Coaches favor adding a December signing date
Nebraska’s Riley fires assistant of 20 seasons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Coaches unanimously support creating an early signing period for college football in December, but the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association says none of them want a third signing day in June.
Todd Berry said Wednesday that coaches are worried the model proposed by the NCAA’s football oversight committee that would create two early signing periods in June and December for high school prospects to sign binding national letters of intent changes too much too fast.
The committee’s recruiting changes could be approved in April by the NCAA council and could take effect as early as later this year.
“We would like to now start the conversation going about multiple signing days,” Berry said at a news conference. “This is something that we have never come to agreement on, and we’re ready to take that step.
Berry said coaches understand the current model is “archaic” with student-athletes and both high school and college coaches wanting more flexibility and earlier signing periods. He also said many high school athletes enter college after concluding their senior seasons.
“We think this is the least intrusive to the current model and allows for the best study because this is the biggest step,” Berry said. “What is a multiple signing date going to do to the recruiting date? This is the biggest step of all. We need to evaluate that.”
ARIZONA STATE: Veteran coach Phil Bennett has been hired as defensive coordinator. Current Sun Devils defensive coordinator Keith Patterson will remain on Todd Graham’s staff as linebackers coach.
Bennett has coached for nearly 40 years, including six seasons as SMU’s head coach from 2002-07 and as a defensive coordinator at eight schools.
CLEMSON: Receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott made it official on Wednesday, both declaring they will give up their final year of college for the NFL draft.
The two helped the Tigers to a 35-31 victory over No. 1 Alabama to win the national championship on Monday night. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had said in November the two planned to leave school after this season and the pair took part in the team’s Senior Day ceremonies for players not returning.
NEBRASKA: Coach Mike Riley fired defensive coordinator Mark Banker on Wednesday after the unit underperformed in some of the Cornhuskers’ most important games. Banker coached with Riley for 20 years, including 14 years at Oregon State and the last two at Nebraska.
Though the Huskers rose from 64th to 30th nationally in total defense, they struggled on the big stage. Nebraska started 7-0 but lost four of its last six games. The Huskers allowed an average of 42 points and 445 yards in their three games against ranked opponents. Though they were second in the Big Ten with 16 interceptions, they finished 10th in the conference in pass defense
CFP: Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, has been given a three-year contract extension through June 2020.
GEORGIA: The Bulldogs will open the 2020 season against Virginia in Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The matchup in the annual Chickfil-A Kickoff Game will be played on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.