Princeton committed to the kids? Ummm, no. Coach Bates made verbal arrangements with kids to sponsor their applications with the admissions office in September of their senior year. A coach gets a certain number of applications he may sponsor to admissions and submit them. Then admissions decides.
If you believe there is a bargain beyond that, you're mistaken. Princeton has no bargain with any of the kids. The AD has no bargain with any of the kids. At their discretion coaches can wildcat and 'verbally commit kids' to their program early, but there's nothing formal or implied as binding to it. Bates could have verbally arranged with 25 kids from juniors down to freshmen and that has nothing -- absolutely nothing -- to do with the buy in or interest of the university or it's admissions office. | 
