🏈 There was a good rule change by the SEC today...

[TerryP]

In the past, at neutral site games, teams couldn't have unofficial visitors at those games. It was OK within the NCAA rules, but not in the SEC legislation.

This means more to UArk than anyone else considering the games they play in Little Rock.

A big benefit to Bama is we'll be able to host unofficial visitors (as in supply tickets) for our trip to Dallas. As long as one of the SEC teams is considered a home team, it's all good.

FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas may host prospective football student-athletes for unofficial visits at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock and at neutral site games, based on new legislation passed by the Southeastern Conference at its Annual Spring Meeting in Destin, Fla., on Friday.
Previously, Arkansas was unable to provide tickets to prospective student-athletes as part of an unofficial visit for games at off-campus venues. The new conference policy mirrors current NCAA legislation which allows the designated home team to host prospective student-athletes at any game played at an off-campus site.

"We are pleased that the new legislation will allow us to host unofficial visits for games played away from the Fayetteville campus," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. "With games in Little Rock and with the potential of resuming a series at Cowboys Stadium, this was a competitive issue we felt was important to address. With the new legislation we will now be able to host prospective student-athletes on unofficial visits at any one of our home venues."

 

[planomateo]

that's kinda cool, but this also means bowl games too I take it - not sure if bowl games were included previously.

 

[TerryP]

No, I don't think it would include bowl games. I'm not sure though.

My first thought is quiet and dead periods would come into play.

 

[TerryP]

Class of 2012​

August 1, 2011 through November 26, 2011 — Quiet Period.
November 27, 2011, through January 28, 2012 — Contact Period (except for the following periods listed below).
December 18 through January 8th — special considerations for JuCo prospects (see official NCAA Calendar). December 18 — Quiet Period.
December 19 — January 3 — Dead Period (see exceptions listed on NCAA PDF).
January 8 — Quiet Period.
January 9 — January 12 — Dead Period (see exceptions listed on NCAA PDF).
January 29 — Quiet Period.
January 30 — through February 2 — Dead Period.

 

[planomateo]

didn't even think about that...

 

[TerryP]

So much for sleep before work tonight...geez, what a day!

Anyway, a little history here.

When Arkansas first joined the conference they were allowed to host unofficial visitors in Little Rock. We, as in UA, brought it up in the SEC meetings and it was stopped. Our reason? Inequality of how the rule was being enforced.

There's a certain school in the state of Alabama that used to play the Tide in Birmingham for the Iron Bowl. They made a decision to take those games to their campus stadium. Then, this unnamed school wrote and presented legislation to the SEC offices stating we shouldn't be allowed to host visitors in Birmingham. And, therefore, the rule was instituted.

Was it to hinder our recruiting efforts? You be the judge.