and an Alabama blogger;http://www.rollbama%20roll.com/story/2008/%202/14/9229/08863
With all due respect to the Alabama faithful, I've gotta side with the Wolverines on this one.
Columbus, Georgia (my hometown) is on the Georgia / Alabama state line, and Auburn University is a 30 minute trip. Georgia / Alabama / Auburn fans are very well represented here and college football trashtalk is a year round affair.
I've taken a little time to count'em up, and here's the latest numbers regarding the recruiting classes for these 3 teams. The number of scholarship athletes that are used for each team are taken from last year's rosters, minus seniors and players who declared themselves eligible for the draft.
First let's get the rules straight.
1. A division 1A football program may give as many as 25 scholarships per year.
2. A division 1A football program may have no more than 85 scholarship athletes.
Very simple math........unless
Dinner at 7? Ok.....btw, do you have a calculator that I can borrow?
AlabamaRoster...................68 scholarships
Signing class.......................32 (is that more than 25?)
Total..................................100 (what happened to 85?)
AuburnRoster......................68 scholarships
Signing class........................29 (just in case they change the 25 rule)
Total....................................97 (hey, Auburn IS a math school)
GeorgiaRoster......................62 scholarships
Signing class........................24
Total....................................86 (damn calculator malfunction)
Ok, so how do these teams get to the 85 scholarship limit?
Good question, glad ya asked.
The first ones, I consider the minor sins........
1. Academics - Some of these signees may not make their SAT or ACT score. Some (hopefully very few) of the upperclassmen may become academically ineligible. Last year, UGA lost Paul Oliver over the summer to the NFL supplemental draft for this reason.
2. Medical Scholarship - A player who is physically unable to play again due to injury. UGA's Antavious Coates has been given a medical scholarship after 2 ACL surgeries on each knee.
3. Voluntary transfer - For whatever reasons, lack of PT, location, coaching changes. UGA recently lost TE NaDerris Ward as an example.
4. The Back-count - If a player graduates early from H.S. and enrolls mid-year, his scholly count's against last year's 25 limit.
now a little more harsh........
5. Academic scholarship - Son, you suck, but the University of Alabama (oops) is going to honor our financial commitment to you. You're off the team. Good luck.
and the really bad.......
6. The Grayshirt - We have a wee problem with oversigning. We can't offer that scholarship, but if you'll pay your own way this year, we'll get you that scholarship next year for sure. Really. No, seriously. Have we ever lied to you?
7. Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya (for upperclassmen) - Son, I don't know what the hell Mike Shula was thinkin' when he offered you a scholly, but I think it's best if you give Division II a shot.
8. The offer retraction (new signing class) - Son, were sorry, but your name was mistakenly placed in the "good players" stack on my desk. We're withdrawing our offer.
Read'em & weep. If your team just had a major oversigning year, these are the realities of what goes on. Justify it however you like.
I truly hope that someone documents how the numbers get crunched at Alabama this year just to see how the casualties pile up.
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