On a Friday in April, the Big Ten managed to score a huge victory in football.
Thanks to legislation the NCAA passed, high school juniors will be able to take official (i.e. free) visits from April to June. Players from recruiting hotbeds such as Memphis, Tenn., Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta will not have to pay their own way to visit schools such as Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois and Northwestern in the spring.
NU athletic director Jim Phillips played a significant role in what analysts termed the most significant changes to college football recruiting in decades. Phillips did some arm-twisting as chairman of the NCAA Division I Council.
Some Southeastern Conference coaches had publicly opposed the shift, but the vote passed with only Conference USA in opposition.
Previously, prospects had to wait until their senior year began in the fall to take their five official visits. By then, many have already committed to a school.
Now they can stroll Big Ten campuses when the weather is favorable. The ones who visit Evanston, Ill., for football practice will soak in views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Advantage: Northwestern.
Here's what also passed:
_An early signing date: Recruits will have the option of signing in December, so they won't get pressured by schools (and fans) to flip their commitments before the traditional February signing date.
_Another voice: Schools can hire a 10th full-time assistant coach starting in 2018. So if you can coach special teams, polish up that resume.
_Along for the ride: Schools cannot hire "an individual associated with a prospect" for two years before or after said prospect enrolls. So a dad or youth coach cannot come along as a package deal. Men's basketball has had this rule since 2010.
_An end to oversigning? FBS schools are now generally limited to signing 25 players per recruiting class.
_The Harbaugh Rule: FBS coaches can participate in satellite camps for only 10 days in June and July, and camps must take place on a school's campus.
Phillips said in a statement that the changes make for "the most significant progress in recent years to improve the football environment and culture for current and prospective student-athletes and coaches."
