New rule, unintended issues
ACC coaches worry early signing period may cause conflflicts.
AMELIA ISLAND — The apparent goal of an early signing period, in the best intentions of college football’s administrators, was to make it easier on recruits. Those with a fifirm college decision would lock up a spot early, and go back to enjoying the last moments of their time as high school students.
For some, it appears the pressure may have shifted.
S p e a k i n g a t t h e ACC’s spring meetings in Amelia Island on Tuesday, several coaches expressed anxiety — albeit acceptance — over the headline item of college football’s new rules package. The NCAA recently mandated a three-day stretch beginning Dec. 20 in which players can sign binding letters of intent. It also allows players to take offifficial visits from April to mid-June of their junior year.
That could create an alternate version of the traditional national signing day in February, the culmination of an exhaustive recruiting period. It could make December the primary recruiting month, not January.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher sees headaches ahead. He envisions juggling the postseason preparations with a frenzied final stretch of recruiting visits.
“You’re getting ready for a bowl game and a playoffff game, you’re practicing all day and you’re flflying out all night, getting back at two in the morning, getting up at six in the morning and going, you’re going to be doing that for two-and-a-half, three weeks. You’re going to drain,” said Fisher, who said he preferred an early signing day in August.
“It’s something I don’t agree with, but it’s here to stay, for at least another two years or so until they evaluate the process.”
Miami coach Mark Richt, who has the nation’s toprated 2018 recruiting class and more committed players (18) than any FBS program, would like to keep his group away from prying foes. How-