I read recently that three 2016 football players signed Grant-in-Aid Agreements with Miami. I didn't realized that the Grant-in-Aid Agreement could be offered before the NLI. I know these agreements favor the student and not the school, which explains their rarity, but does this ever happen in baseball?
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You sure that it wasn't for mid year JC transfers for the 2015-16 year?
I can't speak to the specific NLI timing question. My understanding is Grant-in-Aid is somewhat common practice among D1 schools that don't offer athletic scholarships. It is a way to sweeten the pot if you will, and separate one schools overall package from another. My oldest son (baseball player) was offered yearly grants for 4 years. After all, it is the schools institutional money and they can do what they want with it. On the front end, grant in aid would be tied to admittance and acceptance (most likely ED in December) to the school which would be after the NLI signing period in the Fall. My understanding of the NLI is that it is a program exclusive of Admissions. So, possibly the grant in aid could be used as a financial hook to keep a potential high demand recruit until they sign their NLI....I'm just throwing out an idea.
So, that begs the question...what is Miami doing with their grant in aid award as they can offer athletic scholarships. Are they sweetening the pot with their private funds? Interesting situation.
My understanding is grant means free money. If I remember correctly sons NLI read grant in aid then gave amount.
If these were transfers to begin in fall, there is no NLI to be signed. Just a letter that awarded scholarship $$.
One needs more info on the situation.
The NLI is the NCAA form schools and students use to commit to each other for the first year. It references athletic scholarships but it isn't the instrument by which scholarships are offered or accepted.
Grant in Aid is the term used to describe the scholarship offered and accepted on a form that accompanies the NLI. The form is usually produced by the conference the school is a member of.
You can get an NLI without a grant in aid. (Ivy & Patriot Leagues, some walk-ons).
And you can get a grant in aid without an NLI (transfer students).
The package that FedEx delivers in early November to high school seniors ready to accept their scholarships usually has both forms in it.
Maybe the fact that these guys are all starting college early (Spring semester 2016) has something to do with the timing.
"The agreement is not binding for any athlete, meaning Allison, Quarterman and Pinckney can change their minds anytime before National Signing Day. However, UM would have to follow through with the scholarship offers. The grant-in-aid agreements also enable coaches to virtually have unlimited contact with the prospects.
A hitch: athletes can sign grant-in-aid agreements with other schools. Last year, running back Dalvin Cook, now suspended by FloridaState, signed grant-in-aid agreements with UM, FSU and Florida."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com...g-16-recruiting.html
One of those kids attends my kids HS. He will attend the local HS and then start at Miami in January. Personally, i don't see this kid making a contribution to Miami's program. Then again, maybe projection for football is a lot different than projection for baseball....hope it works out for him.
That article about the 2016's signing with Miami probably doesn't give us all the details of the situation. It's not permissible to sign a school's athletic scholarship offer prior to the NLI signing date for that sport. In addition, it's not possible for a school to issue a National Letter of Intent unless the NLI is accompanied by a school's athletic scholarship agreement.
Here's what probably actually happened:
Division I Bylaw 13.9.2.2 Written Offer of Aid Before Signing Date. Before August 1 of a prospective student-athlete's senior year in high school, an institution shall not, directly or indirectly, provide a written offer of athletically related financial aid or indicate in writing to the prospective student-athlete that an athletically related grant-in-aid will be offered by the institution. On or after August 1 of a prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school, an institution may indicate in writing to a prospective student-athlete that an athletically related grant-in-aid will be offered by the institution; however, the institution may not permit the prospective student-athlete to sign a form indicating his or her acceptance of such an award before the initial signing date in that sport in the National Letter of Intent program.
On or after August 1 of a prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school, an institution may indicate in writing to a prospective student-athlete that an athletically related grant-in-aid will be offered by the institution; however, the institution may not permit the prospective student-athlete to sign a form indicating his or her acceptance of such an award before the initial signing date in that sport in the National Letter of Intent program.
That would completely explain it. Really appreciate your expertise on this forum!
