Can the Marian reforms happen early?

[Blxz]

I've never really understood the time requirement myself. EB tries to be historically accurate but I find a set date to be 'history on rails'. Provided that all the non-date requirements are met I don't see why those particular military reforms couldn't happen. If you have a large, unlanded population in Italy as represented by the latifunda. A man who has the required verve and motivation as indicated by the Potential Reformator (sp?) trait and a large empire that has a need for manpower and relaxed army laws as represented by a large empire with >45 towns. I see no reason why this man would decide that perhaps he should wait a few more decades. Its linking too heavily to what happened in our own time rather than an alternate timeline.

Also imagine if a reform date was set on Hayasdan to change from level 3 gov to level 1 just because no one united the area until much later in real history. Doesn't make sense in either case.

EDIT: I got off track, what I meant to say was that I edit out the date requirements always and if I am feeling particularly eager I will make the reformer trait harder to acheive in order to compensate. Feels more realistic and in many of my later games has actually made the reform happen later due to slow expansion or an unfortunate death of the wrong general at the wrong time. More fun for me but of course everyone is different.