Almost getting to be Free Agency

[pittpsu]

I understand the need to win and everything, but does any else find these graduate transfers to be a little much? It's a win-win in that

• students get to shop around for a better program that fits their style
• students get to shop for a better university if they actually are a student
• schools (can you say Pitt) can fill empty spots
• nothing stops the coaches from doing this

Just feels professional to me.... I guess that I am getting old.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

It's the one rule the NCAA got right. It rewards kids who took care of business on the academic side and can experience a new school. I just hope the rule sticks around for a long period of time.

College sports is almost professional anyways, so I'm glad Dixon is taking this avenue to try and win.

 

[Consultant Panther]

It's the one rule the NCAA got right. It rewards kids who took care of business on the academic side and can experience a new school. I just hope the rule sticks around for a long period of time.

College sports is almost professional anyways, so I'm glad Dixon is taking this avenue to try and win.

I agree. This is something that actually rewards kids that graduate. This may sound strange, but I think they should consider giving an extra year to kids that graduate on time and move to another school.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I dont like it. I totally agree that since its the rule, we should use it to our advantage but I still dont like it. The rule was put in place to help more traditional student-athletes play their final year of eligibility at another university where they chose to attend grad school because their undergraduate school didnt offer it.

Example: Say a women's soccer player from Illinois really wants to go to Pitt's GSPIA but Ill doesnt have a similar grad school. That student used to have 2 choices:

1. Quit soccer and go to Pitt
2. Play for Ill but take extra undergraduate classes
3. Play for Ill but go to another one of their grad schools

But what's happened is football and basketball players have exploited this rule and just try to find any grad program that there school doesnt have so they get eligible. In most cases, they would have never been admitted to that grad school.

 

[Fredact]

It does give schools like Pitt the opportunity to get a player with just a portion of a scholarship, like Kentucky does with their freshman. That is, the same scholarship can be used for 4 different guys over a 4-year period.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I understand the need to win and everything, but does any else find these graduate transfers to be a little much? It's a win-win in that

• students get to shop around for a better program that fits their style
• students get to shop for a better university if they actually are a student
• schools (can you say Pitt) can fill empty spots
• nothing stops the coaches from doing this

Just feels professional to me.... I guess that I am getting old.

The rule is probably going to change in the next couple years. This rule was put in place to help serious graduate students continue finish out their eligibility at another school because their undergraduate school didn't offer their course of graduate study. Basketball coaches have exploited the rule and all it is now is a loophole. These players, well, most of them, are not finishing their grad program and are only transferring for basketball reasons.

Here's what I propose:

- if you graduate with eligibility left and your undergraduate school does not have your graduate program, you CAN transfer to a school that does but you have to sit out a year, even if it means that you'll have 6 years on a scholarship. So, a guy like Durand Johnson could still transfer to St. John's but they would have to have him on scholarship for 2 years while only getting to play 1. Most schools aren't going to want to make that type of investment. It takes 2 or more years to complete a grad program anyway so it gives the player more time and rewards them by giving them an extra year that is used as a 2nd redshirt year.

- Keep the rule as is but institute some type of "APR" for these graduate students. Schools should be penalized if these kids are not completing their grad degrees. This rule should NOT be used as a loophole. Something needs changed.

However, this year I like it because I think Smith + Maia > Johnson.

 

[Jeffburgh]

It's the one rule the NCAA got right. It rewards kids who took care of business on the academic side and can experience a new school. I just hope the rule sticks around for a long period of time.

College sports is almost professional anyways, so I'm glad Dixon is taking this avenue to try and win.

Agreed, the players get used and abused in this system. This is one instance where it works for them the way it should.

 

[NTOP]

Agreed, the players get used and abused in this system. This is one instance where it works for them the way it should.

I find it all very interesting. Don't be surprised if the "recruiting" period for these kids starts while they're only juniors at their undergrad school. Will there be contact allowed?? Campus visits?? Verbals?? Someone will have a "Grad Recruit Website".....or does it already exist. SMF's idea of having to sit for a year makes sense for the academic career of the kid, but it won't happen, because coaches are looking for immediate help. Waiting a full year to only GET a year's play is too iffy. After all, this is about hoops, not studies.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I find it all very interesting. Don't be surprised if the "recruiting" period for these kids starts while they're only juniors at their undergrad school. Will there be contact allowed?? Campus visits?? Verbals?? Someone will have a "Grad Recruit Website".....or does it already exist. SMF's idea of having to sit for a year makes sense for the academic career of the kid, but it won't happen, because coaches are looking for immediate help. Waiting a full year to only GET a year's play is too iffy. After all, this is about hoops, not studies.

Most coaches don't like it though, that's why you'll see it changed. Sure, its there so they take advantage of it but most don't like investing 4 years in a player, only to see him leave when he's counted on. If the players so desperately wants to attend grad school elsewhere, make them sit a year. Most schools won't want to invest 2 years for 1 year of play so the whole grad recruiting market will all but disappear. If nobody wants to invest 2 years in Durand Johnson for 1 year of play, he can always transfer to IUP and play right away........or just move on with his life's work.

 

[Jeffburgh]

I find it all very interesting. Don't be surprised if the "recruiting" period for these kids starts while they're only juniors at their undergrad school. Will there be contact allowed?? Campus visits?? Verbals?? Someone will have a "Grad Recruit Website".....or does it already exist. SMF's idea of having to sit for a year makes sense for the academic career of the kid, but it won't happen, because coaches are looking for immediate help. Waiting a full year to only GET a year's play is too iffy. After all, this is about hoops, not studies.

Well, as you note, it probably is going to start getting pretty messy.

These kids get held to a MUCH higher standard than the coaches relative to their ability to come and go.

I love the game, am a fan and want the continuity as a fan, but I also am compassionate to the situation of these 21 year old kids.

If a coach can bail at any time, seems a kid who takes care of his business should be able to put himself out there and make his own decision on where he gets that fourth year.

 

[NTOP]

Well, as you note, it probably is going to start getting pretty messy.

These kids get held to a MUCH higher standard than the coaches relative to their ability to come and go.

I love the game, am a fan and want the continuity as a fan, but I also am compassionate to the situation of these 21 year old kids.

If a coach can bail at any time, seems a kid who takes care of his business should be able to put himself out there and make his own decision on where he gets that fourth year.

Yep. Maybe a compromise solution would be to let the kid play right away, but keep his scholie until the post-grad work is over. That way, he's not responsible for the cost to get that Master's sheepskin, and if he finishes up in that post-BB year, can concentrate on school, not his studies. A nice reward for being a....Gulp!!...student-athlete.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

I love these coaches who get upset when a kid leaves them after three years for a more challenging opportunity that was earned through hard work academically, but the coach has no issues leaving the kid for a better job that pays more money. Hypocrites to the fullest is what these college coaches are.

It was refreshing reading Stanford's football coach talking about it being a great rule for the kids, and he's lost three players to it.

 

[heybandguy]

I know players are transferring for clearly "Basketball reasons", but how many of these transfers have actually resulted in a big swing in the perception of the player? The only real successful graduate transfer I can think of is Russell Wilson - and that wasn't even in basketball. I like Pitt's additions this spring and I think they improve the quality of the roster. I am not convinced that it puts them in the 2016 tourney until you see how the rest of the roster develops this summer and into the fall.

I agree that the coaches ability to move uninhibited is very negative double-standard. The graduated player with remaining eligibility and is looking for options for a master's shouldn't have to sit. They took care of their academics in undergrad. Chances are if they are serious about a Master's, they will take care of that too.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I dont like it. I totally agree that since its the rule, we should use it to our advantage but I still dont like it. The rule was put in place to help more traditional student-athletes play their final year of eligibility at another university where they chose to attend grad school because their undergraduate school didnt offer it.

Example: Say a women's soccer player from Illinois really wants to go to Pitt's GSPIA but Ill doesnt have a similar grad school. That student used to have 2 choices:

1. Quit soccer and go to Pitt
2. Play for Ill but take extra undergraduate classes
3. Play for Ill but go to another one of their grad schools

But what's happened is football and basketball players have exploited this rule and just try to find any grad program that there school doesnt have so they get eligible. In most cases, they would have never been admitted to that grad school.

Hey, if coaches can come and go as they please some taking jobs within a week of signing a new "extension", and always despite being under contract, then how can you fault the athletes for taking their services to the open market when they can? It is poetic justice.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

They should institute a rule that grad transfers have to sit out a season the day after the rule that all coaches who take another job while already under contract have to sit out a season before they can take their new job takes effect.

But not one second sooner.

 

[bwh05]

They graduated already, which is supposed to be the whole point so they should be free to do whatever they want with their remaining eligibility.