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If this amendment holds up, will be interesting to watch how teams handle it.
Alabama has possibly hired a guy (Clint Trickett) in anticipation for the approval, as well. Presumably, Michigan and Alabama aren't the only schools to have made a hire knowing the approval was going to happen and the guy would be able to start the new position in April. Now, we get this amendment to possibly make team wait until January 2018.Jim Harbaugh and Michigan apparently just hired a staffer with impressive qualifications, including more than a decade of NFL coaching experience.
Without an open assistant position, though, Michael Johnson seemed a bit overqualified to be only an offensive analyst for the Wolverines.
But the NCAA was headed toward adding a 10th assistant position in April and this appeared to be Harbaugh getting ahead of the curve.
Now, he and everyone else may have to wait.
According to an amendment released by the NCAA today, the start date could be pushed back to Jan. 9, 2018. It was originally scheduled to be implemented "immediately" if passed in April.
The Division I Council -- the body which banned satellite camps in 2016 until it was overturned later -- is still scheduled to vote on the Football Oversight Committee's various proposals, including the 10th assistant, at its April meeting.
The rationale: "There are many concerns with the timing of the current immediate effective date. An April effective date is in the middle of the budget year for the membership and is late in the hiring period for a football staff. If the effective date is amended to occur to the conclusion of the 2017 football season, member institutions will have the opportunity to budget for the addition of a full-time countable coach and associated costs related to recruiting. In addition, a delayed effective date will better fit the hiring timeline for a football staff and will not require readjustments following the spring practice period."
If this amendment holds up, will be interesting to watch how teams handle it.