AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNCAA rules spoil things for prospect
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thrashers seventh-round draft choice Zach Redmond was looking forward to playing in the Traverse City Prospect Evaluation Tournament. Traverse City is his hometown.
But this story in the Traverse City newspaper says his college coach informed Redmond he couldn’t play in the tournament and retain his eligibility. Redmond plays for Ferris State.
It’s a weird situation. College players, Redmond included, could attend the prospects camp in Atlanta this summer as long as they paid their own way. I think the dividing line here is the difference between doing drills at a prospects camp and competing in games, regardless of whether the games mean anything.
Here, I think, is the NCAA rule that comes into play:
12.2.3.2 Competition with Professionals. An individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport if the individual ever competed on a professional team (per Bylaw 12.02.4) in that sport. However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person sand volleyball or two-person synchronized diving team with persons who are competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation.
It’s too bad. Clearly, if Redmond could compete in this tournament without missing class time, it would be good for him, and it’s hard to see how if he weren’t paid this would compromise his amateur status. The NCAA, obviously, sees it differently.
Comments
By ranallo10 (in AT)
September 12, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
The NCAA has been wrong on these types of situations many times over…in my opinion this is yet another example of them “protecting” athletes who don’t want to be protected.
By Tony C.
September 12, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Don’t you mean protecting their meal-ticket???
By ranallo10 (in AT)
September 12, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
You’re right…I should’ve been more specific.
By Brendan
September 12, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Ranallo and Tony C. are right on the money. If a rule exists … it’s for the NCAA’s benefit. Funnier still is that the NCAA passes itself off as “amateur” athletics. When TV contracts, merchandising, alumni contributions, not to mention questionable levels of athlete class attendance, tells a different story, a bit too often.
Wonder when Redmond and Leveille will first face each other in the CCHA? I wonder if there’s some “friendly rivalry” over which of them might be the best “sleeper” draft pick by the Atlanta Thrashers.
By Denny
September 13, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
SPEAKING of the PROSPECT games - they will televised on the NHL network with a one day delay. Here is the lineup for you hockey buffs that need a pre-season “fix”:
Prospects Tournament at Traverse City, Michigan:
Coverage on NHL Network
Sunday, September 14 8:00 PM ET - Thrashers vs. Lightning 10:00 PM ET - Stars vs. Blues
Monday, September 15 8:00 PM ET - Wild vs. Blues 10:00 PM ET - Stars vs. Blue Jackets
Wednesday, September 17 8:00 PM ET - Rangers vs. Lightning 10:00 PM ET - Red Wings vs. Thrashers
Thursday, September 18 8:00 PM ET - Third Place Game 10:00 PM ET - Championship Game
*All games on next-day tape delay
By Bob
September 15, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
I applaud the NCAA in this decision. Student Athletes are supposed to be that, students first, then athletes. I wish they’d be tougher on football as well, but I applaud the schools that do it get it right (Duke, Vandy, et al that don’t let thugs on their clubs, but only admit students that can pass the curriculum instead of giving free passes to kids who will only help sell tickets). You have the kids in school, make sure that job #1 is to teach them the life skills, becoming a pro athlete is a big, big longshot for college athletes. School first, athletics second.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
September 15, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
National Collegiate Athletic Association…Not one word in that acronym indicates they care about education.
Some schools not named Duke and Vanderbilt cannot support a college without assistance from the athletics department. While I agree that school is more important, the most important thing is the wishes of the student. If the student wishes to attend college as a means to getting to professional sports, they’re entitled to do so. Nobody says you can’t have paid job at a law firm while going to law school, but for the NCAA you can’t make money playing sports while also playing sports in school. What’s the difference?
The NCAA has one thing in mind, money. If they cared about the students then they would implement any scholastic requirements they very well pleased. The NCAA makes millions annually on these athletes, I highly doubt they have the athlete’s greater interest at mind. It’s a business, and “students” are their cash cow.
Focusing on this issue, why would playing in a prospects game sponsored by professional teams be considered a professional game? He’s not being paid, he’s not under contract, he’s simply playing hockey with other players who are professional. Look at the bylaw quoted by Knobler, it singles out tennis, golf, sand volleyball and synchronized diving…why do those sports get an exemption to the rule? It’s a team sport, he can be an amateur and still play the sport. He can play with professionals and not be considered one too.
If Redmond isn’t getting paid by the Thrashers, he isn’t playing as a professional. He should be allowed to play…in my opinion the NCAA is in the wrong in this situation.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
September 15, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Knobler — Can you comment any on this line from HockeysFuture regarding Andrei Zubarev?
“He is at the end of a contract in the summer of 2008, so it would seem to be the perfect time to cross the pond. He would likely start in the AHL if he comes over this year.”
Do we know what his contract situation is, if he re-signed with Atlant Mytischi (traded there from Ak Bars Kazan), or if he even had discussions about coming to Atlanta/Chicago?
By Mike Knobler
September 15, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Ranallo10 (in AT) I’ll check, but he apparently is playing this season in the KHL. Here’s a link to evidence of that.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
September 16, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Knobler — Thanks. Funny thing, the link you gave is the same author (and uses some of the same lines) from the article on HockeysFuture that I read.
By Spud Webb
September 16, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 I couldnt agree w you more on the 11:29 posting. Well put. 4 more days until practice starts, CANNOT WAIT.
By GaVaHokie
September 16, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Mathieu Schneider has been put on waivers by Anaheim… yeah, Burke is a real genius out there… couldn’t move him, so now they might have to buy him out, and they STILL don’t have room to sign Selanne.
By Qc-ATL55
September 16, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Hey guys,
Although a little pricy, we could use a guy like Schneider in our line-up… I’m told we have cap room.:)
+20 or so for last season? Bring him over here pronto!
DW, if you can’t get us a #1 center, at least revamp the D!
By JJack
September 16, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Please, God, not another D-man at the end of his career. We’ve tried that (Zhitty, et al) several times before and that hasn’t worked yet…
At least the kids will try.
By kracker
September 17, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Ha! And the NCAA/colleges/unis make billions, thru the years, off these kids.