Semi OT- Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa considering attempting 3rd transfer despite being out fully of eligibility
Taulia has played 5 seasons with no claim to hardship, injury, or any other additional redshirt. But he is considering attempting a 3rd transfer anyway. He would need the NCAA, Maryland, Alabama, and then the new 3rd team to sign off on it. I'd be stunned if the NCAA let the precedent of extending eligibility for no reason go through.
While reading the article I was perplexed why he'd even attempt this hail mary until I got to the part where it mentions "his family" wants him to play near his brother in Miami. Ahhhhh, now it all makes sense. Not gonna be a high pick or maybe drafted at all, so try and get one last bag from the U before you leave.
Also explains why he'd sit out of the bowl game.
I checked the board 3 times for this having been posted and think I did my embed right!
December 23rd, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^
there is, but getting to the games is a challenge
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
Not really all that weird because he's definitely not even in the top 20 of all-time best B1G quarterbacks.
"All-time leading" in 2023 is just code for multi-year starter in a pass-happy offense.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
The kid can transfer to whatever school will take him... just won't be able to play varsity football.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
Since he hasn’t used his redshirt he could play 4 games then redshirt right?
December 23rd, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
Why not?
December 23rd, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
His eligibility is exhausted. He played 5 games in 2019, 2020 was a free year, then he started for 3 seasons at Maryland. That's 4 non-redshirt seasons plus COVID year that doesn't count, hence no more eligibility (unless he is successful in his ridiculous attempt for a waiver for 2019).
December 23rd, 2023 at 6:42 PM ^
Yes, I know. Next time I’ll make sure to include the /s. I should know better.
December 23rd, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
Because you don't just get a free year if you haven't used your redshirt.
You get 5 years to play 4 (before waivers)
The Covid year just doesn't count.
He has played in 4 years. He doesn't have any left.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
He is going to attempt to get a waiver for 2019, when he was at Alabama and played in 5 games. He got only 2 snaps in multiple games that year, so he was incredibly close to meeting the 4 game redshirt max.
Personally, I think he should just move on. He already got an extra year in college due to the blanket COVID waiver in 2020. However, this is one to watch as some think if he takes it to court, the NCAA's 4 year eligibility limit may come into question.
December 23rd, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^
This feels similar to what Joey Baker tried to do by saying Duke only played him in a little garbage time his freshman year so it shouldn't count. Given how quickly he dropped that, I assume the NCAA quickly said no way.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
It's unfair that college football players have a cap on the number of years they are eligible! The NFL has no such restrictions - players can (theoretically) play in the League and make millions for 40+ years! And, if you think about it, there aren't time restrictions for MOST jobs. There aren't restrictions as to most other college activities either --- if it takes me 15 years to get my undergrad degree, I can still play intramurals or be in the outing club that entire time!
Capping college football eligiblity is an unfair constraint on a man's ability to make money!
----
I mean, people are seriously going to start arguing this. Another side effect of NIL - who wants to see the $$$ train end and get some other job?
December 23rd, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
My lifelong fandom for (what later became) my alma mater is at conflict for my utter disgust for what college football (and many other school sports) have become. At some point the latter *is* going to win out (unless something changes) and I'll just move on.
Fortunately, it will not be this year at least.
Am I the only one feeling this?
December 24th, 2023 at 12:06 AM ^
Im not sure why this isn’t a good argument though? It is a restraint of trade. Who’s to say four years of eligibility is all you can have, if you take 5 years to graduate, then continue to get grad degrees?
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
I think you did everything correctly except for wording your title. "Out fully of eligibility" is...an interesting choice.
Totally agree with your take and reasoning. This would set a terrible precedent, time to get back to 5 years of eligibility including a redshirt year. Covid season was three years ago, let's get back to the new normal. I don't blame him for trying to get a last bag on the way out, though.
December 23rd, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
out, but not fully out.
December 24th, 2023 at 9:11 AM ^
It was just 2 words swapped but appreciate the correction anyways lol
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
That... is Mr. Thornton Mellon. The world's oldest living freshman... and the walking epitome of the decline in modern education. The stupid clod thinks he can buy his way out of the gutter.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Good diver though
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:50 AM ^
I heard some poetry major helped him straighten out his Longfellow.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
If you don't ask, the answer is always no.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
Incoming lawsuit from the state AG of wherever Taulia lands in 3...2...1...
December 23rd, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
The worst they can say is "no."
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
It's somehow both audacious and quite sad.
December 23rd, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
With NIL we are going to see guys without NFL talent that are solid college players trying to stay in college longer than Jeremy Piven’s character in PCU.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
Van Wilder.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
It's a difficult transition from being the 'king on campus' earning six figures to your first day selling sporting equipment.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
If he chooses Bama, I guarantee the NCAA gives him one more year. Those spineless jackwagons will always say yes to Saban
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
He could try to get a UFA contract with the Dolphins.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
He's going to pull the Reverse Robbie Hummel and stay forever, but without any terrible misfortunes? Call me intrigued.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
I guess something like this was always in the cards. If college football is just the minor league of the NFL, and the players in the minors get paid well, and the NCAA is truly a soulless husk of an institution, why *can't* TaTa keep getting paid in the minors?
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
It'd be pretty cool if each major university near an NFL franchise became that team's AAA team. I mean, Alabama and most of the SEC would be SOL, but that's okay with me.
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
Lol. He should just transfer to the CFL!!!
December 23rd, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Try the NFL
December 23rd, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
If family is that important, his brother makes more than enough to support a massive extended family.
December 24th, 2023 at 9:16 AM ^
I've noticed that people love to ride the coattails of their family members, but in such a way that gives them the ability to pretend they're not.
I think in this case, Taulia wants some of that real money his brother has, but knows he's not getting his own based on his NFL ability. He could just take a job as his brother's ferret groomer for $2M a year, sure, but I'm guessing he wants to ride Tua's coattails in such a way as that he can tell himself he did it all himself, even if he knows it isn't true.
Personally, I'd be like Giannis Antetekoumnpo's brothers. Have his team sign you even though you aren't remotely good enough for the league, and let your last name alone pull in 7 figures annually. No shame.
December 23rd, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
This seems as good a thread as any to note that Rocky Lombardi, M.D., PhD just took the first snap of his last college football game.
December 23rd, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
Can he pull a Justin Fields and claim someone said something racist to him on campus?
December 23rd, 2023 at 4:46 PM ^
For sure, completely unbelievable that there would be racism at the University of Georgia.
December 23rd, 2023 at 6:24 PM ^
You're absolutely right. Although, it begs the question, why did he leave his sister behind at such an abhorrent institution?
December 24th, 2023 at 9:18 AM ^
Yeah, the sister thing made the whole thing very transparent.
December 23rd, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
Only if he plays for Iowa
December 23rd, 2023 at 1:37 PM ^
This has no chance of working unless he creates a new legal standard.
- 2019: Freshman year. Played in 5 games as a freshman at Alabama, which used up his redshirt both by the definition of the time (play one game) and today (play four games). All five games were during the regular season: Duke, Southern Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Western Carolina. They were also spread throughout the season so it's not like he can claim he had an injury. Playing against Western Carolina on 11/23 burned his redshirt, period.
- 2020: COVID year. He played 4/5 games but everyone got that year free anyways.
- 2021: Sophomore year. Played all 13 games.
- 2022: Junior year. Played in 12/13 games (missed Northwestern).
- 2023: Senior year. Played in 12 games but is opting out of the bowl.
December 23rd, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
Why is he opting out of playing in Maryland's bowl game if he isn't planning on preparing for the NFL but is instead trying to weasel an extra year of college eligibility from the NCAA?
Weird.
December 23rd, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
I'm fairly sure I have eligibility remaining under the new NCAA rules.
December 23rd, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
Get the hell out of college