Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Wednesday 19 February 2020
Continued from page 18 vides a uniform approach
The NCAA's Division I trans- that is understandable,
fer waiver working group predictable and objective.
said it will seek feedback Most importantly, it bene-
from athletes, administra- fits students." If the transfer
tors and coaches over working group's concept
the next two months. The is adopted, any athlete
group can expect push would be granted immedi-
back from coaches. ate eligibility after a transfer
Todd Berry, executive di- if four criteria are met:
rector of the American — Receive a transfer re-
Football Coaches Associa- lease from the previous
tion, said he was "shocked" school.
by the NCAA's announce- — Leave the previous
ment and fears the change school academically eli-
will spark a free-agent fren- gible.
zy that led to restrictions — Maintain academic
being placed on transfers progress at the new school.
decades ago. — Leave under no disciplin-
"It leads to opportunities for ary suspension.
recruiting off other cam- "More than a third of all col-
puses," Berry said. "If you're lege students transfer at
at another program why least once, and the Division
would you take a high I rule prohibiting immediate In this March 18, 2015, file photo, the NCAA logo is displayed at center court as work continues at
school player? Why not competition for students The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, for the NCAA college basketball tournament.
go get one that's already who play five sports hasn't Associated Press
proven in college?" discouraged them from
The working group's con- transferring," Steinbrecher "We know that challenges Berry said coaches are Berry said he fears more
cept would change the said. "This dynamic has will exist with this concept, mostly supportive of the freedom for transfers will
waiver process, but not strained the waiver pro- particularly as it relates to movement toward provid- change locker room dy-
NCAA bylaws. cess, which was designed other coaches potentially ing more benefits to ath- namics and encourage
The Division I Board of Di- to handle extenuating and tampering with currently letes in recent years. The athletes to make rash deci-
rectors placed a morato- extraordinary circumstanc- enrolled student-athletes," latest part of that move- sions.
rium on transfer legislation es." Steinbrecher said in a state- ment is the ongoing at- "It might pass, but I'm afraid
last fall and directed the Athletes can currently re- ment. "The working group tempt by the NCAA to find of what the outcome will
Council to appoint a work- quest a waiver for imme- will continue to examine a way to allow college ath- be," Berry said. "This is not a
ing group to examine the diate eligibility for several this, as well as any potential letes to be compensated hypothetical. The rule was
transfer waiver process. reasons. The most common financial aid and academ- for their names, images in there for a reason. If they
The NCAA adjusted waiv- are: Claims of athletes be- ic impacts, so the Council and likeness. That issue is go through with this I'm not
er criteria two years ago ing run off a team by a can make a fully informed likely to be settled with the sure everybody will like the
to give more athletes the coach; claims of egregious decision." help of federal lawmakers. outcome."q
chance to become imme- behavior by the original
diately eligible, but that has school; injured or ill immedi-
led to complaints about in- ate family member; and in-
consistency in the process. jury or illness to the athlete.
"The current system is un- While several high-profile
sustainable. Working group football players such as
members believe it's time Ohio State quarterback
to bring our transfer rules Justin Fields and Michigan
more in line with today's quarterback Shea Pat-
college landscape," said terson have had waivers
Mid-American Conference granted by the NCAA,
Commissioner Jon Stein- plenty of athletes have
brecher, who is the chair- their requests denied. What
man of the transfer working has risen is the expectation
group. "This concept pro- of immediate eligibility.