Oversigning Over?

[SHOSS]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...ex.html?eref=T1

Just seems so shady anyway...

[Mean Green 93-98]

You just can't have an article on oversigning players without mentioning this guy . . .

Troy coach Larry Blakeney, the Stephen Hawking of oversigning physics, believes he gives players a chance who may otherwise given up on the idea of higher education. Between 2005 and 2009, Blakeney signed an average of 32.4 players a year. Despite signing 40 this past February, Blakeney said that he never has failed to provide a scholarship for an academically qualified player. "If you ever balk on one, you won't have many more opportunities," Blakeney told SI.com in February. "We've never fallen short. We've never not had a scholarship."

[H-towngreen]

I would almost guarantee that at some point Troy has had a time where there wasn't an available ship. We prolly just haven't heard about it. The NCAA needs to step in and do something about this.

[GreenBat]

I would almost guarantee that at some point Troy has had a time where there wasn't an available ship. We prolly just haven't heard about it. The NCAA needs to step in and do something about this.

That would require a competent administration. And the NCAA is a lot of things, but competent is not one of them.

[KingDL1]

I am glad they are going in this direction, it is more straight forward.

And it really won't hurt Troy either they will just have to skip the signing part and tell some recruits in order to qualify we need you get your butt in a Junior college. We have a few we prefer and enjoy working please apply at Junior college X,Y & Z.

[NorthTexan95]

That would require a competent administration. And the NCAA is a lot of things, but competent is not one of them.

Bingo!

[UNTLifer]

How do you sign 32.4 players a year for four straight years and never run out of scholarships to offer? Seems to me the numbers would eventually catch up to you.

[UNTLifer]

Because only about 20 of them qualify.

Ahh, didn't read closely enough and overlooked this little nugget from Blakeney:

Blakeney said that he never has failed to provide a scholarship for an academically qualified player.

Some of these folks must have really gotten short changed if they can't qualify for Troy.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

This is something that would help us if we would do it.

[GrandGreen]

This is something that would help us if we would do it.

Yes, that would sure help NT's APR rating. The last thing NT needs is to take more borderline academic football recruits.

I think this points out a major fault in the APR process. Some schools apparently have little problem taking students who barely qualify and keeping them in good academic standings once they pass the NCAA minimum standards. Schools are in effect rewarded for offering and steering athletes to courses with little challenge and probably less value. Conversely, schools that insist athletes take course loads at least comparable with the normal student are penalized.

I definitely don't think Troy is an example of a program I want NT to copy. Approximately 1/3 of their signees do not meet the NCAA minimum academic standards and the school has the lowest entrance standards of any school in the Belt. Not a good combination for a school that wants to move up the athletic food chain. On field success is great but most college presidents want to be associated with schools with similar stanards and college athletic directors don't want to compete with schools that have lower standards.