- Sep 8, 2014
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Why the college football staff size proposal had to be tabled
Two weeks ago at the AFCA coaches convention in Charlotte, NCAA officials went over a list of upcoming rules proposals in front of a large conference room of coaches. Late last week, one of the most controversial proposals was tabled by the Division I Council.
A proposal would have limited on-campus recruiting and written/electronic correspondence to 30 individuals designated by a school before the season. That would include the head coach, 10 full-time assistants and four graduate assistants, leaving 15 spots.
In Charlotte, coaches had questions. Would academic advisers have to count in the 30? Would professors? Would the school president? How would this even be enforced?
The feedback was heard, and the proposal was tabled.
“I went to the American Football Coaches Association meeting, and there were a lot of questions about how this was going to work,” oversight committee chair and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a release. “The coaches wanted to know who was going to be included, how they would be certified and who was exempted.”
The real purpose of the proposal is the NCAA’s attempt to rein in support staff sizes. Those staffs have exploded in the last five years, as recruiting personnel, analysts, quality control assistants and other roles have increased on the payroll — and as the debate over player compensation continues. Schools without as many resources want the playing field to stay fair, because there are already limits on on-field coaches and strength staffs.
But legally, the NCAA won’t be allowed to say programs can’t hire people. So instead, it is looking at ways to limit the roles. The recruiting idea was one. Another could be to limit the number of people allowed in the coaches box or on the sideline for games.
Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, even at a school without as many resources as a Power Five school, didn’t like the recruiting idea.
“When it comes to recruiting on campus, I believe you should be able to showcase all the resources your university has,” he told The Athletic. “Some places have more numbers, but that’s part of what the experience is going to be. When you think about who you have to classify in that 30 when it comes to coaches’ wives, the strength staff, the nutritionist, it’s hard to regulate that number.
“On the field, practice, games, those aspects, I can see that more. Everybody needs to be on an even field. But if you have the resources to have a bigger staff, that affects the daily routine for each student-athlete. When a student-athlete is on campus, they should be able to talk to whoever about what the experience is going to be.”
The NCAA has been trying for years to find a way to limit support staffs. So far, there’s been little change. It doesn’t appear it’s coming this year, either.
Two weeks ago at the AFCA coaches convention in Charlotte, NCAA officials went over a list of upcoming rules proposals in front of a large conference room of coaches. Late last week, one of the most controversial proposals was tabled by the Division I Council.
A proposal would have limited on-campus recruiting and written/electronic correspondence to 30 individuals designated by a school before the season. That would include the head coach, 10 full-time assistants and four graduate assistants, leaving 15 spots.
In Charlotte, coaches had questions. Would academic advisers have to count in the 30? Would professors? Would the school president? How would this even be enforced?
The feedback was heard, and the proposal was tabled.
“I went to the American Football Coaches Association meeting, and there were a lot of questions about how this was going to work,” oversight committee chair and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a release. “The coaches wanted to know who was going to be included, how they would be certified and who was exempted.”
The real purpose of the proposal is the NCAA’s attempt to rein in support staff sizes. Those staffs have exploded in the last five years, as recruiting personnel, analysts, quality control assistants and other roles have increased on the payroll — and as the debate over player compensation continues. Schools without as many resources want the playing field to stay fair, because there are already limits on on-field coaches and strength staffs.
But legally, the NCAA won’t be allowed to say programs can’t hire people. So instead, it is looking at ways to limit the roles. The recruiting idea was one. Another could be to limit the number of people allowed in the coaches box or on the sideline for games.
Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, even at a school without as many resources as a Power Five school, didn’t like the recruiting idea.
“When it comes to recruiting on campus, I believe you should be able to showcase all the resources your university has,” he told The Athletic. “Some places have more numbers, but that’s part of what the experience is going to be. When you think about who you have to classify in that 30 when it comes to coaches’ wives, the strength staff, the nutritionist, it’s hard to regulate that number.
“On the field, practice, games, those aspects, I can see that more. Everybody needs to be on an even field. But if you have the resources to have a bigger staff, that affects the daily routine for each student-athlete. When a student-athlete is on campus, they should be able to talk to whoever about what the experience is going to be.”
The NCAA has been trying for years to find a way to limit support staffs. So far, there’s been little change. It doesn’t appear it’s coming this year, either.
