Mike Slive's Selling An Oversigning Proposal. Or Is He?

The Macon Telegraph's Seth Emerson has word that Mike Slive will introduce for discussion at the upcoming SEC Meetings a proposal designed to address oversigning as well as, well, pretty much everything else plaguing the league besides halitosis and overpriced bourbon. To wit:

The package, as Slive described it, involves not only over-signing, but all issues relating to what he called "roster management."

"In other words, it’s more than just the question of over-signing or grayshirting," Slive said. "It’s a question of over-signing, grayshirting, early admissions, summer school admission. We’ve put together what we call a bit of a package to address these issues, that will give our people a chance to think about these issues in a more global fashion. So then it will be an important discussion item in Destin."

 

The emphasis is mine. But the points bear the emphasis they're given. First, note that there's no use of the word "vote".  And you probably shouldn't count on one occurring, despite the fact that athletic directors, university presidents and coaches have been discussing "roster management" issues for years. There's a vague mention of "action" and "proposed legislation" of course. But it also bears emphasizing that sitting on one's hands and/or feigning indecision are technically speaking "actions" and that some legislation exists for the sole purpose of being raised then summarily tabled. 

Second, Slive and company have clearly been watching their C-Span. The oldest legislative trick in the book to torpedo legislation that no one really wants but everyone is afraid to actually be seen opposing is to tack it on to something that it's fine to object to publicly. The Commish is creating a safe space for the "discussion" to take place and creating cover for SEC movers and shakers to ultimately object, waffle or hide when some sort of proposal ultimately gets to a vote. It's quite accomodating of him really. Clearly the guy knows who he works for.

Finally, assuming some sort of proposal does get to a vote, I think it will be the job of each and every journalist, blogger, and wandering hobo attending SEC Media Days later this summer to ask the assembled coaches for their opinions on it, how their schools voted and whether they were involved in that decision. The answers will be obvious beforehand, but as we say in the legal profession, sometimes it's important just to get it on the record.

Until later . . .

Go 'Dawgs!