📡 Alabama famously used ex-players in practice. Now NCAA banned that.

[Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com]

New NCAA rule curbs Alabama practice strategy.

The NCAA on Wednesday banned a practice Alabama used in workouts in recent years.

Chalk up another Nick Saban rule.

No longer will former players be allowed to come back to be used as practice players, the NCAA announced Wednesday. The rule was sponsored by the ACC.

"The proposal is intended to negate competitive and recruiting advantages schools potentially could gain by allowing former student-athletes to practice with the current team," the NCAA news release read.

Alabama used a host of former stars in practices like Blake Sims, Trent Richardson and Richard Mullaney. Former quarterback John Parker Wilson also participated a few times including the 2016 preparation for LSU passer Danny Etling.

Sims played the role of Deshaun Watson entering the 2017 national title game.

It wasn't just Alabama who used alumni in practice. Former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd played the Jalen Hurts part in Tiger practices leading into that 2017 title game in Tampa.

Marshawn Lynch put on the pads with Cal during their 2016 trip to Australia during his brief retirement.

Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com
Alabama famously used ex-players in practice. Now the NCAA banned that.

 

[sean]

jeez, they just HAVE to control everything. don't they?

what's the harm in letting former players come back and helping during practice? they're not dressing for games. and don't give me this shit about it giving a recruiting advantage to any one school over any other school. just allow it, and then ALL schools can take advantage of it.

bunch of damn nazis...gotta control every single, solitary, tiny aspect of every single little thing.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

The next thing you know they will ban the Alabama tear-away jersey

 

[JoshB]

Well, that is pretty lame.

 

[planomateo]

ACC's won 2 NC in the last 5 years...this seems like something the Big XII or Pac-12 would pull...

 

[EasyTider]

 

[BamaFan334]

What's next, ex football players nit being allowed to donate to their school? This is total garbage.

 

[Tidestalker]

I see no issue in that. Seems weird. Shouldn't impact Bama anyway, they've got the best scout team every year. Them taking reps to prepare their own team seems more appropriate than some old dudes

 

[TerryP]

I see no issue in that. Seems weird. Shouldn't impact Bama anyway, they've got the best scout team every year. Them taking reps to prepare their own team seems more appropriate than some old dudes

It would have in the past, it would today if Bama were using it to prepare for an opponent, so I can't see how it "shouldn't impact Bama." Yes, good scout teams. But, members of those scout teams haven't been better than "some old dudes" or they wouldn't have been there in those roles.

If we credit Boyd's participation (in Jalen's role) as an impact...

ACC's won 2 NC in the last 5 years...this seems like something the Big XII or Pac-12 would pull...

It's a have's versus have-not's, no doubt. There aren't many schools who can pull from the same talent pools.

There are a few rules in the latest that have caught my eye. They're allowing FCS schools to pay/employee people directly associated with recruits but it was voted down in the FBS.

If I'm not mistaken the Council/Committee that votes on these rules include Bowlsby--Big 12. Bama's AD is on the committee as well...along with a guy from Mercer, and the Big South.

 

[TerryP]

ACC's won 2 NC in the last 5 years...this seems like something the Big XII or Pac-12 would pull...

Both subdivisions adopted proposals preventing former student-athletes from participating in practice at their former schools. Sponsored by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the proposal is intended to negate competitive and recruiting advantages schools potentially could gain by allowing former student-athletes to practice with the current team.

 

[PhillyGirl]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Thing is, none of the players we used were in any sort of professional league anymore. They were essentially untitled/volunteer GA's at that point. What's the fookin harm in that?

William Vlachos was in the league for a couple years, but he's an actual grad assistant. Was a few years ago, anyway... He may be in an administrative role now. But he's there at practice, helping conduct drills and such.

I get it if the former players were on current pro rosters at the time we used them. But they WEREN'T.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I think Urban Meyer said he didn't know they could do this under NCAA rules. I'm sure many HCs didn't. Well, now they certainly do. How can anyone argue an unfair competitive advantage?

 

[TerryP]

I think Urban Meyer said he didn't know they could do this under NCAA rules. I'm sure many HCs didn't. Well, now they certainly do. How can anyone argue an unfair competitive advantage?

Length of time a staff has been in one place perhaps?

 

[rick4bama]

:naught: oke2: poking Saban not a bright idea! How many of you think Coach Saban will find a way to still do this?