NCAA Makes Major Changes

About the new $2K aid to athletes.....I'm really afraid that the NCAA is heading into territory that the officials have not really thought through. It wouldn't be the first time that happened and it probably won't be the last.

People want a middle ground between an amateur sport and a professional sport and I just don't think that works out in reality. There are going to be legal issues that will arise with paying players regardless of how much money you start off paying them.

There is the potential that the chaos that conference realignment has caused in college sports is going to look like child's play to what paying players will do to it.

Congrats to the NCAA on finally providing multiyear scholarships....after all the BS last summer from Spurrier's offer to pay players directly, it's good to see the NCAA give schools the opportunity to put their money with their mouth is on how much they want a recruit to be a part of their program & university.

Better go update that commitment post..there's going to be some commits dropping off with the new requirements.

Here's a quote from the press release:

"The Board also approved multi-year grants up to the full term of eligibility, though one-year grants will remain the minimum. A prescribed minimum award value should apply to all scholarships (percentage amount to be decided in the coming months), and institutions could increase the allotted aid during the period of the award.

The current restrictions and processes for reducing or canceling aid will be maintained and only non-athletically-related conditions for reduction or cancellation will be permitted in aid agreements. Student-athletes will continue to have a hearing opportunity for any reduction or cancellation of aid."

The way I read this is the NCAA is trying to reduce oversigning. A school offering a multiyear scholarship would not be able to kick that player off the team if the player underperforms and offer that scholarship to someone else. A school offering a multiyear scholarship is going to have a recruiting advantage over a school only offering a single year scholarship. If I understand this correctly I think this is a good move by the NCAA.

With all the money talk surrounding realignment, it's about time that a little of it goes to the people actually doing the work. The concept of "protecting" amateur status has been self serving. The Russians and other communist countries knocked that in the head when providing a living for their athletes while the rest of the world had to provide training from donations.

Is $2,000 enough? Is there a provision for inflation? If not, how long before the amount is reviewed?

At least the NCAA is on the move. It's easier to stay on course when you're moving than when you're at a dead stop.