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NCAA needs new rules to protect recruits

SPECIAL TO ESPN.COM

With all the coaching chaos that is taking place -- coaches being fired or moving on -- it's important that we take a deep look at some of the NCAA's recruiting rules.

I wish that the higher-ups, those who make the rules, would start to think about the kid. Here are two suggestions that I think would help immensely:

Any high school senior who commits to a school during the early signing period should be allowed to be re-recruited for a two-week period if there is a coaching change.

1. Any high school senior who commits to a school during the early signing period should be allowed to be re-recruited for a two-week period if there is a coaching change.

Recruits shouldn't be forced to stay and play for the new coach. They should have the freedom to play where they want. But if they decide to go with the coach who recruited them (to his new school), then they should be penalized by sitting out a year. If they go anywhere else, they shouldn't.

Many players select the college based on their relationship with the coach. For example, if a player committed to Seton Hall under Tommy Amaker, who left for the Michigan job, he should have the right to be recruited again by new Seton Hall coach Louis Orr. If the player doesn't want to play for Orr at Seton Hall, he should be allowed to move somewhere else without being penalized or losing eligibility.

Coaches move on to new addresses and get new multi-year, million-dollar packages -- and the new recruits are left hanging. They should be able to go elsewhere without penalty.

2. Any freshman player at a school should be allowed to move on to another school without penalty if the coach leaves. Like the high school seniors, many college freshmen selected the school based on the feelings for the coach and his system.

Here's a special addendum: If the freshman wants to leave and play for his coach at the new school, he should be forced to sit out a year. If the player could go freely and play for the coach at the new school without penalty, the coach could package a deal to bring with him players he recruited at his former school.

Using Seton Hall again as an example, a freshman like Andre Barrett should be allowed to be re-recruited by Orr for a two-week period. If he decided to go elsewhere, he shouldn't be penalized. But if he followed Amaker to Michigan, he should lose one year of eligibility.

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