Recruit 'em earlier, play 'em earlier.

The former is already happening in college football. Though not directly related, the latter is probably going to happen.

The recruiting process has accelerated like a no-huddle offense.

It's April. A high school prospect won't begin his senior season for another four to five months. But chances are he's already visiting campuses, mulling offers and even making a commitment -- nearly a year before signing day 2007.

"Its' unbelievable,'' Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday on an SEC teleconference.

"If you picked out one thing since I got here in '98 that has changed so much, so fast, so drastically, that's it.''

Tennessee, historically a cautious starter, has four commitments already. Ole Miss has 12. Texas has 19.

"If you haven't identified a lot of your guys by now,'' said Alabama coach Mike Shula, "you're way behind the ball.

"That's one of the reasons we moved spring ball up, to spend a lot of April just getting ourselves lined up for spring recruiting.''

"Recruiting,'' noted Nutt, "has turned into a national sport.

"It's talk shows. It's the Internet. It's the DVD and the highlight film. The last five years, it's really fast forward.''

But is it a good thing? Not everyone thinks so.

"I worry about early commitments,'' said Florida coach Urban Meyer, "and we're guilty of it as well.

"Taking a commitment from a guy you've met one time, that's hard to do. I'd rather have 'em decide after we get to know them and their families.''

But if that's how the game is played, you play it, or else.

Once a recruit is signed, enrolled and issued shoulder pads, the chances he gets on the field his first year are probably increasing.

Welcome to the 12th-game era.

The 12th regular-season game becomes a permanent part of the landscape this fall. Phillip Fulmer said Tennessee is already discussing the implications.

"I think more guys are going to have to play with 12 games,'' Fulmer said. "You're going to have the injuries.

"Everybody on your team has got to be part of the equation. You're going to be very fortunate to make it through the season with just the guys who start the season.''

Auburn, Alabama and Vanderbilt will play straight through in 2006. No open dates. Everybody else has just one.

"Twelve without an open date,'' said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, "that's almost suicide in the SEC.

"They make it more difficult on football players every year for some reason.''

And the hurry-up recruiting calendar has made it more difficult on coaches. Like the polar icecaps, their down time is melting away.

"A coach gets to act like a normal person for about three weeks,'' said Meyer.

Facilitating Wins: When Steve Spurrier took the South Carolina job a year ago, he said the Gamecocks had no excuses not to compete with their more-successful SEC East rivals.

Now he's singing a slightly different tune as the program launches a major fund-raising drive to improve facilities. The first phase is upgrading the dorms and cafeteria. An academic facility such as UT's Thornton Center is also on the wish list.

"Hopefully,'' said Spurrier, "we can have our place look somewhat like Auburn and Georgia and Tennessee and Florida.

"Then hopefully we can recruit on their level, get ballplayers similar to what they've got. If we get that, shoot, we have a chance to go to Atlanta and win it.''

From Big to Bigger: Vanderbilt concluded its 2005 season with an emotional win at Neyland Stadium. The Commodores open the 2006 campaign at the Big House in Michigan.

"A lot of people are going to see the Commodores play,'' said coach Bobby Johnson.

Vandy agreed to ditch its scheduled 2006 opener against Middle Tennessee State to accept ESPN's request to play in Ann Arbor. Given that the Commodores are breaking in a new quarterback and go to Alabama in the second week, it's obvious Vandy has bitten off more than it can chew.

"It wasn't a snap decision,'' Johnson said. "There are pros and cons.''

"You're trying to do certain things for your program. One is to have a winning season and go to a bowl, but you're also looking for exposure, to get the team excited and the fans excited. Certainly, the Michigan game answers those questions.''

Considering Vandy hasn't had a winning season or a bowl since 1982, how realistic is that as a goal for 2006? Go for the exposure while you can.