First of all, hi again everyone! I haven't been on this board in a long time, but felt the need to share this article.
I may be biased because I know and love this player and his family, but I am just sick of the NCAA and its self-righteous, hypocritical arrogance. I don't think that anyone who has read or watched any of the several recent documentaries or books exposing what a fraud their mission statement is will be surprised.
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Blue10 posted:First of all, hi again everyone! I haven't been on this board in a long time, but felt the need to share this article.
I may be biased because I know and love this player and his family, but I am just sick of the NCAA and its self-righteous, hypocritical arrogance. I don't think that anyone who has read or watched any of the several recent documentaries or books exposing what a fraud their mission statement is will be surprised.
I haven't read the link yet...bit I already agree with you! There is nothing the that could be referenced in any article that would change my mind. The NCAA is the worst organization in the world, the International Olympic committee is the only one to compare it with....and they acknowledge they are corrupt and kind of celebrate it!! That alone makes them better then the NCAA.
The member institutions are actually the gutless cowards who empower the NCAA, The same ones who artificially inflate the price of college and spend 4 years attempting to brainwash your kids into becoming libtard flag burners....LOL but that is a whole different rant!
But yes I agree the NCAA and it member institutions are corrupt, heartless, gutless and the world would be a better place if they were stripped down to nothing!!
ok so I scanned the link...it is even better. a very short summary is...
immigrants from desolate countries who hate us have more rights then D1 baseball players who have the audacity to transfer...according to our court system.
Honestly this is what I am talking about it being the member institutions who empower the NCAA. This should not be allowed and I hold those member institutions responsible. Same way I hold the schools responsible for the coaches recruiting 8th graders and 9th graders - yea looking at you Ole Miss, VA Tech and Virginia!!
I am not a fan of the power 5 conferences breaking away from the NCAA in principle, however, I think it would be best for that to happen just to crush the NCAA. Remove football and mens hoops from the NCAA organization and nobody gives a damn what they say, they have no money and no power...the new organization will probably just as bad but at least they are what they are.
NCAA Sucks. Period.
old_school posted:ok so I scanned the link...it is even better. a very short summary is...
immigrants from desolate countries who hate us have more rights then D1 baseball players who have the audacity to transfer...according to our court system.
Honestly this is what I am talking about it being the member institutions who empower the NCAA. This should not be allowed and I hold those member institutions responsible. Same way I hold the schools responsible for the coaches recruiting 8th graders and 9th graders - yea looking at you Ole Miss, VA Tech and Virginia!!
I am not a fan of the power 5 conferences breaking away from the NCAA in principle, however, I think it would be best for that to happen just to crush the NCAA. Remove football and mens hoops from the NCAA organization and nobody gives a damn what they say, they have no money and no power...the new organization will probably just as bad but at least they are what they are.
Okay, I can only assume you are joking about what the story says.
For anyone who didn't read the story the real summary (or at least what I see) is that a high school kid was a D1 commit, the college coach retired and the new coach said they over recruited please find another home. The kid did, then that coach at the second school was fired. The assistant coach took over and said all is good...then he was fired. The kid wanted to transfer but the 3rd coach didn't disclose the proper way to do that so the kid sat. Then the coach basically told him to leave, the kid found another school. That school appealed that the kid shouldn't have to wait a year to play. His former school agreed, and both coaches sent in a letter supporting that it wasn't the kids fault he had to transfer. The NCAA agreed that it wasn't the kids fault that he had to transfer, but since he couldn't prove he was in an unsafe environment he had to wait the obligatory year. The kid took it to court, the Judge ruled that he could play, but the NCAA has this rule that even if you take it to court if it's appealed and the kid is found to be ineligible then any game that player played in is a forfeit. This leaves the kid waiting out a year and he's already 21 and hasn't played college ball, kind of makes it hard to prove your draft worthiness at that point.
I keep hearing over and over again that the NCAA is evil and not looking out for the students. They have obscure rules with harsh consequences. So why hasn't any college athlete taken them to court over their unfair practices? If the MiLB can take their case to court why can't the College Athletes?
Blue10 - Great to hear from you again. We miss you. No argument here about the NCAA. Their strategy is to stick close to the revenue producing entities (Universities & Media) and stick it to the student when/where it is in their best interest. My hope is that the NCAA becomes obsolete, encounters competition, or is reformed by Congressial mandate in my lifetime. Fingers crossed.
I hope Mr Wiesz can overcome this.
Interesting article, thanks Blue10.
I read the whole article and I have a different sentiment than others.
Generally, I understand everyone's disdain for some of the over-regulation of the NCAA and the whole front they put up about being "for the athlete" as opposed to being the money machine that manages most of college athletics. But, I have yet to hear a solution that wouldn't seriously jeopardize the great environment that is college sports. I, for one, don't think that paying the athletes is the answer.
But, back to this particular incident...
I don't agree with and don't fully understand why the NCAA did not promptly making this player eligible for immediate play. However... consider some quotes from the article...
"Semerdjian told D1Baseball that the NCAA’s legal team had expressed willingness to reach a common sense resolution, but that its tone abruptly changed after the judge’s ruling."
“I really thought there was a point the attorney for the NCAA and I were talking about resolving it in good faith and letting Keaton play, then we got completely shut down,”
So, it appears that the NCAA was perhaps well on it's way to granting the player the eligibility he requested but backed off when the case was brought out into public court. I can certainly understand them not wanting to allow the precedent and having every player who doesn't like the NCAA bylaws take them to court -
"...the NCAA wants to safeguard its right to interpret and enforce its rules on its own, without external interference via the courts."
Also... “I can certainly understand that the NCAA member schools don’t want these athletes jumping from school to school whenever they feel like it..."
So, while this case certainly seemed cut and dry, i imagine the NCAA has to be careful to draw clear lines and any exceptions probably need a good thorough examination and evaluation. Otherwise, they become susceptible to an avalanche of "well, you allowed it for him".
One way to bust up the NCAA is to do exactly that, have every player with an eligibility beef pursue a class action against the NCAA. Class action suits get a lot of attention and perhaps you could see change based on that strategy.
cabbagedad posted:Interesting article, thanks Blue10.
I read the whole article and I have a different sentiment than others.
Generally, I understand everyone's disdain for some of the over-regulation of the NCAA and the whole front they put up about being "for the athlete" as opposed to being the money machine that manages most of college athletics. But, I have yet to hear a solution that wouldn't seriously jeopardize the great environment that is college sports. I, for one, don't think that paying the athletes is the answer.
But, back to this particular incident...
I don't agree with and don't fully understand why the NCAA did not promptly making this player eligible for immediate play. However... "Semerdjian told D1Baseball that the NCAA’s legal team had expressed willingness to reach a common sense resolution, but that its tone abruptly changed after the judge’s ruling." “I really thought there was a point the attorney for the NCAA and I were talking about resolving it in good faith and letting Keaton play, then we got completely shut down,” So, it appears that the NCAA was perhaps well on it's way to granting the player the eligibility he requested but backed off when the case was brought out into public court. I can certainly understand them not wanting to allow the precedent and having every player who doesn't like the NCAA bylaws take them to court.
As long as we have Title 9 athletes will never get paid. That is just a reality.
cabbagedad posted:Interesting article, thanks Blue10.
I read the whole article and I have a different sentiment than others.
Generally, I understand everyone's disdain for some of the over-regulation of the NCAA and the whole front they put up about being "for the athlete" as opposed to being the money machine that manages most of college athletics. But, I have yet to hear a solution that wouldn't seriously jeopardize the great environment that is college sports. I, for one, don't think that paying the athletes is the answer.
But, back to this particular incident...
I don't agree with and don't fully understand why the NCAA did not promptly making this player eligible for immediate play. However... "Semerdjian told D1Baseball that the NCAA’s legal team had expressed willingness to reach a common sense resolution, but that its tone abruptly changed after the judge’s ruling." “I really thought there was a point the attorney for the NCAA and I were talking about resolving it in good faith and letting Keaton play, then we got completely shut down,” So, it appears that the NCAA was perhaps well on it's way to granting the player the eligibility he requested but backed off when the case was brought out into public court. I can certainly understand them not wanting to allow the precedent and having every player who doesn't like the NCAA bylaws take them to court -
"...the NCAA wants to safeguard its right to interpret and enforce its rules on its own, without external interference via the courts."
Also... “I can certainly understand that the NCAA member schools don’t want these athletes jumping from school to school whenever they feel like it..."
So, while this case certainly seemed cut and dry, i imagine the NCAA has to be careful to draw clear lines and any exceptions probably need a good thorough examination and evaluation. Otherwise, they become susceptible to an avalanche of "well, you allowed it for him".
But cabbagedad, that is what I don't get. Why shouldn't their rules be scrutinized by a court of law if it affects the livelihood and earning potential of an individual, as well as it affecting the schools financial commitment to a player they can't play.
I know it is illegal for my boss to tell me I have to work 12 hours without over time and without breaks. It use to be legal, but it was found to be harmful and unfair so their were laws set in place to defend against this type of treatment. Why doesn't the NCAA have to abide by a similar law? There is a wronged party and a financial issue, isn't that what a court case needs?
Yes, but your boss could choose to offer to pay some of your health insurance or none, could choose to pay you minimum wage or something better, etc. Would you want the door to be open for every employee of every company to take their employer to court because they didn't agree with their pay scale? They accepted the conditions when they became "employed". They could have refused employment and gone elsewhere.
I don't know, I'm not by any stretch a legal expert. I just don't see the situation as one-sided as many others. I understand some of the precautions the NCAA takes, even if it seems they are being overly cautious in a seemingly obvious scenario.
I have a kid that broke his toe at the end of soccer season. Went to a doctor and got clearance. Then, we started baseball and he expected to just come out and play without proper clearance from the trainer at school. As a coach, I am legally bound to make sure he takes the extra steps of bringing doc's note to trainer and trainer relaying to me that he is cleared. It will keep him off the field another couple days or so. It's all legal/liability CYA BS and it drives coaches crazy but I understand the necessity for the school to have these rules in place.
The NCAA simply hates baseball... How else could it defend this decision and the numerous others (11.7, etc...)...? The decision to start the National Championship final game, mid-day, in front of an empty stadium was the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back' for me... I PRAY that this kid gets the win he is looking for!
The problem is that the NCAA has gone a lot further than "protecting student athletes." Now some things are good to ensure some level of parity between programs -- limiting scholarships, requiring grades, recruiting timelines, etc. But when they start retraining trade of the athletes is when it gets dicey. Even in the employment context, non-compete agreements can't be over done and are limited by the courts. Like an employee, the benefit of the doubt should go to the athlete and allow them to play. So the rule should be the kid plays unless there is a good reason not to play, rather than the kid doesn't play unless there a good reason he should. Currently, you can't play unless you fall into a few exceptions. And attacks on the NCAA are already happening. They better reform themselves, or they are going be reformed by congress or the courts.
This is more a special situation players occasionally confront when, through no fault on the players part, the coach leaves the school.
The purpose of the transfer rule was to address the game of musical chairs which existed with players transferring based purely upon their baseball experience (transfers based upon lack of playing time). During that era, players could literally attend four different schools while transferable credits would leave the player far from graduation when eligibility ran out.
In the case at hand, the court was able to distinguish the two situations and the reasons upon which the rule was theoretically based.
old_school posted:As long as we have Title 9 athletes will never get paid. That is just a reality.
You can make that argument but it's not a reality, because it hasn't been proven. I would argue that the NCAA member colleges simply don't want to the additional expense of paying student athletes, regardless of Title IX. Many schools already pay football and/or basketball coaches astronomical salaries. They're willing to risk Title IX legal action in those cases because of the revenue those sports generate. They could make the same case when it comes to paying student athletes, but they won't... until they're forced to pay those athletes.
The NCAA has stacked the deck in their favor by an overwhelming margin. They have long surpassed teh definition of evil. They are also downright greedy and power hungry. Cant tel lyou how much I dislike the NCAA and their obscure rules.
I don't have any problem with people hating the NCAA for their handling of this case and others, but I think the lesson for the rest of us is to be extremely vigilant if our kids find themselves in any situation that is the least bit out of the ordinary. In this case, it's easy to say that Auburn failed this young man and left him in a lousy position. Hopefully, others can learn from his misfortune and avoid this kind of problem in the future. Do the research, talk to the NCAA, and/or hire an expert.
This kind of thing even happens in the big revenue sports. Omari Spellman started 9th grade at his local public school, then withdrew and transferred to a private school as an 8th grader. When he started 9th grade the first time, his eligibility clock started. High school kids have four years to complete 16 core courses. Spellman did that in grades 9-12, but not with the four years of when he first went to 9th grade. Even a team of Philadelphia lawyers couldn't get him on the court for Villanova as a freshman.
If the NCAA were dissolved it would only benefit the top 10% of male college athletes. The NCAA at a minimum creates a level playing field between student athletes. If we start paying athletes does the 3rd string kicker get paid. He's not making a cent for the university. The star QB gets all of the money. Everyone else gets the scraps. What about the baseball team? I'm sorry, at most schools there will be no money for them. It's better when schools are forced to treat all student athletes relatively equal. Without the NCAA, that won't happen.
I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
compare posted:I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
"You said colleges are not designed to be minor league programs".
My question to you, what percentage of minor league baseball players were drafted from college last year?
The real issue this article brings to light is that the NCAA is suppose to be there to help the student athlete and to protect them. In many recent cases they are not being helpful they are being bullies by holding the power over the athlete and college even at the cost of common sense.
Each case is taken one at a time, letting common sense prevail wouldn't have cost them anything and would have helped this student athlete.
compare posted:I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
Spot on.
"Each case is taken one at a time".... actually they are not. The NCAA has determined it is not in the best interest of the college experience to let athletes transfer and play. So they make them sit out a year. Some people disagree, I dont.
compare posted:"Each case is taken one at a time".... actually they are not. The NCAA has determined it is not in the best interest of the college experience to let athletes transfer and play. So they make them sit out a year. Some people disagree, I dont.
Those that feel they have extraordinary circumstances can apply for an exemption. It said in the article he applied for an exemption and both coaches wrote letters. The exemption application is taken one at a time.
CaCO3Girl posted:compare posted:I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
"You said colleges are not designed to be minor league programs".
My question to you, what percentage of minor league baseball players were drafted from college last year?
The real issue this article brings to light is that the NCAA is suppose to be there to help the student athlete and to protect them. In many recent cases they are not being helpful they are being bullies by holding the power over the athlete and college even at the cost of common sense.
Each case is taken one at a time, letting common sense prevail wouldn't have cost them anything and would have helped this student athlete.
It would have opened a Pandoras box, then every player who wanted to transfer claiming special exception might take them to court.
Compare as well as Goosegg brought up the most important reasons why transfers are frowned upon. I don't always agree with the NCAA, but they are protecting students by helping them to graduate, in a reasonable time period. That is their primary responsibility.
Bolts-Coach-PR posted:The NCAA simply hates baseball... How else could it defend this decision and the numerous others (11.7, etc...)...? The decision to start the National Championship final game, mid-day, in front of an empty stadium was the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back' for me... I PRAY that this kid gets the win he is looking for!
The NCAA doesn't control programming on national TV. The game had to be played one way or the other. Unfortunately, the CWS is not as popular as the Football NC.
Baseball, and actually most NCAA sports, are barely on the NCAA's radar. I can't imagine a cohesive baseball landscape when some schools would play in the fall, some coaches would have year round formal seasons, some schools offer unlimited scholarships (when today many D1 schools don't offer the allowed number), unlimited roster sizes, and the rest of the details that run straight through the NCAA.
I have no love for the rules which have grown into unwieldy monsters; but the coaches, boosters, and sponsors are always looking for holes in the rules and the holes need to then be plugged.
TPM posted:CaCO3Girl posted:compare posted:I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
"You said colleges are not designed to be minor league programs".
My question to you, what percentage of minor league baseball players were drafted from college last year?
The real issue this article brings to light is that the NCAA is suppose to be there to help the student athlete and to protect them. In many recent cases they are not being helpful they are being bullies by holding the power over the athlete and college even at the cost of common sense.
Each case is taken one at a time, letting common sense prevail wouldn't have cost them anything and would have helped this student athlete.
It would have opened a Pandoras box, then every player who wanted to transfer claiming special exception might take them to court.
Compare as well as Goosegg brought up the most important reasons why transfers are frowned upon. I don't always agree with the NCAA, but they are protecting students by helping them to graduate, in a reasonable time period. That is their primary responsibility.
Both coaches and the NCAA agreed he needed to leave and then wouldnt let him play. Does common sense not come into play at all? When I was a freshman I had all gen ed courses that would have transferred I don't see how this would have affected him graduating on time or how holding him back a year on the bench helps.
CaCO3Girl posted:TPM posted:CaCO3Girl posted:compare posted:I totally disagree.
The NCAA has been very good to my son, not only is he getting a world class education paid mostly by others but he gets to play baseball as well. In one year he was transported by other peoples' money to play the game he loves in New England, Florida, California and many places in between. They also worked overtime to make sure he and his teammates stayed on track with their academics. College or University, is a place to get educated, while there, with so many other enlightened young people, you can sing in a group or join a fraternity, join many clubs....... or play baseball. Colleges are not designed to be minor league programs. I read the article, and while I won't talk about an individual student athlete, no where in the article or in the many comments here were the students academic situation talked about. If you think multiple transfers are hard on a baseball career imagine how they affect achieving a degree. In regard to paying players, paid players are pro by definition, the NCAA represents amateurs. There is a organization that pays players.............. if your are good enough.
"You said colleges are not designed to be minor league programs".
My question to you, what percentage of minor league baseball players were drafted from college last year?
The real issue this article brings to light is that the NCAA is suppose to be there to help the student athlete and to protect them. In many recent cases they are not being helpful they are being bullies by holding the power over the athlete and college even at the cost of common sense.
Each case is taken one at a time, letting common sense prevail wouldn't have cost them anything and would have helped this student athlete.
It would have opened a Pandoras box, then every player who wanted to transfer claiming special exception might take them to court.
Compare as well as Goosegg brought up the most important reasons why transfers are frowned upon. I don't always agree with the NCAA, but they are protecting students by helping them to graduate, in a reasonable time period. That is their primary responsibility.
Both coaches and the NCAA agreed he needed to leave and then wouldnt let him play. Does common sense not come into play at all? When I was a freshman I had all gen ed courses that would have transferred I don't see how this would have affected him graduating on time or how holding him back a year on the bench helps.
I am not a legal expert and I am not sure why he didnt play at Auburn after Butch Thompson came.
But as someone mentioned not once was his degree mentioned only his clock was running out to play the professional game. This kind of sums it up from me.
This situation is an odd one. Two transfers in two years, both involving multiple coaching changes. Everyone knows the NCAA rules when it comes to transfers. It seems unfair to the student athlete, but there are always two sides and the NCAA hasn't stated there side yet. I imagine they are simply following their own rules. The way the timing works in this case seems very unfair. The NCAA appealed the judges ruling so the kid can't play until it is ruled on which could take a year or more to find out if the kid would have been eligible. If the ruling makes him eligible so what... He already lost the time. That is BS!
We can argue about some of the rules, but there actually is a reason for every rule. I just wish there were more leeway given in certain cases where circumstances warrant it. And ways to hurry up the process when needed.
Understand that graduations are important, but NCAA doesn't stand for National Academic Association. They only govern athletics, any other student can transfer without penalty if they want to. I don't think this has anything to do with academics. He will be a college junior academically before he plays an inning if things stay this way.
The NCAA doesn't care if the kid is dead before he plays an inning.
My take is a little different. Yes I would like to see the young man play. That said, another side-story is how national top talent is finding itself on to the roster of a supposed "mid" major in Conway, South Carolina. I've noticed their roster now has several California kids along with every other major baseball state in the country. Winning breeds winning and that is all I see happening down there for years to come.
The kid can play according to the Courts. Coastal is not letting him play and the NCAA's Restitution rule is why. Aaron Fitt from D1Baseball.com had a link to a very good article on this rule.
Goin_yard posted:The kid can play according to the Courts. Coastal is not letting him play and the NCAA's Restitution rule is why. Aaron Fitt from D1Baseball.com had a link to a very good article on this rule.
great article, the real question is who creates the power...the member schools. they have the ability to fix it but the institutions don't give a damn about the kids or people. They solely care about protecting the money source...and the NCAA plays the role of bad guy!
The system needs to be blown up, there is no way around that. IMO
I know that this post will be self-serving, but so be it. I've read the article twice now, and a couple of points stuck out to me. Certainly (at least according to the article) Auburn screwed up by not informing the athlete of his right to appeal when Thompson denied his request. If the NCAA were going to grant the waiver, that is the point that I think they could have used to help this athlete while not setting a precedent that a lot of other athletes would try to follow.
But also, with his father being a baseball agent, I find it hard to believe that the family didn't ask the Auburn compliance office or AD if an appeal opportunity was available when Thompson said "no." Weisz would not have been able to be immediately eligible last spring anyway, but he quite possibly would have won the appeal and the opportunity to discuss a transfer with other schools had he known about and pursued the appeal. He could have then transferred after the Fall semester, sat out last Spring, and he would be eligible right now after sitting out two semesters.
So, here's the shameless plug. While many of my friends in compliance whom I've known for many years do a very good job, I've spoken to far too many athletes and parents who've been given too little information or not enough information. When families do a consultation with us, we inform them of every step they need to be prepared for when requesting a transfer.
Here's an example: When an athlete requests permission to contact other schools about a transfer, sometimes the coach or even the compliance person may say "We'll be glad to help you with your transfer and process all the paperwork, but first we need you to sign this voluntary withdrawal form that you're leaving the team." WRONG!!!
Here's why an athlete should never do that, especially if they are a scholarship athlete. Once they sign the voluntary withdrawal form, the athletic department has the right to immediately cancel the scholarship. Besides, a sentence in that particular bylaw states that "a request for permission to contact another institution regarding a possible transfer does not constitute voluntary withdrawal." So, even though the athlete's request "does not constitute voluntary withdrawal", transferring athletes are often told to sign it anyway. My advice to athletes and parents is to never sign that form until you absolutely are sure you are leaving that university and will not be returning.
To return to my first point, I think if the family's attorney had worked with the university and the NCAA without seeking the injunction and taking the issue into a public forum, they might have gotten the waiver due to Auburn's failure to inform the athlete of his right to appeal. (By the way, I'm not an attorney. Just years of experience with the NCAA rules and procedures.)
Rick, obviously you have taken the high road and that is fair, you have friends in compliance also fair. That being said what you posted while being what seems to be an accurate outline doesn't do anything but confirm the NCAA sucks... just posted in a much nicer way.
All good advice Rick. Unfortunately, and the NCAA and member schools know this, an athlete and his/her family typically get only one shot at this. They are far less experienced in the rules and how to navigate them than the schools/NCAA themselves. Families are at a very significant disadvantage and too often it seems the NCAA takes advantage of this fact.
Families who are wise enough to engage someone like you are lucky, and the exception I think.
I am thankful for the opportunities our sons got. They were never mistreated and never had to deal with things like a transfer. Both of their schools were classy in virtually everything, but I saw enough through friends and experiences to know that the NCAA is NOT an organization that has the "student athlete" as they like to say, first and foremost.
Their commercials with Billie Jean King and others making it seem they had the students-athletes first in their minds...made me wanna puke to be honest.
I agree with many of the comments made, especially including JustBaseball's comments that athletes and families are at a serious disadvantage to the schools and the coaches that recruit them. That's why my wife encouraged me to start our business and be an advocate for the athletes and families when it comes to rules and procedures for recruiting, academic eligibility, athletic scholarships, transfers, waivers, and appeals.
Like any large organization or company, there will be some things the organization/company does or actions taken that some stakeholders or shareholders won't agree with. I get that, as I've been extremely frustrated with the NCAA rules many times.
For whatever it might be worth, this link describes an event that I believe the NCAA Championships department does very well. The Division II athletes at this combined championship enjoy the Olympics-type atmosphere.
http://www.ncaa.org/about/reso...-festival-birmingham
