Recruiting idea: promises

[Razorbacker]

I will get around to posting this in the wishlist, but first I wanted some ideas.

I think one thing that would make recruiting a bit more realistic is to have an option for coaches to make 'promises' to recruits.

I will explain exactly what I mean later, but first I'd like to explain why I want this feature. As it now stands, it is VERY hard to sign players if you are loaded at a position, even if those players you have aren't that good. It is also hard to sign players if you are weak in area... as in receivers when you don't pass much.

One way to give some teams a chance to change their offensive or defensive styles is to implement 'promises' during recruiting.

Right now we can 'pitch' things like coaching style and playing time, but what if you could take it a bit further?

What if you could promise playing time? You could have different options, like promise a starting spot, or different levels of playing, like backup or whatever.

Same for coaching style. You could promise to change your run/pass ratio... you could tell a QB that you will pass it 25-30 times a game or have a 40/60 run-pass ratio.

Now, the thing that would really make this click is that you would have a trust or honesty rating. It would start at A+ or 100 and if you lie to a recruit, you will lose points. The lower your trust rating, the less effective promises become.

What are some other 'promises' we could suggest to EAS?

I thought about promising payments or a car, but not sure the NCAA would like that. I even thought a coach could promise a degree and if you cut him before four years you take a trust hit.

Any ideas?

[DuckFan]

I thought about promising payments or a car, but not sure the NCAA would like that. I even thought a coach could promise a degree and if you cut him before four years you take a trust hit.

Any ideas?

Your main post is interesting and I will make a real reply when I get a chance to do it justice. But I thought I would address this first.

Even the players you cut still get to finish out their degrees. College players get full 4-year scholarships whether they stay on the team or not. A walkon who earns his spot his sophomore year gets a slot the rest of his 4 years in school.

[Razorbacker]

College players get full 4-year scholarships whether they stay on the team or not.

That is NOT true. Scholarships are for ONE year and it is up to the coaches to decide if they want to renew it or not. I am 100% sure about this.

A kid who is cut has to pay his own way if he wants to stay at that school.

[DuckFan]

That is NOT true. Scholarships are for ONE year and it is up to the coaches to decide if they want to renew it or not. I am 100% sure about this.

A kid who is cut has to pay his own way if he wants to stay at that school.

Yes and no.

Yes, the written rules permit schools to remove the scholarships of any athletes who get cut by their respective coaches.

But no, it almost never happens. The overwhelming majority of schools continue to provide all four years of scholarships even if a player doesn't make the team. There are exceptions, and the exceptions tend to get publicity. But there are literally thousands of student-athletes at D1 schools who are no longer competing in their sports who are still getting the free ride they were offered. The Ducks give out all 25 football scholarships each year, and with red-shirting that means that between 100-125 guys are on scholarship each year. There are always a couple dozen guys who are not playing who still get their rides.

Honoring the past scholarships doesn't cost the school much at all. And it makes recruiting much easier if the kids know they can get a degree even if they wash out. Compare that with the cost of the GI Bill and it doesn't seem like a big deal at all. I doubt that even 1% of Americans realize that the colleges themselves foot the bill for the "free tuition" that the military offers to our soldiers. The schools do not receive money from the government to cover those costs, they are expected to pick up the tab for the program. And a school like Michigan or Texas or Ohio State will have hundreds and hundreds of students getting a free ride that way. Don't get me wrong. I am firmly in support of the GI Bill program, and I think universities could do far worse than to have additional students with leadership skills and the willingness to sacrifice for their country. But that program has a much bigger effect on the bottom line than the two dozen former football players walking around campus...

[mojolonghorn]

Yes and no.

Yes, the written rules permit schools to remove the scholarships of any athletes who get cut by their respective coaches.

But no, it almost never happens. The overwhelming majority of schools continue to provide all four years of scholarships even if a player doesn't make the team. There are exceptions, and the exceptions tend to get publicity. But there are literally thousands of student-athletes at D1 schools who are no longer competing in their sports who are still getting the free ride they were offered. The Ducks give out all 25 football scholarships each year, and with red-shirting that means that between 100-125 guys are on scholarship each year. There are always a couple dozen guys who are not playing who still get their rides.

Honoring the past scholarships doesn't cost the school much at all. And it makes recruiting much easier if the kids know they can get a degree even if they wash out. Compare that with the cost of the GI Bill and it doesn't seem like a big deal at all. I doubt that even 1% of Americans realize that the colleges themselves foot the bill for the "free tuition" that the military offers to our soldiers. The schools do not receive money from the government to cover those costs, they are expected to pick up the tab for the program. And a school like Michigan or Texas or Ohio State will have hundreds and hundreds of students getting a free ride that way. Don't get me wrong. I am firmly in support of the GI Bill program, and I think universities could do far worse than to have additional students with leadership skills and the willingness to sacrifice for their country. But that program has a much bigger effect on the bottom line than the two dozen former football players walking around campus...

D-1 scholarships for football are limited to 85... you can have less if penalties are being enforced due to self penalization or NCAA penalty. Football can have no more than 85. If you are talking about all sports it will exceed 100 easily...

[Razorbacker]

The Ducks give out all 25 football scholarships each year, and with red-shirting that means that between 100-125 guys are on scholarship each year. There are always a couple dozen guys who are not playing who still get their rides.

Honoring the past scholarships doesn't cost the school much at all...

D-I football teams can have just 85 players on scholarship. You need to explain things a bit better or you are simply wrong. The NCAA would not allow a team to have 125 guys on scholarship, because it would be a way to stockpile talent.

NCAA bylaws specify that athletes receiving financial aid provided by the school count towards to 85 limit.

Scholarships in football (and basketball too) are renewed each July 1, hence they are one-year deals. Coaches rarely pull scholarships, so I am not arguing that.