SEC football coaches support early signing period
DESTIN, Fla. – The long-debated idea of an early signing period for football is gaining momentum across the country, including among the SEC's coaches, who are now unanimously in support of an early date on the first Monday after Thanksgiving.
"I think it was unanimous," LSU coach Les Miles said following Tuesday's opening sessions of the SEC Spring Meetings at the Sandestin Hilton. "It was 14-0. Absolutely."
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, Florida's Will Muschamp, Arkansas' Bret Bielema, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, Georgia's Mark Richt and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen all support an early signing period, but like anything else involving a critical change in policy, the specifics are where there is a divide. Steve Spurrier did voice opposition, at least publicly, so the "unanimous" support may not be exactly as Miles characterized.
The SEC has twice opposed early signing periods proposals to the Collegiate Commissioners Association, which governs the National Letter of Intent program, but there is solidarity in support of the concept now, with only Steve Spurrier the date remains to be ironed out.
The ACC is sending a proposal to the CCA with Aug. 1 as the date.
"We have not had a discussion at the (athletic director) level yet as to whether or not we want to change our position," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. "Our concern has been that an early signing date means that the signing date's in the football season — and that's not to say we won't support it, I don't know where we're going to come out — but one of the things you have to think about is an early signing date means the football season. That means a different summer, that means a different spring, the early signing date becomes the primary signing date like in basketball and the question then is are we going to be willing to make other changes that are going to accompany an early signing date.
"I think we've got to vet that out and see if the conference wasn't to change that position. Up until now, the conference has been opposed to it. … We aren't there yet."
The coaches came out of their Tuesday meeting with more of a unified message than when they entered, either a sign of progress in the discussion or a difference in opinion among the group.
"I've waffled on that, I've gone back and forth," Freeze said. "I am for one, but I have not seen the formula right now that doesn't have issues with it. And the last thing I want to do is speed up recruiting anymore. I think it's too fast now."
The dates some SEC coaches prefer range from August to December, and stipulations regarding the number of official visits an early signee can take, and when, further complicate the issue.
"I'd be for it," Muschamp said. "But again, I don't think — it's going to be something we've discussed a lot in my time here and I don't know that we're all going to agree on something nationally."
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who did not speak on Tuesday, said last week he'd be "surprised" if an early signing period was enacted, and did not declare where he stood on the issue.
Bielema is a "huge proponent" of a summer signing period and feels a date in December, the preference of several coaches, including Nick Saban, would not resolve many of the issues already at play with schools rescinding offers late in the process if a player's performance drops during his senior season.
The Razorbacks coach also referenced several states where high school seasons go into December and having players sign then would distract from their team's playoff runs.
Richt, who serves on the American Football Coaches Association's board of trustees, referenced the league's past support of a time around Thanksgiving and how it would benefit programs in lower divisions as well.
Still, any change is met with some trepidation.
"I know there's some good reason for it," Richt said, "but I'd be concerned about being able to coach our team in season and about being able to have some sanity in the offseason."
