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An early signing period is at least a year off. (Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)
A football early signing period has been discussed and debated for years, but despite indications it might finally pass this June, conference commissioners decided they needed at least another year to evaluate it.
Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, who chaired a working group evaluating the issue, told CBS Sports the early signing period debate prompted further conversation on recruiting issues like oversigning, satellite camps and grayshirting. With that in mind, the group decided to push back a decision until 2016.
Even though it feels at times like the topic has been talked to death, there is still little consensus amongst college coaches on what an early signing period would entail.
"As coaches we sit together at our national meetings to talk about it, and there are literally hundreds of different scenarios," said Memphis coach Justin Fuente. "Each one of them affects each program differently."
There are 128 programs that play at the Division I, Football Bowl Subdivision level. It shouldn't be surprising that a big Southeastern Conference school might have a different opinion on an early signing period than an academic power like Rice. It's difficult to get a majority of schools to agree on anything, let alone a measure that could drastically impact recruiting.
On a conceptual basis many college coaches want an early signing period, but they can't agree on the particulars. Each school is going to pursue the option that would help it the most, and for some, an early signing period might not be beneficial.
A mid-December early signing period, which would coincide with the mid-year junior college signing, is the proposal that got the most steam though August has also been a popular suggestion. Stanford coach David Shaw has been one of the most vocal critics of a December early signing period, stating it'd make recruiting more difficult for academic powers. The issue is that schools like Stanford, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt often don't know if a player will be admitted until after that proposed mid-December date.
Syracuse coach Scott Shafer, who previously served as a defensive coordinator at Stanford, is supportive of an early signing period, but understands Shaw's perspective.
"If I was at Stanford sitting next to David Shaw we would say 'Hell no' because we wouldn't know who we could get into school that early," Shafer said.
As far as conferences, none was more publicly against the proposal than the SEC. It's easy to understand why: The SEC has dominated recruiting, so why change a good thing?
The SEC's staunch opposition undoubtedly played a role in tabling the issue for another year. The conference has publicly supported a November early signing period in the past, but it wants a full review of other recruiting issues. Satellite camps, popularized by Penn State's James Franklin and Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, are a major concern for the SEC. The SEC has opposed the December signing period because it feels it'd speed up the recruiting process and become the new "National Signing Day" rather than the traditional February date.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has been the leading voice for an August early signing period. The idea is this would allow recruits to get their decision wrapped up before their senior season, potentially eliminating headaches and pressure. The downside, at least for coaches, is it would cut down on vacation time.
"If it goes anywhere before the junior college signing day, I think it'll (have) a very detrimental effect on college coaches," said Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Stockstill. "College coaches don't get any time as it is, but now you'll be forced to have official visits in June and July. To me, you are taking away from your team by recruiting."
There are quite a few coaches that agree with Stockstill's line of thinking. Other coaches, some in less advantageous geographic areas, would like to see summer official visits implemented because it's too difficult to get kids to take unofficial visits to their campus. Minnesota, for instance, would likely benefit from an August signing period, while Georgia might not. For every five coaches that like one proposal, there are another five that don't because it won't benefit them.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, one of the most active voices in the debate, illustrated why it's so difficult to implement an early signing period that appeals to everyone.
"There are so many different variables that go on that you'll always be able to say it's an imperfect system and I don't know if there's a perfect system," he said.