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DEL.ICIO.USWith Bennett’s transfer, the NCAA gets it right
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes, common sense wins out in college sports, and it appears to be happening with transfers like Taylor Bennett’s.
I checked with the NCAA about Bennett’s transfer to Louisiana Tech to see how common such transfers are. Remember that the NCAA’s member schools overrode a rule allowing players like Bennett, who graduated from their original school, to transfer and play immediately at another Division I-A school. That wasn’t the end of it, however.
Those who voted to override the rule were worried it would create a system of free agency, where players who were able to graduate before exhausting their eligibility would be “re-recruited” by other schools.
“I think the fear is exaggerated,” NCAA president Myles Brand said in a 2007 podcast.
And so, essentially, Brand and the NCAA created a workaround. The waiver process Bennett used to be able to play at Louisiana Tech has been used successfully by about 30 Division I athletes since July 1, 2007, NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson told me. That’s actually more than took advantage of the graduate student transfer rule in the one year for which it applied.
“For any individual who has legitimate academic reasons to transfer after graduating, we will grant it,” Brand said.
Determining what is a “legitimate academic reason” is a case-by-case process. Whether to grant a waiver is based on “why the student-athlete is transferring, whether the specific graduate degree is offered at the previous institution, and whether the previous institution supports the waiver,” Christianson wrote in an e-mail.
Do I think there is some fiction at work here? Yes. If Chan Gailey were still Georgia Tech’s coach, I bet Bennett would have found a graduate program at Georgia Tech that suited him just fine, at least for the one semester he’d need to play his senior season. Or maybe he would have taken a different course load this spring and extended his undergraduate career through the fall.
But at least the waiver process tilts the equation back in favor of the athletes. When that happens, the NCAA is getting something right.
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By old gold engineer
May 2, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Good for Bennett that he didn’t waste his time at GT and got his degree. I enjoyed his Gator Bowl exploits and wish he had been similarly successful passing the ball last season.
Mike, will Tech have a full contingent of scholarship players in the fall? If not, will they try to add some by offering scholarships to walk-ons or Junior college transfers? We have had high attrition rates recently during the early fall practices and may need more bodies.
By Mike Knobler
May 2, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
No, Tech will not have a full contingent of scholarship players, based on the math I can see. As you probably know, very few junior college transfers can get in at Tech. (Durant Brooks was a noteworthy exception.) Paul Johnson has given scholarships to walk-ons who had been promised scholarships by Chan Gailey, but I don’t know how far beyond that he’ll go. I look for Tech to bring in some early enrollees who can count against this year’s initial scholarship numbers and then sign a full class of incoming freshmen for 2009.
Remember, the Jackets already were behind last fall because of the NCAA sanctions that kept them six below the usual 85-player limit. Those sanctions are done, but bouncing back will take time.
By Mike Knobler
May 2, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
I just did a rough count, off the spring roster, and including the incoming freshmen I got a scholarship player count of 78. I might have missed a few, but it will be below 85.
As far as depth, Tech made it through spring practice with a lot fewer players than it will have once the rest of the freshmen join Tyler Melton (a 2007 holdover who enrolled for the spring semester) at Tech.
By Mike Knobler
May 2, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
On the subject of scholarship athletes, and Bennett’s transfer, Bennett is one of 29 varsity athletes graduating on Saturday. The other football players:
Travis Bell Durant Brooks Joe Gaston Djay Jones
Congratulations to all 29.
By longtimeGTfan
May 2, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
I heard M was spotted on a trailways bus heading to Athens. Thank God and Trailways that UGA fan is heading back home!
By longtimeGTfan
May 2, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
If a young man is truly seeking a legitimate degree he should be able to play somewhere else if the school he is at does not offer what he needs. This should not ever become a recruiting tool for coaches to fix their program! I am glad for Bennet.
By m
May 2, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
I don’t know who is coaching La. Tech; but, I can say with certainty that Bennett will be playing for a heck of a lot better coach than he played for last year. Good luck to Bennett AND Thank GOD and GREYHOUND that the worst coach in the history of the NCAA is GONE….FOREVER!!! Halleeeedamloooyah.
By BADDAWG
May 2, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Not only that m but darn good chance he will be playing for a better football team also!!!!!!! THWGT
By surfrider
May 3, 2008 2:35 AM | Link to this
Yes maybe Bennett will play some at LA. Tech. But it’s too bad he did’nt stick it out for one year under Johnson as Tech could use a passer and Bennett probably would have played some at QB as it looks like Tech is going to throw the ball more than first thought at least a few times this coming season. If George Godsey can run the option and be efficient at it then Bennett and many others can and it appears Booker has become adjusted to it to go with his good arm. No matter what Tech may need 3 ready QB’s going into any game due to the focus on the QB.
By jim@pine mountain
May 3, 2008 5:23 AM | Link to this
If I am understanding correctly, the jackets are going back to white jerseys and gold pants. this is the traditional tech championship uniform of the Bobby Dodd era. Coach Johnson is a winner already. Maybe we will not be exposed to the mustard yellow jerseys of the past few years.
By Look it up
May 3, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
You delusionalo Yellow Nerd fans who are excited about going back to the white shirts and yellow pants of the “championship days of Dodd” need to remember that the Institute won a grand total of two (2) SEC championships under Dodd, the last one in 1952. That goes well with the two ACC championships that the Train Wreck has won and makes a total of four conference championships in more than 60 years. No matter what color uniform the NATS will never be a consistent player on the national stage. An occasional brief fling with the spotlight is the best that can be hoped for. I must agree that the mustard yellow jerseys of the last few years were among the worst looking uniforms in college football.
By GT
May 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Look it up, you sound gay with your fashion insight. Tech packed the house in the days of Dodd, like the Braves do now. It was the show in this town and all the finer people made it out to Grant Field at 2 pm Saturday. Obviously you weren’t there.
By ben
May 3, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Booker has already adjusted to the new offense? Say what? Please rewind your DVR and watch the spring game again.
By Gee Tech
May 3, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Dale Earnhardt Jr will be the QB at Tech next season and Georgia will win the national title. Man, its good to be a legit sports fan. Dogs will choke on their own bones. At LSU…loss. Florida…loss Tennessee…loss. Mark that down Richt.
By Tokyo Jacket
May 3, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
It’s not so common for the NCAA to use common sense (see BCS, 5th down National Champs, OU vs UO, etc). It’s good to see they are using it here. Bennet’s a good kid. Maybe he’ll have a good enough year to get a training camp invite.
By Look it up
May 4, 2008 5:57 AM | Link to this
Come on GT, if packing the house equalled a championship then, the South Carolina Game Clucks would be perpetual champs. The Chickens always sell out. Oh, by the way how many of Dodd’s championship teams did you see in person? I don’t really remember his last one in 1952 because I was only seven years old.
By look it up=buLLdog???
May 4, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
sound the same to me……….
By Buzz Pollen
May 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Tech Will Always Suck.
By Zeb McKluskey
May 5, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
No way ‘look it up’ is my boy BuLL. He didn’t post 18 pages of stuff and give you every stat from every team in college football over the past 50 years.
By reebok
May 5, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
The white jersies with gold pants sounds cool, although I always prefer thata college team wear their “color” at home. Are there any good photos I can link to to see what the homes unis will look like?
By Not Disappointed
May 5, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
Bennett Good luck and also with the Yellow Jackets!!
By DKU
May 5, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
White and Old Gold IS the “color”. They should go back to the white helmets as well. Should be a fun season with the running game and classic uniforms.
By MisterT
May 5, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
No way would Bennett have been productive in this offense. By his own admission he is too SLOW.
It was best for him to move on to LA Tech. someone will have to step up…Nesbit, Brooker, the walk on or perhaps Shaw.
I would actually give CPJ a pass if we play on the Blue Turf this year. I am realistic that it iwll take at least a year to get this offense down. But I would love to be pleasantly surprised. But at least win the ones we are supposed to win and maybe one or two more.
We were late season ticket buyers, but we will be there this year. Didn’t get them last year. Not because of Chan though…we were balking at the raising the extor…I mean contribution levels to buy them. without rasing the quality of the product on the field…so I guess it was part Chan.
By Paddy
May 6, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this
Mustard Yellow was an awful color. White at home, what a novel idea. Back in the day every home team wore white at home. What happened to that tradition??? When you wear your dark colors at home your rival always wears white, your fans think you are playing the same team every week. There is never any contrast. Think about it…
By NASCAR Dave
May 6, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
SHUT UP, NERDS!!!
It doesn’t matter WHAT color your jerseys will be… you are STILL LOSERS and you will STILL SUCK!!!
GO DAWGS!!! NUFF SAID.
By GT Smackdown
May 6, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
NASCAR Dave. Four words—- ONE MEASLY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Those 4 words sum up UGA football. GT has 4. Guess what? YOU SUCK!
BA HA HA HA HA HA….GO Dawgs—>all the way to Hades!
By dawd hater
May 7, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
i thinks those black rags you drug out last year were really nice. made me want to vomit. richt makes me vomit. talk about a real fine sportsman thats richt. bet me . hes a simple minded know it all that thinks his _ DOESNT STINK_ it does and he does
By Bug Blaster
May 7, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
GO DAWGS!!MAKE IT 8 IN A ROW!!