Home     News     Obituaries     Sports     Dallas Cowboys     Features     Entertainment     Opinion     Classifieds

SPORTS Local Baseball Basketball Dallas Cowboys Football Golf Motor Sports Outdoors Recreation Soccer Tennis Tiger Woods Track and Field Other Sports

PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE Wednesday, August 19, 1998 Teaff says coaching group studying new recruiting schedule By CHIP BROWN AP Sports Writer AUSTIN (AP) - Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, said Tuesday that college coaches have begun a yearlong study into possible changes in the recruiting calendar. Teaff, coach at Baylor University for 21 years ending in 1992, said the study will include the possibility of delaying the contact period between coaches and recruits from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1. Currently, coaches can evaluate players throughout the fall and then begin contact on Dec. 1. Under the proposal being studied, coaches wouldn't be allowed to begin contact until Jan. 1, Teaff said. "In December, one of the concerns I've always had is that when your team needs you the most, you're out on the road recruiting," he said. "When the end of the semester comes and a youngster is struggling academically, you're out on the road recruiting and your staff is on the road, too. Or if you are preparing for a bowl game, you can't go out recruiting while a team that isn't in a bowl game can." Teaff said the study also will include the possibility of an early signing period in addition to the February national signing date. Currently, recruits may make verbal, non-binding commitments but must wait until February before making a binding commitment to a school. "We're seeing more and more youngsters that make early commitments," Teaff said. "Right now, when you get early commitments, you spend all of your time babysitting and fighting somebody off. Frankly, from an integrity standpoint, that's where the B.S. starts with negative recruiting." One coach in favor of an early signing period is Texas' Mack Brown, who already has 13 verbal commitments from 1999 recruits. "I would like to see an early signing date," Brown said recently. "It's like marriage. If two people are ready to get married, they shouldn't have to wait." Teaff, speaking to the Austin Rotary Club, said he doesn't miss coaching and hopes that Baylor will turn its fortunes around. The Bears have gone 25-31 with one coach fired since Teaff's departure. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1998, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:

Search current site:        Search archives for:

© 1995- The E.W. Scripps Co. and the Abilene Reporter-News. All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement. We also have a Privacy Policy.