Crimson Red Sports

"Alabama came on our campus several times and never asked to speak to Alphonse at the school," Riley said. "They followed the protocol we have. Everybody did. His senior year was totally uninterrupted."

Still, the week before the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, Taylor sent a text to the Davidson academic counselor saying he was thinking of switching to Alabama. Riley believes that all-star week played a key role in Taylor's switch. After playing on the offensive line during his senior year, he played nose tackle for the Alabama all-stars and "that reignited a spark in him as to what position he wanted to play in college."

In addition, a number of the Alabama all-stars were already committed to the Crimson Tide and recruited Taylor to join them in Tuscaloosa.

"They spent a week with him and had a great influence on him," Riley said. "I don't think he would've flipped if he hadn't spent that week in Montgomery. Those kids bond. I think that nudged him in a direction he was already thinking about."..........

I like this coach's philosophy. And he is absolutely right. All this drama could be avoided if kids could sign a LOI when they make up their mind. Good for this coach teaching his kids to stand by their committments.

BUT, coaches are still switching jobs too.  Certainly part of the decision on which school to attend depends on the coaches.  I think players should be able to change their commitments under certain circumstances. 

For instance, one rule should be,
"Any commitment to a land-grant institution in the state of Alabama is allowed to switch his commitment just as soon as he realizes how stupid said commitment would be."

BUT, coaches are still switching jobs too.  Certainly part of the decision on which school to attend depends on the coaches.  I think players should be able to change their commitments under certain circumstances. 

For instance, one rule should be,
"Any commitment to a land-grant institution in the state of Alabama is allowed to switch his commitment just as soon as he realizes how stupid said commitment would be."

BUT, coaches are still switching jobs too.  Certainly part of the decision on which school to attend depends on the coaches.  I think players should be able to change their commitments under certain circumstances. 

For instance, one rule should be,
"Any commitment to a land-grant institution in the state of Alabama is allowed to switch his commitment just as soon as he realizes how stupid said commitment would be."

Would that mean Auburn was ineligible to recuit anybody since committing to Auburn is quite possibly the dumbest thing a kid can do?

Coaches do not always honor their promise of a scholarship on signing day.  Why should a kid have to uphold their commitment?