Former Michigan OL Dan Samuelson Latest Victim of Awful NCAA Rules

Submitted by EastCoast Esq. on

This was posted yesterday by Jake Butt. Is there a worse American sports institution than the NCAA? I'm specifying American because FIFA seems to take the cake internationally.

 

Posted by a former teammate. Can the NCAA get anything right? Probably not. Common sense? Zero. pic.twitter.com/IK1ZT8rFev

— jake butt (@JBooty_88) December 7, 2016

 

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PapabearBlue

December 8th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^

How is the NCAA legal? Like, seriously? I can transfer to any college at any time I want and do whatever I want with that. Unless I play a sport and then for some reason there are magically rules about that sport? I can join any club I want without restriction except sports? Why?

 

Joined: 07/19/2011

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Magnus

December 8th, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^

There's a step you're missing, and that's the governing body of those colleges. There are certain rules that some groups on campuses have to abide by. Fraternities and sororities have governing bodies that they can hold individual chapters to. He's not playing football solely for Eastern Michigan University against other EMU students. He's playing football for EMU's team that participates in a larger organization against other member schools.

If you want to go join the butterfly collecting club at EMU, there are probably fewer restrictions. Probably.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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grumbler

December 8th, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^

You can play any sport you want without restriction.  You just can't play that sport against anyone you please; the other team has to agree to the rules and eligability requirements.  Good luck convincing the schools to give up their NCAA in favor of your ad hoc, unrestricted sports concept.

Joined: 08/17/2011

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mgobaran

December 8th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^

Did Samuelson play this year? If so, he should go to the bowl regardless of the 2 semester rule. If not, if this is his RS season for transferring, he should miss the bowl. Rules are rules. And while transfer rules are not perfect, they have a purpose. 

 

Joined: 09/12/2012

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LSAClassOf2000

December 8th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

I will say that it does seem like an awkward rule regarding class load and credit requirements, from the sound of it, and it is definitely a shame that he will not be able to travel with the team as a result. I get that the NCAA wants players to maintain their degree requirements and the like, but why punish someone in Samuelson's position as a transfer?

I still believe there is room for the NCAA to make these rules less punitive to students who are indeed making choices which for them will lead to a net positive in terms of playing time, academic success, etc..., but then the NCAA doesn't seem like a very introspective organization when it comes to how their rules impact others. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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truferblue22

December 8th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^

Wait, so did he play all year and now can't go to the bowl game? Or is he miffed because even though he was ineligible this year he doesn't get to go to the bowl game? I'm lost.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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WiscWolverine

December 8th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^

He says he sat a full season but assuming he wasn't enrolled for the first semester after leaving UofM then only one semester counts, the rule is very clearly written that you have to be enrolled and complete 2 semesters before being eligible. I've worked in NCAA compliance in the big 10, he knew about this rule, and If he hasn't been eligible to play all year why would he think he gets to travel to the bowl game?

Joined: 10/06/2015

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treetown

December 8th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^

The IOC, FIFA, and for you chess fans FIDE are among the most screwed up sporting organizations ever (not exaggerating) but at least there is a basic common set of threads: raw greed and petty tyranny.

For the NCAA it really seems that they can't figure out how to be consistent, stay consistent and rational in their rules; so rather than corruption, just pure incompetence.

Joined: 11/10/2010

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Sac Fly

December 8th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^

Michigan has over 100 players on their roster counting all of the walk-ons. They're not going to the bowl game. I can bet that walk-ons at EMU aren't going either and they've contributed just as much to this team as he has, so cut the "I'm special, always a victim" garbage and move on with your life.

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Bigasshammm

December 8th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^

I don't understand why it's so hard to comprehend the transfer rules. If they didn't exist there would be college free agents everywhere that coaches would exploit. Even more rampant cheating with boosters and recruiting. The entire landscape of college football would be destroyed. Sure it hurts the few honest transfers a year but they knew they rules before they signed with a school. They should be more liberal with players who's coaches have left for other schools and they should be allowed instant or almost instant transfers.

Joined: 07/03/2008

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mgoblue0970

December 8th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

It's kinda of hard to post examples of such behavior because the rules in place prevent that behavior from happening in the first place.

But, if you think that Ham isn't at least reasonable and plausible, and just look at how the SEC abuses greyshirting, you're delusional.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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umchicago

December 8th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^

i can't believe this is even a rule.  it should be up to the school.  if the school wants its band, team mgrs or ushers go to the bowl game, they ought to be able to do it.  let alone actual players, redshirting or not.

so stoopid.

Joined: 02/05/2009

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Magnus

December 8th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

That's fine, but figure out how to fund it through private donors. Don't count on taxpayers and the tuition of students to pay for Usher Joey to head to Los Angeles or Miami or the Bahamas.

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AA Forever

December 8th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^

and their bizarre rules should stop for a minute and think about what college football would be like if teams could start using players as soon as they transferred. Among other things, you don't think all of the teams in the playoff would be cherry picking players from all over the country just for those two games?

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Magnus

December 8th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

I don't know about being able to transfer for those two games, but there would certainly be some cherry picking going on. Alabama's star RB goes down in the spring with a torn ACL? Let's bring in that stud running back from Utah! Ohio State's dual-threat QB leaves for the supplemental draft? Sorry, TCU, we're stealing Trevone Boykin in July and you suckers didn't sign a QB in February so it sucks to be you!

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AA Forever

December 8th, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^

Most schools end a term some time in December, so getting a player enrolled and suited up for a game in January is doable. Timing might be a bit tight, but I expect all big football factories could arrange to fast-track such things for elite athletes. And as you point out, allowing free transfers is a more general problem, because it would make a lot of non-elite schools basically farm teams or reserve squads for the top programs. People complain about NCAA rules just like they do about the tax code, but one of the main reasons they're so complex is that the ways that people will try to cheat or gain an unfair advantage are almost limitless.

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