Oversigning Update: To The Cheaters Belong The Bowls!

by joefromboalsburg on Jan 7, 2012 6:55 PM CST

Oversigning is a clear-cut competitive advantage that drastically tips the playing field in favor of the, for lack of a better word, Cheater. (I realize that there are glaring loopholes in this rule, so cheating is not the legally correct word.)

The results of oversigning on competitive balance are clearly shown by analyzing the results of this year’s bowl games. Teams offering more scholarships than their opponents went 15-4 in this year’s bowls. Almost all of these bowl winners are oversigning cheaters.

The website oversigning.com compiles data on most major teams in the country, listing the number of scholarships granted per year since 2002. The table below lists the number of scholarships granted during the last five years for this year’s bowl opponents, instead of the score. The results show, without doubt, that oversigning tilts the field in favor of the team offering the most scholarships.

Winner

Loser

Diff

Miss State

137

W Forest

Auburn

144

Virginia

108

OK State

133

Stanford

Tx A&M

116

Florida

120

Ohio St

W Va

121

Clemson

103

Fl State

127

Notre D

110

Illinois

120

UCLA

106

OKLA

122

Iowa

109

S Carolina

130

Nebraska

118

Cincy

113

Vandy

102

Oregon

121

Wisconsin

112

Baylor

132

Wash

125

Texas

111

Cal

108

Mich St

116

Georgia

114

Missouri

124

North Car

126

-2

Arkansas

135

K State

139

-4

Michigan

112

Va Tech

122

-10

Rutgers

116

Iowa St

134

-18

This table includes only those games where both teams data are available on oversigning.com. If strict adherence to the NCAA 85/25 rule was adhered to, the maximum number of schollys would be 85 plus 25 over five years, or 110.

The SEC, which clearly leads the country in oversigning, boasts of producing the BCS Champion for the last six years. Looking at this data, it can be argued that any SEC team that loses a non-conference game or a bowl game should fire their coach! I have highlighted teams with more than 115 scholarships granted during the last five years, which is ‘cheating’ by one per year. Of the nineteen bowl winners on this list, only Texas and Michigan fall into the Non-Cheater category.

In my opinion, this situation should be changed, so that all teams are compelled to play by the same rules.

This FanPost created by a registered user of Corn Nation.

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Comments

NU is +27 over Northwestern

However I agree that oversigning is most definitely a problem; though if I’m not mistaken, the SEC put forth plans this sumer to address the issue (to what extent, I’m not sure).

Same screen name since AOL- 'cause like many Nebraska fans, I'm stuck in the '90s.

by crowe1856 on Jan 9, 2012 6:00 AM CST reply actions

As I recall, the NCAA actually came out with a plan to curtail oversigning.

In addition to adding the notion of permitting schools to award either annual scholarships or four year scholarships, on guarantee.

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Jan 9, 2012 7:50 PM CST up reply actions

Damn

I wish I’d found that website before I made my bowl picks.

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Jan 9, 2012 4:33 PM CST reply actions

1. No joke.

2. I don’t take the oversigning issue as seriously as most on this board. At what point is it the responsibility of an athelete and his guardians to look at an incoming class and current roster? If you’re a low 3 star CB being offered by LSU when they have 4 other CB and 8 on roster wouldn’t you think twice about commiting to them?

by Conspiracy* on Jan 10, 2012 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

you're going with caveat emptor?

I could understand that if this were something other than college… where the coaching staff is supposed to have the player’s interest at heart (and most of them do, honestly).

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by Jon Johnston on Jan 10, 2012 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

I'm guessing a majority of fans take issue with the fact that coaches like Saban go into these players' homes, look them and their parents in the eye, and tell them how much the school wants and is excited for them to play there.

And then turn around within a year and decide otherwise. That doesn’t sit well with a majority of people, to lie straight to someone’s face like that, especially at the college level where it’s supposed to be an amateur sport.

Lying to someone’s face is a professional tactic, not something you do to wet-behind-the-ear high school seniors.

I do think the above numbers are missing some indication of transfers and grayshirts, etc. Or maybe I misunderstand them?

Play for the love of the game. A Cornhusker through feast or famine. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Jan 10, 2012 4:49 PM CST up reply actions

In the case of some 4-5 star recruits

They are using “college” as a stepping stone to the NFL. A lot of them are shopping their talents to the highest bidder (Dont recruit any more players of my position this year), and using primetime TV (all american games or ESPN Signing day coverage) to announce their decision. Players are trying to play the schools often as much as the schools are playing them. When you’re naturally gifted you HAVE to be skeptical of people that would further their career using your skills. just my opinion.

by Conspiracy* on Jan 11, 2012 11:45 AM CST up reply actions