It may be that you're just not old enough. It sounds to me like the old SEC letter on intent was never deleted from the conference rules. Earle may wish to comment on this and perhaps set me straight, but from my memory for years the SEC had an early signing date that was binding only within conference. SEC schools could and did sign prospects to the SEC LOI on or after the first Wednesday in December and that LOI had the same effect as described in the linked article.
The player could not be signed by another SEC school, but remained fair game for schools outside the SEC. The NCAA did away with the conference signing dates some time in the 1960's I believe, but apparently the conference LOI was never taken out of the conference rules. If this is the case, there is a certain irony in Coach Saban nailing Ole Miss with this ploy, given the Massie thing.
Earle, can you clarify or debunk this? :conf2: