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National Letter of Intent question

CT Clint Taylor100+ posts
First time poster; however, long time reader.
Very knowledgeable posters, so I'm asking for assistance.

I have read the rules governing the NLI and it's my understanding, once a
player signs a NLI he is bound to that school, even though he played JUCO
for 2 yrs. In this case, the player could not play for another NLI college
institution, unless he was released from his commitment or lost 2 yrs of elgibility
by attending another school without the release.

For those with 1st hand experience or knowledge about the NLI, is my understanding correct?
If so, it seems less credible coaches will attempt to sign (NLI) as many quality
players as possible, regardless if it's over-recruiting or not (blaming the pro draft).


This topic is very important to me, since my son has make a verbal commitment to a
SEC Div. 1 school that does not have a history of over-recruiting. Thanks to this board, we did
our homework. He feels confident in his choice, especially after not making a commitment to
UGA because of it's history of over-recruiting. Unfortunately, it can happen at any school and
the player would be faced with an emotional decision to stay 1 yr or go the JUCO route.



"Lord I trust you to have one hand on my shoulder and the other on my Mouth."
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F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
My understanding of the rules (the actual NLI contract is not available for public download) is that a player who does not honor the NLI (meaning attend that school for one year) must be in residence at the new school for one year before being eligible for competition, and loses one year (from the 4 initially available) of eligibility for competition. So I believe it is one year of lost eligibility, not two years.

However, if a player doesn't attend the NLI school, but graduates from a JC, there is no penalty.



BHD, it would seem that no coach would commit 25% or more to a player and then renege on the NLI, but surprisingly that is apparently just what UGA did. They reportedly strong-armed the NLI signee(s) to ask for a release, and then granted it. The alternative for the signee would be to stay at UGA, be cut from the team (even though still on the 35 man roster, and collecting athletic aid), and then have to sit out the following year due to the transfer rule. I doubt any signee would stand on principle given this choice.

IMO, this practice won't survive very long. NLI signings are too public.
H Homerun041,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by fanofgame:
You can be given a complete release from a NLI with no penalty. Otherwise yes you can go to a JC or juco and no penalty. If you step foot on that campus for one class even then you lose one year elgibility for a year.If you go to another 4 year without a complete release you lose a year of elgibility.As far as a verbal committment I do not believe you are committed to anything. Its your word but its not a written contract until you sign the NLI.

The NLI is truly to the benefit of the institution, it does give the athlete the acknowledgement of the athletic grants he will be receiving, but if the program wants to strong arm him out, then they can but if the athlete wants to leave on their own, then all the power goes back to the institution, including possibly defining what institutions the athlete can not attend for the transfer.
Last edited by Homerun04
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
quote:
BHD, it would seem that no coach would commit 25% or more to a player and then renege on the NLI, but surprisingly that is apparently just what UGA did. They reportedly strong-armed the NLI signee(s) to ask for a release, and then granted it.


I know of another case here in Texas. I told the player's parent that it was truly a blessing to know before ever arriving on campus what types of turds the coaches were, rather than show up freshman year and be stuck.
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Homerun04:
Does the player have to graduate/get his AA from the JC since they are NCAA qualifiers, could he not just attend the JC for one year and then move on. I don't remember the verbiage.


Again, I don't have access to the actual text of the NLI. However, from the NCAA NLI site:
"Provisions of Letter Satisfied.
a. One-Year Attendance Requirement. The terms of this NLI shall be satisfied if I attend the institution named in this document for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters) as a full-time student.

b. Junior College Graduation. After signing this NLI while in high school or during my first year of full-time enrollment at a junior college, the terms of this NLI will be satisfied if I graduate from junior college."
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Clint Taylor:
(Link omitted)
Hope the link will work for you. This explains the situation better than I can.


I strongly recommend that you vet carefully any information about the NLI from the omitted link, or the one here which shows the text of the NLI.

The articles are old, and the NLI text was changed in October 2004. For example, it used to be true that a player had to sit for two years, but that isn't the case now.

Better to visit the new NCAA NLI site.
Last edited by 3FingeredGlove
CT Clint Taylor100+ posts
You do not need a release for a JUCO, since they are not a part of the participating Coach's Commission Association (Board overseeing the NLI regulations). Also, most NAIA and Div.3 schools are not members, which will not impact the NLI.

Yes,there is a space for a release; however, what are the chances the coach will sign if the player is interested in a college within their conference?
This certainly will limit the player's options for most other Div. 1 schools.

Don't want to be arguementative, jut trying to demonstrate the power of the NLI and how some over zelous coaches may be able to abuse the system.
Thankfully, these coaches and programs are in the minority; however, it can and does happen.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
Clint,

I removed my post dont want anyone to think they are getting faulty info. I do know this my son is at a JC and he is a qualifier , he can leave after one year, he was released from a NLI(personal reasons and institute was gracious )But being a qualifier if he is at JC for 2 years he only needs 48 units to transfer, he does NOT need to graduate from the JC.
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
fanofgame,

There is no conflict here; your son was released from his NLI, and so the normal 2-4 transfer rules apply.

For a player who signed a NLI, but attended JC instead, and who didn't get a release, he'll need to sit a year (if he subsequently attends a NLI school) unless he graduates from a JC. The relevant clause of the NLI is quoted a few posts before this one.
B beenthere100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Clint Taylor:
You do not need a release for a JUCO, since they are not a part of the participating Coach's Commission Association (Board overseeing the NLI regulations). Also, most NAIA and Div.3 schools are not members, which will not impact the NLI.

I think you are saying that JUCO and NCAA and NAIA have completely separate commitment systems. Is that true? In other words, could you sign an NCAA letter of intent and then a month later than sign a NJCAA/JUCO commitment letter.... and neither nullifies the other. I heard a player with an NCAA scholarship showed up at his school this fall, didn't like it, pulled out and was in a JUCO within a week.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by beenthere:
I think you are saying that JUCO and NCAA and NAIA have completely separate commitment systems. Is that true? In other words, could you sign an NCAA letter of intent and then a month later than sign a NJCAA/JUCO commitment letter.... and neither nullifies the other.


That is correct, they are all seperate and have no influence on one another.

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