For months, college football coaches woo recruits and their families. They talk about football schemes, playing time, and life off the field. In the process, they forge relationships that often play a crucial role on where a recruit signs.

Imagine the surprise Maryland recruits got two days after National Signing Day when they learned defensive coordinator Don Brown was headed to Connecticut. Recruit A.J. Hendy said he signed with Maryland after the school's head-coaching change because of the bond he developed with Brown.

"The first time I went up to Maryland I felt a real connection with Coach Brown," Hendy told The Washington Post.

The coach moves on. The recruit, if he signed the National Letter of Intent, cannot unless the school releases him.

Picture Nebraska signee Charles Jackson turning on his computer the morning after National Signing Day. He learned from a stranger via Facebook that Marvin Sanders wouldn't be his cornerback coach after all, having resigned supposedly for family reasons.

"I think they should've told me before I signed," Jackson told The Omaha World-Herald. "I didn't have any idea. They broke the guy code."

In truth, Nebraska followed a code many schools apply: SOS. Save Our Signees.

Some schools and coaches, not wanting to risk losing recruits, hold off announcing staff changes until the ink is dry. It's one reason it's difficult to feel outrage when recruits waffle over their commitment, as mind-boggling as it may be. It's the last time a player truly has any leverage.

The NCAA's longstanding policy making players sit out a year if they transfer within Division I never looks more misguided than after National Signing Day. This is the period when coaching staffs suddenly change faces quickly -- news that might have been helpful had it been revealed at an earlier date.

Colorado State, Utah, Navy, Indiana, Clemson, Rutgers and Cal also announced staff changes shortly after last week's Signing Day. Undoubtedly, there are more.

It's possible recruits at those schools, unlike at Maryland and Nebraska, knew about the changes in advance. And maybe it wouldn't have made any difference in the world if they did know. Jackson's father, speaking to an Omaha radio station, said all is well now between his son and Nebraska.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini told the media he had reasons for not telling Jackson sooner but wouldn't disclose them. Meanwhile, Maryland coach Randy Edsall said he was blindsided by the departure of Brown, who was involved in signing at least seven recruits.

Since coaches and schools choose to dance around the ethical lines of when to tell recruits they're leaving, recruits should enjoy similar flexibility. There ought to be a way to rescind the letter of intent if a coach leaves before a player's first season starts.

A recruit's college destination shouldn't be tied so much into who their coaches are. Coaches are free to change jobs, and many will during a player's career so it's wise to also consider other factors.

But when coaches leave and recruits are left holding the bag, it's naive and out of touch for NCAA rules to not acknowledge that relationships matter. Relationships always matter.

They matter to athletics directors when considering who is their president. They matter to coaches when considering who is their AD. Why would they not matter for players when considering who is their coach?

In a recent NCAA survey, 59 percent of Division I football players agreed or strongly agreed that they would have attended their school if a different coach was there. That's a high number -- 41 percent -- not agreeing with that statement.

A coach or school should do everything it can to make a staff change before signing day. As disruptive as it is, at least the recruit and his family have the necessary information upfront to make a decision.

Coaches and recruits go back-and-forth for months in a delicate balance before signing day. In a perfect world, recruits should absolutely stick to their commitment as well.

But where do you think they learn this game from? They've seen far too often how easily some coaches break the "guy code" with no opportunity to adjust on the fly.

Jon Solomon's column appears in The Birmingham News. Follow him on Twitter at @jonsol. Write him at jsolomon@bhamnews.com.