HCA: A closer look at letters of intent and early signing periods

If I made a list of topics related to college sports which I like to talk about the least, players decommiting and schools pulling scholarships would be near the top. There isn't much middle ground, someone is always made out to be a villain and the conversations typically turn into a lot of nonsense.

With that in mind you may think I wouldn't focus one of the daily links posts on the very subject. Well I am and you can blame Christian Caple. Caple wrote two articles on Friday --one on letters of intent and the other on an early signing period -- and both are worth the time to read.

Sudden recruiting changes have been popular topics on CougCenter recently with Mike Leach being banned from a high school for pulling a scholarship and the situation with Tanner Lancona. Caple's letters of intent piece touches on the Lancona situation in a little more depth, but gives a very good overview of the process and includes quotes from a few key figures at WSU.

Recruiting:

Divided opinions on early signings - Spokesman.com - June 29, 2013
In the most perfect of basketball worlds, Washington State coach Ken Bone said, his recruiting classes each year would be finalized during November’s early-signing period, and the rest of the season would be spent focusing on his own team.

Letters of intent, not of guarantees - Spokesman.com - June 29, 2013
The tattoo has since been modified, and Sean Lancona says you can’t really see it when he wears his watch, anyway.

Football:

I was apparently asleep at the switch when more over/unders were released last week, but WSU was pegged at 4.5 if you are interested in such things.

*****

College football gambling: 2013 season win total betting lines - SBNation.com
The 2013 college football season win total gambling odds are out, courtesy of 5Dimes.com. Will you be betting on or against your team? Let us know in the comments section.