Opinions are varied among Big Ten athletic directors about college football's new early signing period. For Illinois AD Josh Whitman, the move was a no-brainer.
"It mirrors what we've done with other sports," Whitman said Monday at the Big Ten meetings in Rosemont, Ill. "Most other sports have had early signing periods for a number of years now. It never really made sense that football wouldn't have one."
The NCAA last month approved a package of recruiting rule changes that included the Dec. 20-22 signing period. Previously, high school football recruits could not sign until early February.
Because it coincides with a period when recruits can visit campuses, Whitman said the early signing period makes sense.
"It aligns more closely in the time frame in which they're generally making their decisions anyway," he said. "It was a little bit ridiculous that a lot of these student-athletes were making decisions about where they were going to school without us being able to provide them with an official visit to inform their decisions. It realigns the timeline so we can be a more active participant in their decision-making process."
Northwestern AD Jim Phillips, who is chairman of the NCAA Division I Council, said the board of governance and board of directors wanted a "comprehensive, intertwined" package of football recruiting rules on the heels of the satellite-camp issue that arose last year.
Phillips said there were about 50 meetings on the topic, but most came together on the decision.
"I feel really good about it," he said. "It makes practical sense."
Not everyone is a fan of the early signing period, though. Ohio State AD Gene Smith said he opposed it, but now that it has passed, the Buckeyes will embrace it.
"I'm kind of old school, first of all," Smith said. "I remember when it was in May, but we really feel that young kids today are pressured into making a lot of decisions early. I really like the time frame for a young person to make their decision, to be firm in it."
Whitman is also a proponent of the Big Ten's adoption of Friday night football games this season. Illinois will play Nebraska on a Friday night in its Big Ten opener, a week after playing South Florida on a Friday night. Whitman said it will help Illinois "gain some national spotlight."
Phillips, however, said teams need to be mindful of local high school football games. The Big Ten granted Northwestern's request to have two games originally scheduled for Friday nights moved to Saturday.
