Finally, college coaches can comment.
Recruits, their parents, their high-school coaches and, above all, the “recruiting experts” have all had their say. Now the college coaches can make public the sweet nothings they’ve whispered to 17- and 18-year-olds for upwards of a year.
Press conferences are set across the country Wednesday as soon as the last letter-of-intent rolls off the fax machine. Then newspapers can stop killing trees with the disclaimer “NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting until a player signs.”
Coaches are not only barred from speaking publicly until signing day, they can announce but not comment on midyear junior-college transfers.
The NCAA takes the rule seriously, and that trickles down to the first layer of enforcement – at the conference. A few years ago, a league office ordered a school to investigate the origin of a recruiting announcement in The Denver Post. The innocent blurbs all said something like: “Central High running back Johnny Heisman announced he will sign with State Tech, Central High coach Vince Lombardi announced … ”
Under intense grilling by a compliance director, this reporter would only admit “little birds” revealed the commitments. No court subpoenas have been served, so I can only assume the answer sufficed.
“All the rules are in place for a reason to keep some sense about it,” said Joe Glenn, not commenting publicly on his Wyoming recruits. “Maybe it tries to leave kids open in the event they change their minds.”
There was a time three decades ago when coaches could comment on a conference letter-of-intent only to see a prospect sign with a school outside the league.
In any event, here’s a coach- speak translation guide for Wednesday, with the quote (and what the coach really means).
“This is our best class ever.” – “Our last few classes weren’t very good.”
“This class fills our needs.” – “It’s not the best class ever.”
“We were lucky to get him.” – “We’ll be luckier if he gets past admissions.”
And finally, the one universal truth on signing day:
“Check back in three or four years.”
TV battle
Just as ESPN has turned the NFL draft into a weekend-long televised affair, ESPN and upstart CSTV are battling for viewers with extensive Wed- nesday TV and Internet coverage.
ESPN is touting “election- style coverage” on its various outlets. The broadband service ESPN360 will simulcast ESPNU’s seven-hour presentation from 10 a.m. MST to 5 p.m.
A few highly ranked prospects/drama kings who have not made their decisions might get live press conferences.
Not to be outdone, CSTV will offer Generation NEXT from noon until 3 p.m. (with veteran analyst Tom Lemming and former coaches John L. Smith and John Bunting).
CSTV controls the biggest networks among athletic department websites. Illinois promises “war room” coverage starting at 6 a.m. with blogs and online chats with the recruiting coordinator on coachronzook.com, and video of the recruiting class.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
