As you may know, the SEC began their Spring meetings this morning in Destin, FL. One of the hot-button items on the agenda is over-signing (the practice of signing more players than you have scholarships). There are several reasons proponents give for over-signing (in case some signees don’t qualify, etc), but to my knowledge most other conferences do not allow over-signing.
MrSEC.com had a [URL=”http://www.mrsec.com/2011/05/so-the-sec-might-have-to-play-by-everyone-elses-rules-boo-hoo/”]good article[/URL] about how allowing over-signing gives the SEC an unfair advantage over conferences that do not allow over-signing. It makes sense, since the detriment of signing only the number scholarships you are allowed and having some not qualify is that you have less scholarship players on your team.
I tend to believe that the SEC should enact a rule forbidding over-signing, as it’s really unfair not only to other schools/conferences but also to the players involved. Kentucky was the benefactor of an LSU over-signing last year (at least briefly), but think about it: you are a high school kid who has gone through an exhaustive process of recruitment and have signed a letter of intent to play for your favorite school. Months go by and you’re ready to begin your semester when suddenly you get a call, “yeah, we’ve got a little problem. We signed too many football players this year and we no longer have a scholarship for you. I know you were one of the first to sign, but…”
You’re screwed.
I don’t see the SEC making that rule change anytime soon, but if it continues to be a problem then maybe the NCAA should step in and “encourage” them to do the right thing.
