Bronco articulates his verbal commitment policy

[Indy Coug]

Yes, but we all know that a verbal commit isn't binding in college sports. Mendenhall personally believes it is, which is fine. But the problem seems to be that Mendenhall thinks it's a character issue if a kids verbally commits to BYU then decides to look at other offers.

It isn't. It's called life. People change their minds all the time and rightfully so because it's their prerogative to do so. Mendenhall needs to accept that.

And they've changed their minds 3 times in the last 5 years. Given there are over 100 commits during that stretch, they are landing about 98% of their commits.

[Indy Coug]

I'm just saying that Mendenhall needs to accept that a verbal commit is not binding.

Same goes for BYU's offer.

[kccougar]

One other thing I have asked many times and no one has answered.

Bronco gave the ultimatum to Kona. Why didn't he give the same one to Philips. I read the story, Philips said Bronco told him he shouldn't go, but no ultimatum. Philips didn't even know about Kona.

Because Philips didn't escalate the situation. Reading the stories, it sounds to me like both recruits had the same initial conversation with Bronco. Philips decided he wasn't going to pursue his visit any further, but Kona went ahead with his plans. At that point, Kona got the ultimatum.

[Blueintheface]

I have no problem admitting that BYU is appealing to many athletes or that quality athletes are signing to play there.

I'm just saying that Mendenhall needs to accept that a verbal commit is not binding.

It's a choice that I think is paying dividends despite a couple of verbal commits going elsewhere though. I think he fully understands it's not legally binding it's just binding to him. Boylen has taken the same approach with less success so far.

[kccougar]

I have no problem admitting that BYU is appealing to many athletes or that quality athletes are signing to play there.

I'm just saying that Mendenhall needs to accept that a verbal commit is not binding.

What Indy said. Don't commit until you're ready to stop looking. If in the future you decide you want to reopen your recruitment, fine, but BYU gets to reopen the scholarship offer.

[il Padrino Ute]

Bronco isn't making them decide then and there if they will take a one time only offer from BYU. Undecided recruits in the past have reported that Bronco encouraged them to look elsewhere before committing.

So this "think for himself" comment is a bunch of nonsense.

I never said that he's telling a kid to decide then and there. He's telling the kid that once he verbals to BYU, it's over.

A kid who thinks for himself isn't going to verbal to play for Bronco until after he's looked at all the offers, because better offers may come along after saying they'll play at BYU.

[Indy Coug]

One other thing I have asked many times and no one has answered.

Bronco gave the ultimatum to Kona. Why didn't he give the same one to Philips. I read the story, Philips said Bronco told him he shouldn't go, but no ultimatum. Philips didn't even know about Kona.

Maybe it didn't come down to giving an ultimatum since Philips appeared to quickly reconsider his trip. I'm not sure we have definitive proof there was or wasn't an ultimatum made to Philips.

[il Padrino Ute]

And they've changed their minds 3 times in the last 5 years. Given there are over 100 commits during that stretch, they are landing about 98% of their commits.

I never said that what Mendenhall is doing doesn't work.

[il Padrino Ute]

Same goes for BYU's offer.

Agreed 100%.

[Indy Coug]

A kid who thinks for himself isn't going to verbal to play for Bronco until after he's looked at all the offers, because better offers may come along after saying they'll play at BYU.

And Bronco isn't going to be someone's pawn to leverage BYU's interest for something else they are more interested in. Odds are, recruits that do that were never that interested in BYU to begin with.

[il Padrino Ute]

And Bronco isn't going to be someone's pawn to leverage BYU's interest for something else they are more interested in. Odds are, recruits that do that were never that interested in BYU to begin with.

The only thing we disagree about is Mendenhall's insistence that a kid stick to his verbal agreement.

[SeattleUte]

This seems like a policy Urban could get away with.

[byu71]

Because Philips didn't escalate the situation. Reading the stories, it sounds to me like both recruits had the same initial conversation with Bronco. Philips decided he wasn't going to pursue his visit any further, but Kona went ahead with his plans. At that point, Kona got the ultimatum.

And you think this is being straight forward and upfront? I don't. No problem, but because we disagree don't call me someone of poor character and someone that couldn't live the honor code.

I admire all of you who out of college committed to IBM only to have Bill Gates come along with what could be a better deal. I am proud of you for being a man of your word, although just your word nothing legal, and taking possibly a lesser opportunity.

Back to my real point though, where are these BYU fans getting off riding the kids character into the mud. In order to back Bronco do you really have to make the Kona's dirt bags.

[il Padrino Ute]

It's a choice that I think is paying dividends despite a couple of verbal commits going elsewhere though. I think he fully understands it's not legally binding it's just binding to him. Boylen has taken the same approach with less success so far.

If Boylen is doing that - I honestly haven't heard one way or another - then he's wrong to do it too.

[il Padrino Ute]

This seems like a policy Urban could get away with.

Meyer would be wrong to do it as well.

Of course, as great of a coach as Meyer is, his word means absolutely nothing. He's proven that more than once during his career.