Earlier Recruiting Signing day?

[XtennesseeX]

ESPN.com: Schlabach: SEC coaches nix early signing period

Think they will change the date of signing day?

DESTIN, Fla. -- What if quarterback Anthony Morelli had gone to Pittsburgh instead of Penn State? What if quarterback Ryan Perrilloux had signed with Texas instead of LSU? What if Chris Simms had played for Tennessee instead of the Longhorns?

More and more, high school football players are de-commiting and making last-minute reversals. In February, more than 100 high school prospects reversed course and chose different schools.



Yet a proposed early signing period for college football was met with much resistance this week by SEC coaches at the league's annual spring meetings at the Sandestin Resort in Florida. The league's 12 football coaches discussed the idea during meetings Wednesday with league officials, then nixed the proposal by a 9-3 vote.



The proposed early signing period, which was endorsed by coaches from the ACC and Big 12 and shot down by coaches from the Pac-10, would probably take place in December. It would be similar to the early signing period currently used by men's and women's college basketball. The December signing period would be followed by the traditional signing date, the first Wednesday in February.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he understands the value of having an early signing period. Since the Volunteers recruit nationally, it would reduce the travel costs associated with its coaches flying across the country to visit committed prospects late in the recruiting period.

"In those last two weeks, there's a lot of baby-sitting going on," Fulmer said. "If I'm not there, somebody else might be there."

But Fulmer said schools located in fertile recruiting grounds -- such as teams in California, Florida and Texas -- would have a recruiting advantage because top players could visit campus any time on unofficial visits.

"I'm not sure it would benefit schools like Tennessee because our recruiting base is not necessarily the best," Fulmer said.