Blind Squirrel wrote:The NCAA should continue to not acknowledge verbals. Any action on their part would just demonstrate how powerless they are WRT verbals. Year after year parents/kids across the nation aren't going to band together and agree on a verbal date. The only way things will change is if college coaches agree and then honor that agreement. The irony is that the coaches of the top programs would likely have the most to gain if verbals started later and on a specified date. Less risk. Fewer mistakes. Especially if scholarships become guaranteed 4 year deals.
Cynical Squirrel
I agree, but don't think the coaches will police this on their own. They created it and continue to work the system as-is with no sign of backing off. It's unlikely they will agree to some kind of honor system that mandates JR year verbals, as it would only take one (or the mere suspicion of one) cheater to bring the whole thing down again.
While the NCAA can't really prevent the verbals, they can set standards with regard to NLI's and scholarships. They could, and should, enact rules that would effectively cause coaches to become more prudent in their dealings with recruits.
A few things they should do, IMO:
Allow scholarship guarantees up to 5 years - 100%, 93%, 50% etc etc. School can increase the amount but can not decrease the amount.
If a player with a multi-year guarantee is cut, the school still pays the scholarship amount, but only half of the guarantee counts against the total number of allowed scholarships.
On deals less than 4 years, say 1 year, the school may elect to renew the deal for a 2nd, 3rd 4th year at the same (or better) terms as the original deal. If the school does not renew the deal, or offers less than the original deal, the player may agree to the lesser deal, or elect to opt out and switch schools without restriction. IOW if you agree to 50% you are locked in at 50%, you can't transfer to take a 100% offer from another school.
Increase the number of scholarships. Coach's salaries are going up, and facilities are being upgraded across the country at a cost well into 6 and 7 figures. So trade a few (mostly empty) new bleacher seats for more education funds.
Allow official visits beginning the summer between HS Soph and Jr year. Schools should recruit on their own dime, not on the parents.