In five years, Alabama has signed 135 players in 5 years. LSU has signed 125 in 5 years. In comparison, Notre Dame has signed 104 players. Therefore, Nick Saban has received 31 more chances to develop 1st round talent than Notre Dame.
How does Notre Dame win on the field? Change from within? No, level the playing field.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick needs to lobby to have the current signing rules changed. It is one of the only ways Notre Dame has the opportunity to compete now and in the future.
The Fighting Irish are handicapped by committing to the student athlete. They definitely should not change that approach. However, Brian Kelly does not have the same leeway that Nick Saban has in recruiting. When Notre Dame has a "bust" in recruiting, it hurt much worse than if Alabama had the same "bust."
Two hypothetical rules would work for: Either limit the 5-year scholarships to around 115 players. Ohio State signed 113 players during this 5-year span and never signed over the 25-player limit. The second hypothetical rule would require a percentage of the players signed to stay at the school for a 4 to 5-year period.
Student Athletes are exactly that STUDENT athletes. They sign to a grant-in-aid to attend a four-year institution. The school should be obligated to uphold its side of its bargain when the student athlete is willing to put his faith in a program.
Why does NCAA claim that these are student athletes?
Not only can Notre Dame help student athletes everywhere by making sure that they get an education but they can also improve their chances of winning on the field. Jack Swarbrick needs to make it happen!
The problem is not with ND but with the schools that over recruit. They show little regard for the student and try to churn out professional athletes. They also do this because the attrition of losing players to failing or being kicked out of school
ReplyDeleteCorrect, ND has not created this problem. However, Swarbrick needs to urge the NCAA to change the rule.
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