TPM, I agree with your wonderful thoughts 99% of the time, but this is that rare 1%; if a kid turns down a partial scholarship to be a walk-on, to keep his options open, it seems no different to me than a school offering only a "walk on spot" to a player, as opposed to $$$, to see how he does. If the team can cut the player at will, at no cost,then it seems only fair the player can leave at will as well.
Ever since the NCAA changed scholarships from 4 year guaranteed to one year renewables, any pretense that they're looking out for the players disappeared. If education was truly Job 1, scholarships would still be four year deals.
My two guys are at a D III so no schollys to worry over, but even there, silly NCAA rules pop up: their team made the NCAA regionals and they're allowed only 24 players in uniform. 11 kids that practiced and played all year long, for absolutely no money, have to be left behind. Would they likely play? No. But do they deserve to be with their teammates? Absolutely. Just another stupid NCAA rule without a rational reason.
But I still agree with you 99% of the time.
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