Blue and Gold Illustrated

March 2015 Signing Day Edition

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE I n an initiative that has been longer overdue than the new College Foot- ball Playoff, NCAA conference com- missioners are finally considering an early signing period for their football pro- grams — a move that would bring some needed stability and sanity to a recruit- ing system that spins more out of control every year. A proposal to add an early annual sign- ing period — likely in mid-December each year — was intro- duced in January to the College Commis- sioners Association, a move that if ad- opted will drastically change the landscape of recruiting by thankfully getting last-minute player poaching under control. The CCA panel, comprised of 32 col- lege commissioners from all over the country, is scheduled to formally vote on the measure in June. If approved, this game-changing early signing period could be added for a trial run in De- cember 2015 for the class of 2016 cycle, a welcome addition to the recruiting calendar. "Clearly there was a strong ground- swell for this in the coaching commu- nity and the administrative commu- nity," said Mid-American Conference commissioner, Jon Steinbrecher, the man who formally made the recommenda- tion for an early sign- ing period. "This is a drum that has been beating for more than a decade." All is fair in love, war and recruiting. And more and more in the weeks leading up to National Sign- ing Day each Febru- ary, college coaches are wasting their time re-recruiting and protecting their class a g a i n s t p o a c h i n g from other programs rather than adding new talent. And while the drama, pomp and circumstance of the current single-day signing festival is great entertainment for many fans, this antiquated system needs tweaking to provide more options for both the college coaches and the high school players. An early signing period — which every major college athletic program provides other than football — would allow willing student-athletes to end the arduous recruiting process, sign a National Letter of Intent shortly after their senior season is completed, secure Stop The Poaching, Pass The Measure Count Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly among those who are in favor of an early signing period for football. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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