Abstract
This study sought to determine what factors influence the decision-making processes of college football coaches when over-signing a recruiting class and/or roster. NCAA Bylaws limit the number of scholarships Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) members can award for their program (85) and annually (25) in recruiting. Over-signing is the term used to describe the practice of college programs signing prospective collegiate athletes to a National Letter of Intent (NLI) that may exceed the maximum number of athletic scholarships permitted by the NCAA, or when a team brings in a recruiting class that pushes the team’s number of players on scholarship past 85. This action results in coaching staffs taking a scholarship away from a returning player or later informing an incoming player he will not be extended a scholarship. Although many sport journalists have written about this issue (Bachman, 2011; Doyel, 2010; Feldman, 2007; Gordon, 2011; Towers, 2011; Whiteside, 2011), it has not yet been examined through an empirical study. Seventeen college football coaches and personnel staff were interviewed for this study. Our findings show that over-signing occurs because it is an accepted practice that can give coaches a competitive advantage, while also compensating for general attrition and indecisive recruits.
Highlights
This study sought to determine what factors influence the decision-making processes of college football coaches when over-signing a recruiting class and/or roster
Conversations with college football coaches and professional staffers provided a rich description into what the recruiting process is like and why over-signing is used in recruiting and roster management practices
These conversations revealed that over-signing is generally viewed as an accepted practice that offers teams the ability to account for college athlete attrition rates and indecisive recruits, as well as improve their chances of winning games (RQ1)
Summary
This study sought to determine what factors influence the decision-making processes of college football coaches when over-signing a recruiting class and/or roster. Over-signing can and does occur in multiple sports, it has received the most attention from sport journalists and fans in regard to FBS football (Bateman, 2011; Doyel, 2010; Feldman, 2007; Infante, 2011; Staples, 2011a; Staples, 2011b; Towers, 2011; Whiteside, 2011) This increased attention can be attributed to the spotlight the media places on college football and the size of football teams; if school signs 37 players the media is likely to notice (Staples, 2009). The lack of empirical studies examining the utilization of over-signing in college football combined with the subjective reporting of sport journalists provides athletic administrators and fans with only a minimal, exploratory understanding of this issue. This article will discuss the recruiting process and recruiting oversight as well as incorporate the views of college football coaches and decision-makers to provide a more holistic view of oversigning
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