The NCAA made a strong move this weekto free up the recruiting process and modify its overall rules book.I have always felt like the NCAA was a step behind on governingcollege athletics especially football. Times change and rules must beadapted and in a lot of ways I like what they are trying toaccomplish. In my opinion the NCAA should be made up of three largedepartments. 1. Compliance 2. Enforcement 3. Legislative. Here iswhat I would do if I were in charge.
Compliance- This department dealswith making sure all kids are enrolled legally, stay on trackacademically and monitor the now important APR. Compliance dealsonly with academics and if I were them I would outsource internshipsto universities to get students to get the word out to high schoolathletes.
Enforcement-This would be thelargest department broke down by regions of the country. Each regionwould have a team leader and would be responsible for all (includingdivision 3) schools with regards to rules. They would monitor,investigate and rule on any issues with regards to recruiting andadminister with each school regular drug tests.
Legislative- This group wouldanswer any questions regarding rules, plus rule independently onmedical hardships, transfers and waivers with regards to NCAAathletes.
This and That..
Plenty of things going on inside theSEC and with regards to recruiting stay tuned. The Texas A&MAggies gave Kevin Sumlin a new contract and raises for hisassistants. I amOKwith a new deal if you feel like you got theright guy after one year. I do think he outperformed theirexpectations and now that A&M is in the SEC they must pony up tomake sure Sumlin is their guy long term. New quarterback coach andco-offensive coordinator worked with Kliff Kingsbury and DanaHolgorsen at Houston and for Kevin Sumlin. He has been thequarterback coach the last two years for Geno Smith at West Virginiaso he brings great experience to the position. This is a great hiredconsidering what Sumlin lost in Kingsbury. Saban has never been prouder of a team than this year's edition.
Nick Saban said he has never been prouder of a team than the one he has coached thispast year. You could really get the sense being around him and theteam in Miami that he was very proud of the way this particular teamhandled the approach to winning. It is tough to be on top and haveeveryone gunning for you and especially when you won the title theyear before, but the Tide prepared and focused in a way that I thinkeven exceeded Nick Sabans expectations.( I know he would neveradmit that).
Steve Spurrier said that Connor Shaw would miss spring ball after surgery which could further cloud thequarterback spot at South Carolina. I have been told many times that Shaw is the guy for the Gamecocks, but every time Thompson is in the game something good happens, especially in the passing game. Thompson will be given an opportunity to run the team in the spring and Iwould expect the Gamecocks to work a lot on their passing game. Thompson will run the show in the Spring and he has made plays when given the chance. Stat to consider: Thompson threw 10 TD passes in just 127 attempts (1 every 12.7 attempts)
