What's going on at UNC?

[thescout]

Most new coaches do not remove a kids scholarship in order to bring in his recruits. Most coaches have too much class for that. New coaches get 3-4 years to get the program on the right track and the AD realizes that a coach needs time to build with his guys.

 

[Skippy]

NLI director Susan Peal said signees are "bound by the provisions of the NLI" during coaching changes because they signed the document with the institution, not for a particular sport or coach

That is true, and last I checked all athletic scholarships are one year deals that can be extended, if earned. Academic scholarships are handled the same way. There has been some talk of allowing a certain number of 4 year offers, but I don't think that it ever passed. These coaches are not taking anything away from anybody. They are simply not extending an offer to continue. At the end of every year, coaches evaluate their programs and may offer to extend players or not. There is nothing harsh about it. You can't lose something you never had. An LOI is a one year deal. :twocents:

Most of the P-5 schools are now offering four-year scholarships to some athletes as part of the movement to better serve athletes. The NCAA changed the rule four years ago to allow four-year awards.

They may have a contract for 4 years of financial aid from the school, but they don't have a contract for 4 years on the team, or 4 years of an athletic scholarship. The athletics part of it are still a year to year thing. A coach can still kick them off the team. It happens with almost all schools, P5 included, on a regular basis.

The athletes on four-year deals can be removed for misconduct. They can't be removed for athletic reasons. Of course they can always be "advised to leave" based on playing time.

You are right, but I bet the vast majority of DI programs never jump on board. Waaaay to costly for mids and lower major programs. Far to much liability. Even a Presidential or Regent Scholarship awardee can lose his/her scholarship after a year. If someone can lose a major academic scholarship after a year, then it makes the most sense to keep athletic scholarships that way too.

They may not loose financial aid for poor athletic performance, but that doesn't mean they couldn't be removed from the team and replaced with a more productive player.

The problem is their scholarship still counts against the 13 limit. Northwestern is going through this issue now. They recruited a PG named Johnny Vasser. He played one year and then announced he was transferring. Then he changed his mind but the coach wouldn't let him back on the team. When asked about his status the coach, Chris Collins, said Vasser had a four year commitment and he might eventually transfer and he might not, but the school was obligated to him. In the meantime Northwestern has been unable to fill that scholarship because Vasser is encumbering it.

 

[oldrunner]

The problem is their scholarship still counts against the 13 limit. Northwestern is going through this issue now. They recruited a PG named Johnny Vasser. He played one year and then announced he was transferring. Then he changed his mind but the coach wouldn't let him back on the team. When asked about his status the coach, Chris Collins, said Vasser had a four year commitment and he might eventually transfer and he might not, but the school was obligated to him. In the meantime Northwestern has been unable to fill that scholarship because Vasser is encumbering it.

Interesting. I would bet that they will find a way around that real soon. I know that an injured player can be kept on scholarship, not be active on the roster, and not be counted as one of the 13. This situation does not seem a lot different.

 

[n.ogdencat]

NLI director Susan Peal said signees are "bound by the provisions of the NLI" during coaching changes because they signed the document with the institution, not for a particular sport or coach

That is true, and last I checked all athletic scholarships are one year deals that can be extended, if earned. Academic scholarships are handled the same way. There has been some talk of allowing a certain number of 4 year offers, but I don't think that it ever passed. These coaches are not taking anything away from anybody. They are simply not extending an offer to continue. At the end of every year, coaches evaluate their programs and may offer to extend players or not. There is nothing harsh about it. You can't lose something you never had. An LOI is a one year deal. :twocents:

Most of the P-5 schools are now offering four-year scholarships to some athletes as part of the movement to better serve athletes. The NCAA changed the rule four years ago to allow four-year awards.

They may have a contract for 4 years of financial aid from the school, but they don't have a contract for 4 years on the team, or 4 years of an athletic scholarship. The athletics part of it are still a year to year thing. A coach can still kick them off the team. It happens with almost all schools, P5 included, on a regular basis.

The athletes on four-year deals can be removed for misconduct. They can't be removed for athletic reasons. Of course they can always be "advised to leave" based on playing time.

You are right, but I bet the vast majority of DI programs never jump on board. Waaaay to costly for mids and lower major programs. Far to much liability. Even a Presidential or Regent Scholarship awardee can lose his/her scholarship after a year. If someone can lose a major academic scholarship after a year, then it makes the most sense to keep athletic scholarships that way too.

They may not loose financial aid for poor athletic performance, but that doesn't mean they couldn't be removed from the team and replaced with a more productive player.

The problem is their scholarship still counts against the 13 limit. Northwestern is going through this issue now. They recruited a PG named Johnny Vasser. He played one year and then announced he was transferring. Then he changed his mind but the coach wouldn't let him back on the team. When asked about his status the coach, Chris Collins, said Vasser had a four year commitment and he might eventually transfer and he might not, but the school was obligated to him. In the meantime Northwestern has been unable to fill that scholarship because Vasser is encumbering it.

The "Vasser Variable" is a major example of the liability behind granting 4 year commitments. Far too many kids transfer after a year or two of playing ball at their original institution. A vast majority of those student-athletes won't end up at a better or equivalent program, if at any program. When there isn't any other option, that student athlete can come back, take one of the 13 spots, and never participate on the hardwood again; while getting the rest of their education paid for. I think this is a bad direction for college athletics, and I don't think it will catch on; especially in the mid-majors.

Of course, if I was Vasser, I wouldn't want to leave Northwestern either. What a great institution and what an education Vasser is receiving. However, the problem now is that Vasser is getting a free ride without actually having to fulfill his half of the bargain. He was signed to play basketball and he isn't doing that. Whereas, if a student at Northwestern, one on an academic grant, does not maintain his/her grades, he/she can lose the grant. Vasser gets four years no matter, and only he can decide to leave. If he feels a great education is far better than playing basketball, nobody, due to the scholarship agreement can make him leave.

But...you are right. Four years are being granted and no matter the situation, they count as part of the 13 in all situations.

 

[oldrunner]

The sad part about this is that Northern Colorado has up until the end of June to tell the 4 players that they will not be coming back. There are a few other teams in the BSC that have similar situations. We don't know what their coaches might have told them, but I imagine that some will be surprised to find out that they will not be getting their scholarship renewed. The transfer numbers are sitting around the 640s right now. That number will jump significantly after July 1st. It will probably end up being an average of over 2 per D1 team. Those numbers speak for themselves. I'd like to know the number who do not find a program to take them, at any level, how many go to D11, D111, NAIA, and JCs. With the exception of a few high profile transfers, the majority of these players are getting a little taste of reality. :doh: