Big 10: 4 year guaranteed scholarship - ScarletBuckeye

Arapahoe · 01-31-2012, 09:05 PM

Big Ten offering recruits security of four-year guaranteed scholarship | cleveland.com

Quote:

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When football recruits at Ohio State sign their National Letters of Intent Wednesday, they should have greater guarantees about their future than ever before in the modern era of college sports.

Buckeyes, as well as players at most -- if not all -- Big Ten schools and some other programs around the country, are signing four-year scholarships instead of renewable one-year scholarships, as has been the standard. After an NCAA rule change, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany encouraged conference schools to offer four-year grants. Administrators from the SEC and the MAC told The Plain Dealer their conferences haven't taken a position and left the decision to schools.

For those players getting four-year deals, the change may not be noticed, but the move offers greater protection, preventing schools from revoking their scholarships if they don't perform on the field. That particularly can be an issue after a coaching change. Ramogi Huma, president of the National Collegiate Players Association, said his group takes calls from players every year who thought their scholarships were for four years right up until they weren't renewed.

"Some may look at it and say it's symbolic," said Chad Hawley, the Big Ten's associate commissioner for compliance.

"In the vast majority of cases with a one-year grant, if student-athletes came in and did what they needed to d

o, it was renewed. But at the same time, I think there's a peace of mind that goes beyond symbolism."

Thus, Wednesday is something of a landmark. Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said the Buckeyes are extending the four-year offers only for football, but at least the players who make the most money for their schools are getting a little something back. (Smith did say the four-year scholarships still can be revoked for academic failings or off-field violations.)

Thoughts on this?

PHATBUCK13 · 01-31-2012, 09:07 PM

That's very interesting.

That's the way it should be IMO, and always should've been really..

Arapahoe · 01-31-2012, 09:09 PM

I agree. It's especially bad when you hear teams (SEC) cutting players on an annual basis because they aren't playing well.

PHATBUCK13 · 01-31-2012, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arapahoe

I agree. It's especially bad when you hear teams (SEC) cutting players on an annual basis because they aren't playing well.

Yeah, that doesn't sit right with me.

Tress was good on his word about that.

We may have had more depth in the past if he worked it like the SEC does, but I think this also helped him in recruiting with the prospect's parents...

McKraut · 01-31-2012, 09:19 PM

I think it's a good thing.. you're asking these kids to put the balance of their life's hard work as student-athletes into your school and make a committed investment in your school's academics, your coaching staff, and your football program, the least you can do is make the same commitment back to them.

AZBuckeye · 01-31-2012, 09:22 PM

On top of all that, this has to be a great recruiting tool...

PHATBUCK13 · 01-31-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBuckeye

On top of all that, this has to be a great recruiting tool...

Meyer needs every advantage he can get!

USCBuck7 · 01-31-2012, 09:46 PM

I agree that this is a good thing. I wonder though how air tight the "4-years" will be as there will probably be some sort of ways that either side can get out of the commitment.

SanDiegoBuckeye · 01-31-2012, 10:04 PM

I like it. It makes sure that athlete gets his/her education. Afterall, they are STUDENT athletes.

hollis · 02-01-2012, 06:37 AM

This is the way it should be... But it's the way Ohio State has always approached it anyway. This rule needs to make it's way down south where it will actually do something.