Here's the process since its very difficult for some reason, school makes verbal offer whenever. Player can accept at that point if they want. If they accept it doesn't mean anything for you or school.
August 1 school makes written offer, this tells you what the school is "offering" (i.e tuition, room/board, and/or cost of living) this allows the player to know exactly what they get should they sign their letter of intent on Feb 1. A letter of intent is the only binding document in this whole process.
Oh and if you want to read more (this is from last year but the dates for things don't change unless the NCAA changes them)
http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...84945/ncaa-football-scholarship-offer-letters
The kid got the letter and graphic to put on twitter or wherever, that's been my whole point. And it was on August 1 not sometime in September as he said in his letter to the media. I don't know why its impossible to understand that. I could careless if he came to Iowa or not.