D1 Commitments 2012-2013

[joehockey]

As a place holder sounds like there are a few top players are already committed....the Women's programs appear to be moving earlier as has been the case on the Men's side.

[fanof the game]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

A "commitment" at this stage is like going steady. Maybe someday you'll get married, maybe not! Too mnay things can screw it up. Grades, injury, not progressing as it seemed at the time and so on! NCAA is VERY unhappy about earlier adn earlier recruitment and verbal commitments that mean as much as the paper they're printed on!

[SlewFoot]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

A "commitment" at this stage is like going steady. Maybe someday you'll get married, maybe not! Too mnay things can screw it up. Grades, injury, not progressing as it seemed at the time and so on! NCAA is VERY unhappy about earlier adn earlier recruitment and verbal commitments that mean as much as the paper they're printed on!

Isn't it true that verbal commitments are non-binding on the school and the player?

[ARM]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Isn't it true that verbal commitments are non-binding on the school and the player?

Yes, although perhaps more so on the player. If word gets out that a program is pulling offers AFTER a recruit has verbally accepted, that would negatively impact their future recruiting efforts.

[OnMAA]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Yes, although perhaps more so on the player. If word gets out that a program is pulling offers AFTER a recruit has verbally accepted, that would negatively impact their future recruiting efforts.

Examples even in this last season of cold feet on either side of the equation. Happens every year. Sometime the cold feet part happens during the rookie season. It's both buyer and seller beware.

[ARM]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Examples even in this last season of cold feet on either side of the equation.

Were their examples of a school backing away from a player after that player had accepted their offer? Mostly what you see from the school side of the equation is either the student can't gain admittance to the school, or the player takes too long to accept and the school has already given the scholarship elsewhere. It sounds like the latter was true in the most high-profile case of the recruiting year.

[joehockey]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

The significant development might be when a player gives a verbal to a school is the other schools stop calling and they focus on other players. It may not be binding but there is a reaction to the recruting class and places available at a given school.

[SlewFoot]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Were their examples of a school backing away from a player after that player had accepted their offer? Mostly what you see from the school side of the equation is either the student can't gain admittance to the school, or the player takes too long to accept and the school has already given the scholarship elsewhere. It sounds like the latter was true in the most high-profile case of the recruiting year.

It appears to me that the school is taking the bigger risk. If the player performs poorly in her last two years, then the school is in a situation where if they back out of the deal they look bad but if they honor their commitment they get less player than they thought. Also, with the cost of tuition if a school backed out I could see a lawyer arguing that the student stopped shopping in reliance on the oral contract. The player on the other hand can decide to go to cancel the deal and go to another school without too much fallout since the NCAA would prohibit the school from doing anything about it. I suppose that a school must be very careful in who they offer an early commitment.

[UCONN FAN]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

It appears to me that the school is taking the bigger risk. If the player performs poorly in her last two years, then the school is in a situation where if they back out of the deal they look bad but if they honor their commitment they get less player than they thought. Also, with the cost of tuition if a school backed out I could see a lawyer arguing that the student stopped shopping in reliance on the oral contract. The player on the other hand can decide to go to cancel the deal and go to another school without too much fallout since the NCAA would prohibit the school from doing anything about it. I suppose that a school must be very careful in who they offer an early commitment.

Once a player is admitted a school can not back out because a player performs poorly.

[CrazyDave]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Once a player is admitted a school can not back out because a player performs poorly.

I'm not so sure about that, to be honest. ESPN's Outside the Lines documented that all NCAA athletic scholarships are "renewable" one-year scholarships, revocable for any reason, and some schools and coaches taking advantage of that out. They documented this happening in particular in the Kentucky men's basketball program during a coaching change (see video discussion about that here).

That said, I would hope that that "out-clause" -- particularly in a low- or non-revenue sport such as women's hockey -- never be utilized.

[dontyelldad]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

If the player performs poorly in her last two years, then the school is in a situation where if they back out of the deal they look bad but if they honor their commitment they get less player than they thought.

Once a player is admitted a school can not back out because a player performs poorly.

I believe the point was that once a verbal commitment has been made, up to two years ahead of time, if the player fails to live up to expectations (athletic or academic) prior to matriculating at the institution of higher education, the school might have an issue.

Agree with the point that the school is at risk if it does so.

Agree, also, that generally, if a student is admitted, and scholarship awarded, performance is rarely a reason to revoke, although in extreme circumstances, I can see the one-year technical commitment being enforced.

[5 4 Fighting]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

If you are referring to an oral (spoken) contract between parties where the terms and conditions are not written then the obvious legal problem is proving what was said and by who.

The old adage that "An oral contract is not worth the paper it is written on" reasonably applies.

The moral and ethical part of an oral contract...well that's a different story.

[OnMAA]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Were their examples of a school backing away from a player after that player had accepted their offer? Mostly what you see from the school side of the equation is either the student can't gain admittance to the school, or the player takes too long to accept and the school has already given the scholarship elsewhere. It sounds like the latter was true in the most high-profile case of the recruiting year.

I know of at least one case for the most recently completed 2010-2011 recruiting class where the school bailed after the verbal agreement and before the NLI. It left the player scrambling last minute to find an alternative.

[SlewFoot]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

If you are referring to an oral (spoken) contract between parties where the terms and conditions are not written then the obvious legal problem is proving what was said and by who.

The old adage that "An oral contract is not worth the paper it is written on" reasonably applies.

The moral and ethical part of an oral contract...well that's a different story.

Yes the old adage is "an oral contract is not worth the paper it is written on" however. I think the oral contract argument probably gets you to court. Most lawyers want to avoid a summary judgment and settle anyway don't they?

[5 4 Fighting]

Re: D1 Commitments 2012-2013

Yes the old adage is "an oral contract is not worth the paper it is written on" however. I think the oral contract argument probably gets you to court. Most lawyers want to avoid a summary judgment and settle anyway don't they?

It would be in everyone's best interest to have the case adjudicated by Judge Joe Brown...methinks.