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“We are Really, Really Scared!” – The Big 10 Conference Speaks
Yesterday the Big 10′s Athletic Directors and Football Coaches got together, collectively whined and wiped each other’s tears, and issued the following statement in the form of a big fat “We no likey”:
We reviewed the 26 Rules Working Group proposals acted upon by the NCAA Board of Directors in January, some of which will become effective as early as July 1, 2013. While we applaud the work that has been done to date, we are very concerned that the timeline proposed for implementation of the proposals does not allow sufficient time for the Football Recruiting Subcommittee of the NCAA Leadership Council to thoughtfully consider the impact of the proposals.
We are specifically concerned with the following three proposals and ask that they be tabled along with Proposal 13-2:
Proposal 11-2: Athletics Personnel: Limitations on the Number and Duties of Coaches – Elimination of Recruiting Coordination Functions
Proposal 13-3: Recruiting: Deregulation of Modes and Numerical Limitations on Communication
Proposal 13-5-A: Recruiting: Elimination of Printed Recruiting Materials and Video/Audio Legislation
We have serious concerns whether these proposals, as currently written, are in the best interest of high school student-athletes, their families and their coaches. We are also concerned about the adverse effect they would have on college coaches, administrators and university resources.
We look forward to working with the NCAA toward improving the game, the recruiting process and the overall college football experience for all student-athletes.
In short, the Big 10 doesn’t want to recruit like a big boy. The Big 10 doesn’t like that the NCAA is considering opening up lines of communication to recruits (something that is all but impossible to regulate as is) and removing restriction on printed materials and audio/video presentations (equally difficult to legislate).
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Big 10 doesn’t want to recruit like the big boys; the Big 10 can’t even count like the big boys. Twelve teams make up the Big 10. Count them with me:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Michigan State
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Northwestern
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Purdue
- Wisconsin
None of those teams finished in the top-15 of the final Coaches’ Poll, but there are twelve teams in the Big 10. That should be a recruiting violation. Texting a high school athlete whenever you please – like all his buddies already do – should not. I dare say the text message that a recruit is getting from FBS Coach A at 1 AM on a Tuesday is less likely to lead to trouble than the text message he’s getting from High School Crony B or Girl on the Side C at the same hour.
But thank you for your concern, Big 10. I’m glad to see that you are worried about the youth of America. Just remember that your conference hasn’t exactly established a reputation for acting in the “best interest” of the youth of America, so everything you say just kind of sounds like you’re scared of competition. But that can’t be the case, because let’s be honest, you are barely competitive.
But keep your chin up, Big 10. Your “Holier than Thou” approach to recruiting is truly admirable…at least until your “Crappier than Thou” recruits get on the field and yield “Mediocre-er than Thou” results.
That’s all I got/
Andrew
Nice.