🏈 "Early Signing Day"... How you feel about it?

[Tidestalker]

A seven week difference is considered a huge benefit to a player. Now, he has even more pressure to make his decision during his senior season versus after his senior season.

Not true. If he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day... Remember?

 

[TerryP]

A seven week difference is considered a huge benefit to a player. Now, he has even more pressure to make his decision during his senior season versus after his senior season.

Not true. If he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day... Remember?

You've suggested the reason to support an early signing period is "they're guaranteed a spot" if they sign early versus being "strung along" by schools if February is the only date.

With 70% plus signing early that means their decisions are being made during their senior year in school academically as well as during their senior seasons playing football. Recruiters will pressure kids to sign early. They already are.

There's nothing I've written here that isn't true. Schools want kids to sign early and they recruit them to sign early.

"...if he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day" where, as you've asserted, they're going to be strung along with the chance of not having a spot open? We have coaching staffs telling kids they need to sign early because there's a chance they won't have a spot but that's not applying more pressure during their senior season?

Facts of the matter say it's not even seven weeks considering a good three, or more, of those weeks were in the dead period anyway. Now, these families don't have the ability to sit back and contemplate which school would be the best without having different staffs recruiting them day and night.


What I see being ignored is there is no difference now, as compared to a few years ago. There isn't more opportunity, just more pressure on when. In the end, it's still a zero sum game. The number of opportunities remain the same regardless of the date they sign.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Saving spots is not a good idea. Bama could write a novel on the subject after last season. We were scorned, ignored or otherwise left at the altar, so strategy killed us last time as much as coaches being replaced and a lower number of recruits signed. This season, everyone has got the hang of what they want. I'm still a little surprised all the elite players who love to be historically dramatic were willing to sign early. I guess the ability they have now to start school early is also changing the dynamics of recruiting and becoming the great motivator. But I love it. Less drama for the kids and certainly the schools know where they stand right now and for me, the less drama in my life the better.

 

[94 Grad]

A seven week difference is considered a huge benefit to a player. Now, he has even more pressure to make his decision during his senior season versus after his senior season.

Not true. If he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day... Remember?

You've suggested the reason to support an early signing period is "they're guaranteed a spot" if they sign early versus being "strung along" by schools if February is the only date.

With 70% plus signing early that means their decisions are being made during their senior year in school academically as well as during their senior seasons playing football. Recruiters will pressure kids to sign early. They already are.

There's nothing I've written here that isn't true. Schools want kids to sign early and they recruit them to sign early.

"...if he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day" where, as you've asserted, they're going to be strung along with the chance of not having a spot open? We have coaching staffs telling kids they need to sign early because there's a chance they won't have a spot but that's not applying more pressure during their senior season?

Facts of the matter say it's not even seven weeks considering a good three, or more, of those weeks were in the dead period anyway. Now, these families don't have the ability to sit back and contemplate which school would be the best without having different staffs recruiting them day and night.


What I see being ignored is there is no difference now, as compared to a few years ago. There isn't more opportunity, just more pressure on when. In the end, it's still a zero sum game. The number of opportunities remain the same regardless of the date they sign.

Exactly why I think an August signing period would be better. It makes school take a huge chance on kids if they want to sign them before their senior year. I think it would create the desired affect of only the most dedicated signing. It gives the kids all summer to think about it and make a decision.

Like everything in life, there will be unintended consequences... but I like to see the first signing period move further away from the Feb date.

 

[Tidestalker]

A seven week difference is considered a huge benefit to a player. Now, he has even more pressure to make his decision during his senior season versus after his senior season.

Not true. If he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day... Remember?

You've suggested the reason to support an early signing period is "they're guaranteed a spot" if they sign early versus being "strung along" by schools if February is the only date.

"...if he's too pressured he can wait until the next signing day" where, as you've asserted, they're going to be strung along with the chance of not having a spot open? We have coaching staffs telling kids they need to sign early because there's a chance they won't have a spot but that's not applying more pressure during their senior season?

And this is why I say it's very obvious who wants you and who doesn't with the new NSD...

Do you really think that if Pierce Quick or Evan Neal says "I'm going to wait until Feb" and has Bama in his top 2-3, there wouldn't be a spot? You serious, Clark?

On the other hand if a kid like Dallencourt or Billingsly does the same, they are absolutely rolling the dice. There are levels and the staff's now have to communicate this in December, with a known first and second date, as opposed to just 1.

Buuuuut, that decision is in their hands now - Much more so than it was in only February. Again they know where they stand... Now in February, they know EXACTLY where they stand. This wasn't always the case. The teams that they thought wanted them either took other guys or will continue to recruit full force. I don't recall any Jarez Parks/Darius Philon incidents last year and don't expect to moving forward.

Ultimately you're right, the same amount of scholarships will be given out either way. Which is why I don't agree there's a negative attached to having an extra signing day for kids that have done their research, feel comfortable with their choice to a school who has committed to them, and want to get it done now. Especially when there is a second option available to them to wait for February if they prefer.

 

[TerryP]

@Tidestalker,
What this has boiled down to is three different conversations, or consequences, we've seen from the early signing period. You're still continuing with "it makes it easier" and the concept, by itself, does make it easier. The date is the issue.

In 2017 the early signing day was December 20th. The NSD was February 7th. That's a total of 52 days. The quiet and dead periods had long been established. As you can see below, they ran the 17th, it went to a dead period from the 18th to January 11th. There's 26 days, almost a month, where there's time to accomplish what this change was set out to do: make it easier on the student.

They've just given them 26 days which is a lot of symbolism, but little substance. Saban himself mentioned how they are turning up the heat in the fall of these kids senior year so they can get them to sign early. Where's the relief there? An earlier date means an earlier decision which translates to earlier pressure: in their seasons.

They went to the point of moving official visits. So, there's room on the front end of their senior seasons. It's still an early signing date, and those who want to wait another four months can.

Just as a side note: There was a reason they structured the basketball regular signing periods they way they have. If you've noticed, there's several months between those two—corresponding to the beginning and end of their seasons.

 

[planomateo]

Heard today on a podcast that almost 76% of football recruits signed during ESP, that was an increase from last year by ~4%.

 

[Bama Guy]

Not counting the first early signing class, I think it helps us. The coaching turnover we have may affect a few players that we really wanted if his position/favorite coach left.. I know, I know, the players come to Bama to play for Saban, but we could one or two each recruiting cycle.

 

[94 Grad]

I really think the early signing period should be before August 1st. Move it before the senior season. Make the universities take a “risk” if they want to take an early commit. I think you’d see only the most dedicated and serious kids sign. Which is what the early period is for.