Big 10 & Pac - 12 guaranteed scholarship

I think the effects are unknown.  It sure sounds good.  If you get a scholarship.  I think initially (first four years of implementing), there will be less scholarships available as the roster will have "guaranteed scholarship misses" at the end of the bench, and more walk-ons playing.  Smart schools will hold scholarships close to the vest, give out less of a percent until they get the kid on campus for a season to really get a good look at his make up.

I think it is a bad idea.  

Imagine, you just woke up from a nightmare.  Your son wants a scholarship to Big State U.  It's been Ruben Amaro that been passing out scholarships for the past four years.  

Not sure I get this, nothing in life is guaranteed, not even baseball scholarships!

The only guarantee is the money, play time is optional. 

But why would a coach do that when money is so hard to come by when and you can only have 27 scholarship guys?  

Is it a way to get better players to committ?

I am not familiar with these conferences as much as here in the east. There are so many good players trying to get into ACC and SEC programs why would any coach make this offer unless he badly needed better players to compete against other conferences?

This isn't a decision the coaches are making, rather the conference is implementing this change:

http://pac-12.com/article/2014...thletes-guaranteeing

I am a parent of an early commit to a big-10 school.As some of the above posters have stated that only the money is guarentied not playing time.Thats absolutly true.Whats also true is that it doesn't matter who/what/when/why a players recruitment happens playing time will never be a consideration.Only a fair shot at earning playing time.Also like other posters have stated money is not 100%.Thats also true.How I see it( only mho) dealing with early commits does give schools time to see what kind of person they really have.They don't have to deal with the he's done this or that. its a what he's doing in the here and now.How is he living life.Is the kid actually following thru on what he tells you about in your many phone calls.With OP its not my understanding that 2016 can't be dropped.Something we talk about almost as much as grades is not to embarress the program.While not understanding early commits.In our situation only. I suppose he could have a couple of really great years and the offer could be upped.But with the way things stand right now thats with the food going to be no charge to the kids added with I can drive there without missing a meal.I am just not sure it could get any better to make things some huge step up from right now.Could the kid have gotten more by waiting with another school?Maybe/probably but his offer was fair and the proximity to home was huge.  

Please understand that no money is guaranteed until the official LOI is signed.  We know of many early commits that have had their offers pulled as late as their senior year in high school.  That list would include players that had committed to both BIG 10 and PAC 12 colleges.

Early commitments are very one sided in favor of the college.  Of course, in many cases they work out well for everyone.  My advice to any young player committing early... Keep improving... Do not go backwards... Or you are likely to be very disappointed. TIFWIW

I like some of the reforms but will be interesting to see how long that guaranteed 4 year money will work out.

I believe that the reforms were made to strengthen the conference in all sports. Kind of makes you think twice about not attending one of those schools with all that is being offered.

Even if schools give out four year scholarships most players will transfer if they're not going to get on the field. 

I don't  think you need to think twice about attending a Pac12 or B1G school any more than any other. They are by and large very high quality schools and the Pac12 is historically the best baseball conference.  

Ive talked to enough people to believe that the other P5 conferences, including the SEC and ACC, will soon follow suit...and some others beyond that as well. College sports is changing rapidly 

The devil will be in the details and this will not end up being the golden egg we parents dream about. But it might in fact be better than it is today?  PGStaff wrote some good advice above. Think about it that way and you will be in a better position to help your son navigate it all. 

Good post TD thank you.

Question, does the guaranteed money guarantee a place on the roster?

The money is guaranteed in all sports, not just baseball.  Seems like a lot of promises made but may not be kept.

I am sure that other larger teams will follow eventually.

In the meantime, your advice as well as PG's should be considered.

At any school that pays its baseball coach more than its professors, competitive pressure and the 11.7 scholarship limit will mean that no multi-year scholarship guarantees will have much teeth to them. 

The conferences can make whatever guarantees they want, but coaches whose jobs depend on using the scarce resource of scholarships to maximize wins will find ways to move underperforming players off the books.

I know of a DI kid who had 25% four year guaranteed money. Coach told him he would never see the field next year. Kid asked about his scholarship and coach said he would honor it, but kid should find a school to transfer too.

Others already have. The school my son attended announced it was offering 4 year athletic scholarships earlier in the year:

http://bleacherreport.com/arti...ps-could-be-a-factor

I do agree that if the coach wants you "out" he will find a way to do so.

In Meat On The Hoof it was said Darryl Royal would have unwanted recruits hold dummies and have the team run plays over them until they quit. Maybe a baseball coach could have an unwanted recruit catch BP without equipment.

Any idea if the athletes' all ready in school will get their remaining years guaranteed or stay year to year?  Seems if the schools were doing this for the students they would give the guarantees. I have two playing in the Pac 12 and they have heard nothing. (They didn't ask either.) 

I haven't heard either. The rumor is that it doesn't, but I haven't heard for sure.

I know at least one kid trying to transfer to another PAC-12 at the semester and play this spring, but haven't heard if he was successful.