Alabama skirts the 85 scholarship rule

[mctmatt]

I was watching ESPN's College Football Report  and they were talking how it is well known that Saban will have as many as 115 to 120 on scholarship after National signing day but that he and Alabama skirt the rules by having that down to 85 come the start of Fall practice.  They went on to say that Saban states they do not encourage any player to ever leave or quit the program that every player that has left did so on there on decision or action.   If this is really true I think the NCAA has to look at that process and close those loop holes.

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

I was watching ESPN's College Football Report  and they were talking how it is well known that Saban will have as many as 115 to 120 on scholarship after National signing day but that he and Alabama skirt the rules by having that down to 85 come the start of Fall practice.  They went on to say that Saban states they do not encourage any player to ever leave or quit the program that every player that has left did so on there on decision or action.   If this is really true I think the NCAA has to look at that process and close those loop holes.

This isn't new for Saban or a lot of schools.  SEC even changed their rules a couple of years ago because so many teams/coaches were flaunting the rules and oversigning.

Saban is notorious for getting players to retire/quit for medical reasons.

Houston Nutt Rule

In May 2009, the SEC passed a rule restricting its football teams to accepting no more than 28 National Letters of Intent each year.[18] This move was widely viewed as a direct response to the University of Mississippi and its head coach, Houston Nutt, having promised 37 scholarships to new recruits for the 2009 season. Thus the rule is now commonly referred to as "The Houston Nutt Rule."[14][19]

 

[hookemhorb]

Scholarships are awarded for 1 year. They are renewed annually. There is no guarantee that you will have your scholarship renewed.

It's not too hard to force a kid to quit if he has no chance of ever seeing the field. No rules are being broken. Ethics has be damn. This is football.

 

[primal defense]

Saban gaining the system, I am shocked.

 

[mctmatt]

They stated last year that Alabama had only 15 available scholarships to offer but signed 28 and stated he always does this and when fall comes around they have the 85 they want for that year.

 

[texasdalton]

How the hell is this allowed..

 

[popdaddy]

sec,sec, maybe the NCAA should grow some teeth or balls and enforce rules as intended.  I guess major conference schools could form a new association to replace the NCAA but I hate to think about all that could go wrong with that transition.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Technically, he's right. They don't "encourage" verbally or in print. They do so through actions, and lack of actions. When you're in a different zip code than everyone else, it tends to make you want to leave.

 

[mctmatt]

Technically, he's right. They don't "encourage" verbally or in print. They do so through actions, and lack of actions. When you're in a different zip code than everyone else, it tends to make you want to leave.

Yeah , I could see them moving players from locker rooms , dorms, hell even cafeteria basically isolating you so much that you know it is time to ask for your release which they smile , shake the young mans hand and say they are sorry he is leaving but hey you have to make the decision that is best for you! What I don't like is being able to sign more kids than you have scholarships available.  I know some will say that it is allowed because some may not qualify but hey then that just becomes the risk you take for recruiting a kid that might not qualify.  If you only have 15 scholarships available then that is all you can sign , but hey if the NCAA is going to let Saban run a Pro style program where he gets to pull in as many players as possible then whittle that down to 85 by the start of the first football game well Charlie Strong lets get busy!

 

[primal defense]

Technically, he's right. They don't "encourage" verbally or in print. They do so through actions, and lack of actions. When you're in a different zip code than everyone else, it tends to make you want to leave.

Exactly, Saban probably makes it so miserable for the players he wants gone that their more than happy to leave.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

And yet, kids keep flocking to Alabama. Just saying.