Unlike June Jones, whose love for recruiting ranges somewhere between root canals and jury duty, Greg McMackin actually seems to enjoy it.

He courted and wooed, handing out scholarship offers like Halloween candy ... way before Halloween—and got a lot of what they call “;verbal commitments.”; It's like securing your prom date before the homecoming dance. But early shopping is a double-edged sword for a mid-major program; vultures swoop in and pluck some of the best “;commitments”; away with their big, pretty weightrooms and promises of Rose Bowls.

People ask me about UH's recruiting class. I tell them check back with me Feb. 4, letter-of-intent day.

Now, if you want to ask me about recruiting, in general, I will tell you this: If college football is truly interested in competitive balance and living up to its lofty ideals, it would install an early-signing period instead of voting the idea down as it did last week.

Making some commitments binding early would make sense and save dollars—but only for cash-strapped programs, like most college teams including Hawaii.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan, on McMackin's recommendation, voted for some form of early signing.

“;I think it's good for the kids and saves the schools money,”; says Mack.

Donovan says it works well for other sports, and doesn't see why it wouldn't for football.

I agree, wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately, the BCS conferences control the management council.

“;They don't want a level playing field. (The major conferences) want to continue having the edge because they have big budgets,”; says radio talk-show host and former UH receiver Darrick Branch, who was heavily recruited as a star at Carter High in Dallas. “;The smaller schools that could win over some players because of unique education opportunities or genuine relationships get beat out the longer the race is because they don't have the money to keep recruiting them after they've committed.”;

It wouldn't be about forcing kids into hasty decisions; there would have to be a limit to the number of each school's early signees so that players that want to can keep their options open. Those who sign early can get the stress of recruiting over with. Another positive byproduct is many student-athletes and their families would acquaint themselves with college requirements earlier.

A leveling concession was made many years ago with the 85-scholarship limit. Those at the top of the pile are wary of anything else headed toward balance. Whatever rhetoric you may hear, never forget this: Balance—and hence, fairness—is not the goal of those in power. Keeping the money-printing machine for the BCS humming is.

The closer you get to parity, the closer you get to the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl—a great story, but not good for the bottom line. In the college paradigm, the little guys get thrown a bone (like token representation in the big bowls) once in a while just to stave off lawsuits—not because it's the right thing to do.

An early signing period would help everyone. Problem is, it wouldn't help the big schools as much as the small schools, the coaches, the players and their families. And the big schools control the vote.