PopeLando

September 7th, 2023 at 6:57 PM ^

Even leaving the mental health aspects aside, the fact that he never played at one of his previous schools because the season was canceled due to COVID should have been the deciding factor in Walker’s favor.

Sadaharu

September 7th, 2023 at 7:01 PM ^

I really can't figure this out. The student gets a year stolen from his life, when he has a very strong and compelling case.

Who benefits? "integrity"??? "competitive balance"??? 

#burnitdown #jtdaniels

Michigan_Mike

September 7th, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the NCAA "on eight different occasions ... had the opportunity to demonstrate it can make sound and reasonable decisions in the best interest of student-athletes based on individual circumstances. Instead, the NCAA made a maddening, frustrating and wrong decision -- for Tez, for college football and for college athletics."

So this is what it is like when an AD stands up for coaches/athletes.

Also here's another quote for some comedy:

Stephen LaPorta, the chair of the NCAA committee on legislative relief, said Thursday in a statement that the NCAA does not comment on specific cases, but he went on to say "the NCAA takes student-athlete mental health and well-being seriously."

camblue

September 7th, 2023 at 7:11 PM ^

I must be missing something so I hope someone more knowledgeable than me on this can help: why do the universities continue to put up with the NCAA? Why don't they all just agree the NCAA is now powerless and can't enforce anything? What do we need the NCAA for? 

1VaBlue1

September 7th, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^

The NCAA organizes all of the sports that aren't football, as well as football.  It maintains all of the rules.  It organizes the officiating.  It does a shitload of administrative things - if it wasn't around, the universities would have to organize some other organization to perform those activities. 

Not saying it wouldn't be worth it, but it would disrupt a majority of athletic events for students that have very little support to begin with.

Perkis-Size Me

September 8th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^

I think you're seeing a slow but steady build towards that with the conference realignment, particularly with the Big Ten and SEC. Heck, even the CFP is completely independent of the NCAA. Eventually, whenever those two conferences decide they are done expanding and they have the necessary resources, I do believe they will create some kind of joint effort to effectively break away from the NCAA. At least in football. 

Its not happening as quickly as everyone wants it to, but I'd say within the next decade or so, the NCAA will no longer have any authority, formal or otherwise, over at least the SEC or Big Ten. I don't know about the "second tier" conferences with the Big XII and ACC, but I have to believe there are even "behind closed doors" meetings happening between the Big Ten/SEC now, laying out the groundwork for whatever the eventual governing body is that will be replacing the NCAA. 

Durham Blue

September 8th, 2023 at 1:27 PM ^

I don't have a problem with NCAA oversight and coordination of all the administrative stuff.  There's probably a lot more than meets the eye considering the quantity of universities, the number of sports and the total number of student athletes.  It's a big, big thing.

But I do have a problem with the decisions the NCAA makes regarding coaches and players' eligibility, discipline, etc.  They're wildly inconsistent and the logic piece seems to be missing.  The Harbaugh case is a bunch of dumb-fuckery, for example.  If they can overhaul the panel of people or department or whatever the hell it is that is in charge of those things and start doing that better then I think most people would live in harmony with the NCAA.

energyblue1

September 8th, 2023 at 1:52 PM ^

So while the NCAA is responsible for a ton of administrative duties governing collegiate athletics.  It has been painfully obvious they have been failing to not only do the job tasked with.  They have never been ahead of on coming issues, have openly demonstrated biases for and against programs, players, coaches and have a superiority above the law, I am the law complex towards all. 

This issue also resides with the University Presidents not forcing an evaluation of what is happening or to answer to anyone for what they have been doing or not doing.  So left to run amuck as they see fit, we get what he have had. 

NIL, this was a known issue coming on for a while.  There was no secret to this.  And the NCAA in typical fashion had no plan the entire time.  They blinding thought they would win every court case and lost.  And rather than make an appeal for time to formulate the rules, regulations and guidelines.  Or better yet, have them in place for contingency in the event of a loss or to present to the courts in the first place, they just say, okay you want it that way, NIL is here, have at it kids.  But we will blindly threaten programs but not uphold anything. 

Then look at it's own application to rules, enforcement and how they are administered towards athletes for transfers.  Programs and how they are held or not held accountable and the same for coaches. 

Either the University Presidents need to hold the ncaa accountable and force them to uphold and live up to the mission.  Or, they at least the p5 or others need to bring a plan of governance and applicable standards to the table and withdraw from this decrepit corrupt system! 

DennisFranklinDaMan

September 7th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^

The NCAA *is* the universities. They created it, they participate it in, they are members of it, and they agree to be bound by its decisions. Saying they "put up with it," is backwards. They constitute it. 

Certainly we need some organization of member schools, for the end-of-year tournament, to have standardized rules and rule-enforcement policies, and, yes, to administer/organize intercollegiate sports. 

And you know what? Whatever body we're a member of will sometimes make decisions with which we disagree (see also: the United States Congress, and the United States Supreme Court), and a great number of people will always claim it represents a conspiracy to act against us.

grumbler

September 8th, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^

The universities continue to put up with the NCAA because the schools ARE the NCAA.  The last A in NCA is "association."  It is an association of schools interested in competing in intercollegiate sports at a given level.  

Any school can resign from the NCAA and thus rob it of its power over them, but then they would have to arrange with each school they play, in each sport, what the rules and procedures are for that competition.

The question isn't "why do the universities continue to put up with the NCAA?"  It is "why don't the universities demand more accountability from the people that they hired to administer the NCAA for them?"

1VaBlue1

September 7th, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^

This decision is mind-boggling.  Case closed.  

I mean, it's worse than 4 games for a couple of cheeseburgers and a tip.  I really hope the shame comes fast, heavy, and LOUD for this one - from all over the country, not just UNC.  This kid got fucked dry.

Wendyk5

September 7th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^

Excuse the French but Fuck the NCAA with a capital F. The kid should play. To be at the mercy of this relic of an organization is horrible. North Carolina should give the NCAA the finger, the kid should suit up and run onto the field on Saturday. 

grumbler

September 8th, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^

One might think so, but it isn't true.  The NCAA enforcing its rules as written isn't a tort.  He was denied (unfairly, IMO) an exemption to the rule as written, but nothing entitles him to an exemption and so denying it creates no legal jeopardy for the NCAA.  

Walker is entitled to NIL.  He just isn't eligable to play.

UgLi Eric

September 10th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^

You sound very well informed and are probably right. I know nothing about the legal state of what used to be student athletes. It does seem that with NIL there could be a law suit. By denying him the ability to play he would earn less NIL=damages. I'm not litigious, but I would sue and keep suing the NCAA if I were a student athlete. You could always sign an NIL deal with a good lawyer (ala Mike Morris) and get it done pro bono. If he was a Michigan athlete there may even be a head coach who would foot the bill...

SF Wolverine

September 7th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^

Only upside is the constant reminder of what an incompetent and corrupt organization the NCAA is.  At some point, I hope the collection of this type of nonsense moves the needle.  Completely unclear to me what their justification is to continue to exist.

BlueDad2022

September 7th, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^

As an NC State and Duke alum, it’s a pretty short list of times I’ve agreed with NC, but this is one, or maybe the one.   I hate the NCAA just for making me agree with them.

iMBlue2

September 7th, 2023 at 8:09 PM ^

It’s pretty evident that there’s some new heads at the NCAA trying to “crack down” cough cough make names for themselves.  Little do they realize the entirety of our society believes they are jokes.