense of themselves or their players. Here's a look a four of the most dysfunctional coaches for Spring '08:
*Rich Rodriguez, Michigan: This season's undisputed champ for zaniness, Rodriguez has spent three months embroiled in a lawsuit against West Virginia, his former employer. Now an affidavit has revealed that Rodriguez offered a job to a WVU fundraiser accused of making a racist remark regarding offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, a black man. Lots more to come on this story.
*Nick Saban, Alabama: Numbers show the King of the Crimson has distributed 91 scholarships for the fall, six more than the NCAA maximum. But Saban refused to discuss how he plans to get under the minimum, telling the media, "It's none of your business. And don't give me this stuff about the fans need to know, because they don't."
*Rick Neuheisel, UCLA: Bruins football tradition dictates that the players, led by the senior class, skip one of the 15 spring practices. Neuheisel, a former UCLA player, participated when he was an undergrad. Now as head coach, he balked at the practice and plans to petition the NCAA to get the missed practice back. As if Pete Carroll and the Trojans didn't pose enough problems for Year I of the Neuheisel Era.
*Bo Pelini, Nebraska: The Daily Nebraskan on campus in Lincoln wrote an editorial criticizing Pelini's discipline of recently arrested Huskers. Pelini responded by calling the newspaper's offices and dressing down a student staff member for the paper's stance. The tirade came a week after the coach was spotted ducking in and out of downtown bars looking for players enjoying an adult beverage.
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