Sorry, but that's the hard truth. Certainly there are exceptions, and that's why the transfer rule is in place. For guys like Ryan Mallett. These kids make stupid decisions all the time. Need more parents to get involved. Coaches do in fact play a part in these things, and they should. But they should NOT be the only factor.
I would love to see more elite recruits go the way of a couple of college basketball players in the last few years and not sign an LOI. Just sign financial papers and thats it.
That LOI is effectively the STUDENT ATHLETE giving up any power they had.
Compare that to an elite STUDENT.
That student can have a handful of colleges come after him or her and offer full rides. That student can commit to a college and back out later on. The college has spent time working to convince that student to attend their school, and the student can at any time back out.
Yet for some reason, a student athlete must sign that LOI and be forced to attend the school regardless of if the circumstances change?
There is a reason why year after year ADs release recruits from their LOIs. -They are total BS and after enough vocal outrage, the ADs realized they shouldnt force players into attending their school if the player doesnt want to.
Even the ADs get it, so why is it still required and why are you still trying to argue such an antiquated position?
And in the few times over the last handful of years when an AD has refused, they have been lit up for it. Destroyed in the media. And rightfully so since they are trying to force a student athlete into either attending their university or waste 25% of their college eligibility by attending elsewhere.