OT-ish: Saban using former players for practice squad

Submitted by canzior on

So...this just seems so outside of the rules, considering former players cannot even speak with recruits..but apparently he has cleared it with the SEC and the NCAA.  He has brought back Blake Sims, Trent Richardson, and Parker Wilson.  

Personally, I love the idea, (and would love to former players having a chance to come back and improve the current players) but I think we all know if Harbaugh did this, Sankey would salt the earth and the collective ESPN mind(s) would lose it.

EDIT: Source added.

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/trent-richardson-simulated-leonard-fournette-on-the-alabama-practice-team/

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Mr. Yost

November 8th, 2016 at 8:31 AM ^

Blake Sims was on Game Day when they played Ole Miss or TAMU talking about how he was preparing the team for the opposing team's QB all week.

I'm with the OP, I like the idea of it, but if we did it they'd instantly bitch.

As soon as we had Charles Woodson playing a few snaps at scout team JT Barrett on a Friday when recruits are around it would be national news.

Tom Brady, Denard, Funchess, etc.

Anytime someone had a bye week we'd have them getting reps as scout team. Then think about all of the guys who are good players but aren't in the NFL. DG, Gallon, Roundtree, etc.

It'd get out of hand real quick, we could make a whole alumni team.

Make one for MSU and one for OSU...then during those weeks of practice we go up against the alumni scout team that's been studying our rivals all year. 

Go crazy with it.

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coldnjl

November 8th, 2016 at 8:35 AM ^

I have no problem with him doing this since it is somehow writhin the rules... but how is it? This is ridiculous and is outside of the logical boundaries based on other rules laid out by the NCAA.

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Tuebor

November 8th, 2016 at 9:06 AM ^

It is pretty well documented that guys are the scout team for women's basketball teams.

 

A few years ago the Texas Tech coach considered suiting up and playing in his teams spring practice as a QB.

 

Bringing guys back would seem to fall under the category of allowed becaused there is no specific rule against it.

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Michigan Eaglet

November 8th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^

I had some friends that were guys on the scout team for the U of M women's basketball team, but I was under the impression that you had to be a student to do that, which seems like what the NCAA should logically have as a rule, but apparently that isn't true at the moment. Coaches might fall in a different category too because they are directly involved in practice anyway, so if Harbaugh wanted to be scout team QB, and I'm sure he has at some point, he can within a practice.

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canzior

November 8th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

24, I was dating a girl at Randolph Macon, and would scrimmage against the girls team at the end of their practices. I've also played 7 on 7  with various flag football teams against high school teams skill guys.  But with the NCAA being so restrictive, I applaud Saban for finding the loophole.

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TrueBlue2003

November 8th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

so these are non-student people demonstrating game-like situations directly to players. That has to fall under a "coach" definition, and there are strict limits on number of coaches allowed to give direct instruction to players. You're right that it is crazy the NCAA would allow this.

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True Blue Grit

November 8th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^

look at what organization we're talking about here.  The NCAA rulebooks are loaded with stupid, head-scratching rules.  They're a very poorly-run organization that seems to lack professional processes and decision-making.  So, many of these dumb rules were likely backroom, good 'ole boy deals for specific member schools and have been on the books ever since.  

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Bb011

November 8th, 2016 at 8:39 AM ^

Honestly this is a great idea. I'm surprised it is within the rules, but since it is since he cleared I think it is really smart to do.

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This is Michigan

November 8th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^

So we're to take Saban's word on this practice being within the rules. It's like Trump saying Brady called him to say he voted fir him. Yeah okay. It'd be nice if cbs did some investigative work. I don't understand how it's legal. Wouldn't the former players be considered coaches?

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superstringer

November 8th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^

I can imagine players getting paid to do this, going college to college to create roving practice teams, and then fans paying to see these scrimmages with famous scout team players. I am not being sarcastic. This is a Pandora's box.



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WestQuad

November 8th, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^

Sort of seems like a good idea, but then you get players going to a school because they know that afterwards they'll have a $100,000 a year job playing on the practice squad if they don't make a pro team.   I suppose it is the same as guys taking assistant coaching jobs, but it seems like a back door to some shady payouts, and an unfair advantage for bigger schools who can afford to do it.    That said,  it would be cool to have the former players around.

I also wonder about it being demoralizing.  The hero of the program is hanging around after college playing on a practice squad without other options.

 

 

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Tuebor

November 8th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^

To be clear I doubt these guys are getting compensated in cash, that would probably be a violation. 

 

I'm sure their compensation could be viewed as live football reps during a time when they otherwise wouldn't be playing real football.  You could get film for your agent.  You could have NFL scouts come and see you in live drills.  The benefits are there.

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The Baughz

November 8th, 2016 at 9:05 AM ^

Heard this on siriusXM the other day on the college sports channel. Bama has a staffer whose sole responsibility is to basically know every rule and what is a violation and what isn't. As soon as this person found it legal to bring back former players for scout team purposes, Saban immediately made calls to former players. I think it's a great idea. It'd be nice to borrow Denard for the OSU week. Lol.



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