If I could re-do the structure of College Football, here's how I would do it.
I would keep the limit of 85 players. But I would make it 85 ACTIVE players. I mean, Charles Mosley technically counts towards our limit of 85, but yet, never contributed even in a practice snap. I don't like that.
So here's what I would do:
I would mandate that all players receive an initial redshirt year. A school can "sign" however many it desires, but no matter who they "sign," they must redshirt them the first year.
Then, the school must maintain 85 or less non-redshirted players.
So, let's say then that I have:
25 Redshirted Freshmen (It's their second year in the program, first year to contribute)
20 RS Sophomores
20 RS Juniors
20 RS Seniors
I have then 85 players on my active roster.
However, I signed 35 True Freshmen.
The 35 True Freshmen undergo a redshirt year, where they spend time learning the playbook and the practice routine. They go through a year of strength and conditioning. They get the first year of full-time school down. They decide if the university is going to be a fit for them or not.
IF during or immediately after the redshirt year, the player fails to make the grades or does not desire to remain at that school, or the coaches determine it's not going to work out, then they can peacefully part ways with the school with no costs incurred to the player. They could then go join the active roster of another school if they wanted.
But let's say that after the first year, the 20 seniors graduate, leaving 20 spots on the team. 30 freshmen remain, 5 left on their own terms.
The coaches can decide on the 10 players who will be asked to leave, no costs incurred to the players. These players could be from any class, just as it is in reality.
Therefore, you have once again, 85 active players.
If a coach dismisses a player because he is not productive after his redshirt year, or if there is an injury after his redshirt year that would cause him to not be able to play again, then no cost is incurred to the player.
BUT...let's say a player goes through his initial year, does well, and then becomes an active player. Then let's say he decides to not go to class and fails his classes. Then not only is he off the team, leaving a spot open, but he has to pay back that money that the school spent on him in the form of student loans just like everyone else. Or if the player is booted for disciplinary reasons, then he will have to pay back that money just like everyone else.
So, basically, I'm proposing the following:
1) Each player gets 5 years on campus. The first is a mandatory redshirt year in order to support academic support, college life acclimation, and physical readiness as well as injury protection.
2) After the first "redshirt" year, each player is allowed to determine whether or not they would like to remain as a student at their university of initial choice. If not, they may leave with no cost incurred.
3) If the student stays, they then become a part of the active roster. After that, if they leave on their own will, or if they are dismissed for grades or behavior, then they must take on the costs of all charged incurred to that point.
4) However, if the coaches dismisses them out of necessity or due to performance, then they will not be responsible for any finances. Call it a "Coach's Release."
5) Coaches must maintain a active roster of 85 or less players, but can recruit and sign as many "freshmen" as they desire.
IMO, this would drastically be better. It would take so much pressure and strain off of college athletes. And it would also protect college programs. Most players know after a year or so if they want to stay or not. And most coaches know after a year or so who is going to work out and who won't.
If a kid isn't a good student, or if he is not going to pan out, you'd catch it in the first year. But it also helps to protect your program from future hurt. Think about how many freshmen we lose. Most kids don't make it past their first year here. Some kids simply are not cut out for college. But when a kid like Henderson or Helm leave, then it doesn't help us immediately, it'll be 2016 before we can claim that spot.
What if we could sign as many as we wanted, give them a full year in our program, getting them physically ready, and getting them acclimated to college life, taking full time, general education schedules, and then after a year, if they're still excited about being here, still progressing well, still doing well in their classes, we allow them to be a part of the team, with the knowledge of any behavior or grade issues suddenly mean that they take on a WHOLE lot of debt?
It bothers me that a kid like Nu'Keese Richardson can come here completely free of charge, do what he did, and then leave here with no debt to his name, while other students are making 4.0's, behaving great, and leaving with mountains of debt.
If a football player is "on scholarship" then he better be performing well in the classroom and behaving well. And if he doesn't, then I want him to have to pay the debt that other people who don't get that same luxury have to pay.
But if this happened, then the University is only paying for students that behaved well, did well in the classroom, performed on the field, or who respectfully decided Tennessee was not right for them as soon as they realized it.
Wow, I rambled. Sorry guys. Just wish we did so many things differently. Feel like the system gets abused.
