The pros and cons of an early signing period for football

With the calendar set to flip to July in a couple days, Ohio State football has already received 23 verbal commitments for its 2009 Ohio State recruiting class that it will officially sign in February 2009. With a verbal commitment, there is nothing that would stop one of the young men from changing their minds between now and February to another school - one already has (Darrell Givens, a defensive back from Maryland who verballed to Ohio State in April and has since verbally committed to Penn State, citing probable earlier playing time at Penn State as his reason).

Even more importantly, just because a player has given a verbal commitment to a school, there is nothing that prohibits other schools and coaches from calling a player and trying to get them to change their mind. Last season, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez was dubbed by Purdue head coach "a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil" for poaching some of Purdue's recruits. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel recently was able to convince Garfield Heights DE Melvin Fellows to renege on his verbal commitment to Illinois.

The SEC and other coaches, such as Jim Tressel or Texas' Mack Brown, have been advocating the use of an early signing period, similar to college basketball. Proponents suggest this would make it easier for the player to focus on their senior season, without the continual barrage of calls and visits from coaches. Opponents suggest this is simply a case of the rich getting richer ~ Ohio State could sign its 23 verbal commitments now, and literally put the full court press on two or three players to finalize its recruiting class, while other teams have barely even begun to assemble their recruiting classes at this stage.

What if a player changes their mind after they have signed? What if the coach gets fired or leaves for another school, a la Rodriguez with West Virginia for Michigan last season? Those are among the thoughts that must be addressed if an early signing period is to become a reality for college football coaches.

September 20th game against Troy could be a trap for Ohio State

While all Ohio State fans and most college football fans are eagerly anticipating the battle versus USC on September 13th in Los Angeles, the game versus Troy in Columbus on September 20th is shaping up to me as a potential trap game.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Troy was competitive in losses to Arkansas and Georgia, and blew out Oklahoma State last year. They will not be intimidated by 100,000+ fans in Ohio Stadium as they have played in tough atmospheres before. A case in point ~ Troy will play at LSU two weeks before they play Ohio State on September 20th.
• Troy had enough talent to tie for the Sun Belt Conference championship last year (granted, they lost to Florida Atlantic) and could be a contender for their conference championship this year.
• Troy is the program that has sent players such as DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys and this year's first round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills, Leodis McKelvin.
• Ohio State has usually struggled after big games - remember after the Texas loss in 2005 how Ohio State came out sluggish against San Diego State? Ohio State rallied, but the chance of a letdown after such a big game is there.

Maybe I am being my typical Minnich paranoid. All I am saying is Ohio State should be ready for a tough game on September 20th. ESPN.com is reporting a 1pm kickoff; no TV has been announced yet, but I am betting on The Big Ten Network.

Outstanding article from Andy Staples of cnnsi.com about recruiting

As excited as I am about the recruiting class Ohio State is presently assembling for Feb 2009 (up to commit # 22 and only a few spots left), this article on cnnsi.com by Andy Staples truly defines why I don't get so excited about signing Scout.com's #3 rated cornerback or Rivals.com's #5 outside linebacker. This article also backs up, in a matter of speaking, why Antonio Henton should not have transferred from Ohio State - anyone can look into more playing time. Henton needs to be concerned with one thing, and one thing only: getting his college degree.

My compliments to Andy Staples for the below copied article. Enjoy:


Posted: Monday June 23, 2008 1:41PM; Updated: Monday June 23, 2008 3:00PM
Andy Staples

The Art Of Recruiting


Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich wrote a masterpiece 11 years ago, offering accumulated wisdom to the youth of America in handy, bite-size pieces. A few years later, Australian film director Baz Luhrmann set Schmich's words to music and scored a hit with Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen). This week, as the nation's newest college football players begin to report en masse to their respective campuses, I thought I might offer some advice to help make their transition easier. So, with apologies to Ms. Schmich, I present Everybody's Free (To Wear Jock Straps).
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, wear a jock strap. Your long-term comfort and your future children depend on it.
In high school, football was a game. Not anymore. You are about to become a low-level employee in a multibillion dollar industry. If you produce on the field, you might earn millions for your school's athletic department. If you don't produce, prepare to be reminded of another fact.
You didn't sign a four-year scholarship. You signed a one-year scholarship, renewable at the head coach's discretion.
One-year. Renewable.
When you arrive on campus, someone from the athletic department will gather your entire recruiting class in a room and ask how many of you think you're destined to play in the NFL. Most of you will raise your hands. Chances are, only a few of you will ever set foot on an NFL field.
When you meet your new teammates, don't be cocky. They'll respect your humility as much as they would despise your pomposity. Also, don't stick to one clique. Teams with too many cliques tend to lose. A lot.
You probably think your high school weight workouts were tough. You're wrong. You won't really understand how wrong until a strength coach is standing over you, veins bulging from his forehead, screaming at you while tears stream down your face and the leg press turns your thighs into pudding.
So heed this piece of advice: On the morning of your first college weight session, eat dry toast. Avoid everything else. Especially avoid the bacon -- unless you want to see it in a puddle on the weight room floor.
It won't be the size of some of your new teammates that amazes you most. You'll be amazed that people so big can move so fast. If this doesn't amaze you in the least, you might be one of the few with a chance at the NFL.
Study. And pick a legitimate major, for goodness sakes. Only slackers major in general studies, recreational program delivery or journalism.
Prepare to live in a fishbowl. If, during your freshman year, a cop catches you with a half-full bottle of Bud Light, the story will make the local paper and -- depending on how good you are and whether it's a slow news day -- might make national headlines. Yes, everyone knows the average male freshman at your school drinks, but holier-than-thou sports columnists will not cluck their tongues if he gets busted. It's a double standard. Deal with it.
A word about the ladies. If a woman has dated at least three of your teammates, she is not the girl for you. However, if you happen to meet an intelligent, beautiful pre-med major who has no idea who you are or what position you play, ask her out immediately.
Download some Al Green songs. Take her out for ice cream.
Throughout the recruiting process, the coaches sold you on the promise that you'd play early. So you may be wondering why you're running with the scout team during preseason practice. Guess what? Almost all coaches say you'll play early. Few actually mean it.
Scout team isn't the end of the world. The quickest way to the first team is to prove you can dominate the starters on the other side of the ball.
For three-and-a-half hours every fall Saturday, football is still a game.
The following Sunday, when you have to eat dining hall slop because the $3.99 pizza buffet costs $2.99 more than you have in your wallet, you're a low-level employee again. If you're good -- or even if you aren't -- agents may try to tempt you with cash and gifts. You may feel like you deserve it, because you bring in so much cash for the athletic department. You may be right. But be careful, because agents and their runners have big mouths. You can torpedo your career in a hurry.
Besides, your million-dollar coach may not have it so great, either. Did you read paragraph 19 of your National Letter-of-Intent? It states clearly that you signed to play for a school and not a coach. Now here's a bit of math they don't teach general studies majors. If your team went 5-7 the two seasons before you arrived, and it finishes your freshman year 5-7, prepare to be minus one head coach.
On the subject of your coach's employment, the athletic director doesn't care what you think. The only opinions that matter belong to the people who write the big checks.
If, after three years, you think you're good enough to play in the NFL, heed the advice of the league's draft advisory council. If the council says you're a fifth-rounder, don't listen to the cousin or the agent who says you're a first-rounder. If the council says you're a surefire first-rounder, don't listen to the coaches or fans who say you owe it to the school to return for your senior year. You went to college to learn a trade that would provide significant income. A $10 million signing bonus is significant income.
If you stand no chance at making an NFL roster, hopefully you studied. Because if you have that degree, some alum is probably going to hire you because you played football. See? Double standards aren't all bad.
Above all, have fun. College will go by fast, even if it feels like some of those weight-room sessions will never end.
Just trust me on the jock strap.

Memo to Antonio Henton: Leaving OSU is a bad choice

Multiple media outlets, including The Columbus Dispatch, are reporting that Antonio Henton is in the process of transferring to Georgia Southern, a Div IAA school that would allow him immediate eligibility for playing time. While I sympathize with Henton in wanting to play, I believe such a move is very short-sighted in the long run.

Before people start firing off on how Henton probably wants a fresh start after last year's off the field issues, and how he is from Georgia, consider this - if Antonio Henton goes through with this transfer, Ohio State will enter the 2008 season with no quarterbacks on its roster behind starter Todd Boeckman to have seen live game action. While I believe Joe Bauserman outplayed Antonio Henton in the spring game, I also suspect that the coaching staff would go to Antonio Henton in the event of an injury to Todd Boeckman.

Any high school player who is fortunate enough to be recruited by a Division 1 program needs to truly contemplate what a scholarship opportunity is: An opportunity to work towards a college degree for free, while also playing a game that they love. The bitter reality is life is full of continual competition - college coaches will continually look for players that are just as good if not better than the ones they have on the roster.

Any player on the Ohio State roster should view competition as a true method to perpetually improve themselves while also improving the team. I wish nothing but the best for Antonio Henton, whatever he decides, but I also hope he does not look back on his transfer from Ohio State with regret on not rising up to the occasion when the competition opportunity presented itself.

Only 154 days till Michigan,
Minnich

Some new and not so subtle changes From The Mind Of Minnich

Please note that I have added in a countdown timer to THE GAME (so there's no excuse as to why you don't know when Ohio State plays Michigan), links to various websites I peruse, and also news feeds related to Ohio State football.

You will also notice a small picture of me drinking from a brown paper bag at last year's Avon Lake/Avon game, courtesy of Mr. Tallaksen. If there's a way to increase the size of the picture, I am open to suggestions. Otherwise, I am also open to another picture for the blog.

Only 156 days till Michigan (but you knew that from the countdown timer on the blog),

Minnich

Welcome From The Mind Of Minnich

At the suggestion of a good friend, I have started From The Mind Of Minnich ~ a scary place to occasionally frequent, but I can only assure you that it's much scarier if you are a permanent resident.

What are the topics that will be discussed in this blog? The primary topics will be Ohio State football, the NFL Draft, and random topics that frequent my thoughts but I can assure you that the primary focus will be football, as that is the topic that seems to dominate my thoughts more actively than others.

Only 158 days till the Michigan game,
Minnich