D1 dead period

Not sure when the council is scheduled to meet/vote but I am seeing some interesting "positive signs" out there.  A lower D1 and a mid-major I keep up with just added on campus prospect camps for early October and a Big 12 school just tweeted out that their camps would be back "Sooner😉 rather than later".  It could just be optimism on their part, and mine, but they seem to be telegraphing a lifting of the dead period.

I agree.  I'm getting the same "feeling". 

The question is, at what point will the NCAA realize that it's current approach is a disaster?

Based on my experiences over the years, I am pessimistic.  The tendency of the NCAA is always to double down on mistakes, to add still more restrictions, etc.

I sure hope the lid comes off Oct. 1, though.  The 2021's need time before early signing, especially since, at least around here, they are looking at shortened spring school varsity seasons as well.  The 2022's pretty much spent their summer looking just to play, get sharp, and improve.  Lots of webcasting is in the works at this point, but I have little faith in its efficacy.  If I were a college coach, I'll be damned if I would ever commit a kid without seeing him in person multiple times.

At least for the 2022's, the worst case is that everything gets crammed into next summer.  And it wasn't that many years ago that the summer after junior year was the hot recruiting period.  So that can't be but so disastrous.  But for the 2021's, this is truly the last hurrah.  And for a class that's already looking at programs that may have unexpectedly had their scholarship allotments consumed by 5th-year seniors deciding to return, they need the consideration right now.

Last month, it was announced on the 12th.  That said, there has been no consistent pattern on when they announce extensions since Spring.  I can't imagine it going any longer than early next week.  My guess would be by Friday.

I think that even if it was lifted, you will have coaches that are not going to travel.

I read last week that the NCAA is set to meet/vote on 9/16, so a week from today.  While I would LOVE to be wrong, my money says it's getting extended.  With D2 going live 9/1, I too, was optimistic until this was announced last week: 

https://d1baseball.com/busines...ractice-flexibility/

To me, this seems like the writing on the wall that the dead period isn't going away 10/1.  In other words "we know your unpaid assistants are hurting since we've tied your hands with the dead period, so here's a bone to help them."  And let's also not forget that for months now, we've been hearing reports that the plan is to extend it through 12/31.  Many were expecting that exact decision a month ago, but then they got our hopes up again (again), by only extending it another month.  Again.  So I am planning on a 1/1/21 lift date as best case scenario at this point.  I expect the NCAA to continue with the "you never know/let's not be the Big 10" approach and going month to month through the end of the year.  if the clouds miraculously part (possibly on 11/4?) before 1/1/21, then they can swoop in and bless us all with their grace.

I wouldn't get too excited by camp/showcase announcements.  My son signed up for a 9/6 D1 showcase (AAC) that was pushed to 10/4 with the latest extension.  If the dead period gets extended next week another month, my money says the camp will be pushed again to 11/8.  And so on and so on.  That way, the schools can be prepared in the event a miracle is bestowed upon us by the NCAA almighty.

D1 Council was supposed to meet today according to the calendar on the NCAA website.  Crickets....no announcements or even leaks one way or the other.  Anyone hear anything?

I’m hearing Jan 1 from a lot of people on Twitter?

D1 recruiting banned until Jan 1 for all sports.

💩

So with dead period extended to 1/1/21, no in person visits. Assuming the dead period is lifted in January, will there be any slots left at lower level D1s? If so, it will be a crazy spring. Feel bad for my 2021, but he is learning to deal with adversity. 

This really sucks!  I feel like it’s a trickle down effect of the 5 round draft and no MILB this season. 

While I anticipated it being pushed out, has anyone heard anything remotely close to a justification as to why D1 needs this but D2 doesn’t?  We can bash the decision to push it out (and be justified in doing so), but how obtuse is this double standard between divisions? There must be an answer to this. Anybody know how have an educated guess?

https://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa...cruiting-dead-period

@DanJ posted:

While I anticipated it being pushed out, has anyone heard anything remotely close to a justification as to why D1 needs this but D2 doesn’t?  We can bash the decision to push it out (and be justified in doing so), but how obtuse is this double standard between divisions? There must be an answer to this. Anybody know how have an educated guess?

Interstate travel. They don't want headlines about a high school kid flying in from a "hot spot" and infecting an SEC football team. Also the state to state quarantine laws. I know, that's a very small part of D1 recruiting, but very high profile, so take the easy way out and ban it all. D2 sports typically recruit within driving distance and most don't have the budget for flying kids in.

@MidAtlanticDad posted:

Interstate travel. They don't want headlines about a high school kid flying in from a "hot spot" and infecting an SEC football team. Also the state to state quarantine laws. I know, that's a very small part of D1 recruiting, but very high profile, so take the easy way out and ban it all. D2 sports typically recruit within driving distance and most don't have the budget for flying kids in.

I agree.  Also to consider probably was lack of funds for coach travel expenses, not affordable for everyone. I think that they were trying to avoid an unfair advantage.

I did post the NCAAs statement above.

I personally don't care about advantages or disadvantages, but if this was approved by a majority of the coaches, then so be it. I always figured it was the NCAA just making bad decisions.

I will agree with TPM.  I think it is the money part.  P5's can probably afford it but the smaller D1's are trying to hold on with all they got.  That is the reasoning for the extra coach is to not give some an unfair advantage if others can't afford it. 

I think it also stops them from bringing players on campus for camps or visits or the upcoming official visits for those about to sign NLI's.  Combo of things that will try to keep them playing this spring. 

If you are not directly involved in the logistics of college baseball and Covid, you cannot understand.  The fear of testing positive or your roommates or teammates testing positive.  The secondary quarantines and quarantines.  Coaches who were fighting the dead period have now given up and just want to do what it takes to play baseball to some extent this fall and hopefully have a season this spring.  They are not wanting to take any extra chances.  I feel sorry for you guys who are on the other side and can imagine how tough it is to figure out whether to spend your money for tournaments that won't have coaches at them.  I understand both sides.  But as they say you have to protect what is in your hand first and foremost. 

Agree with @PitchingFan. This part of the release seems to reinforce the idea that part of this is to protect their students:

”Members also adopted emergency legislation prohibiting schools from giving complimentary game tickets to prospective student-athletes and their high school or two-year college coaches during the dead period.”

Look at it this way: if some parents are willing to get divorced to help their SA’s future, then it’s a nobrainer that some parents would (knowingly or not) bring an asymptomatic kid to a campus visit.