Fixing College Basketball

21 Comments

1. 

   moneal May 9, 2024 at 12:51 PM

   Fans: You're changing what we love about college sports and we don't like it NCAA/CAPU: We don't care what you fans want. Just send us money. In fact send us more money Me: Uh. How about a big nothing burger then
2. 

   gemrooty May 9, 2024 at 11:33 AM

   Excellent thoughts, Drew. Well laid out. I'll need to read this column multiple times for it to all sink in...
   1. 

      Buzzardlip May 9, 2024 at 1:41 PM

      Thanks, Glad I am not the only one who needs to do so!
3. 

   CaryHokie May 9, 2024 at 9:32 AM

   Since this is no longer about NIL but is about paying athletes to play, we already have an example of how this works, the NFL. My question is this: How do you set this up for football and still maintain all the other sports? I’m a ‘76 grad, retired, and not in a position to raise my giving as if there are no limits. I don’t give to NIL because I give what I can to the scholarship fund. I guess all you folks out there making millions will have to pay the price.
   1. 

      GCHokie34 May 9, 2024 at 10:18 AM

      The amount they are talking about setting up for football wouldn't even put their current financial projections in the red. So it would be business as usual from that standpoint. But some universities will just stop spending so much updating their facilities constantly. That's the smart way to do it. Having a barber shop and water park in your athletic facility sounds nice when it is covering up not laying athletes, but why do it if you're trying to maximize profit? Other schools will raise ticket prices. Not necessarily because they need to, but why miss an opportunity to raise ticket prices?
4. 

   HtownHokie May 8, 2024 at 9:48 PM

   what happens to the colleges left behind in the dust with empty benches because the "free agency" rights given to the athletes that transfer to any school, almost any time, offers no compensation to those schools dissed, and they did not have enough remaining money to buy a decent replacement? some professional leagues (ie.: MLB, NFL) used offer some recompense. unless some group with some integrity stands up and does something soon, the feds are going to intervene: and NO ONE is going to like that.
   1. 

      GCHokie34 May 9, 2024 at 10:20 AM

      No compensation has ever been allowed to any school losing transfers, and every school has been just fine. Why? Because every school, even the absolute bottom of the rung on the ladder accepts transfers. Some kids transfer up, most kids transfer down.
5. 

   MDHokie79 May 8, 2024 at 6:45 PM

   Good article and topic, I just wish that I still cared enough to read the whole thing....I don't and I didn't. No apologies, but this whole thing is so foreign as to be like another universe to us old-timers.
6. 

   hokiehill1117 May 8, 2024 at 4:44 PM

   throw a transfer caveat in there for academic standing. It doesn't have to be on track to graduate in 4 years (hello fellow 5-year plan TSLers) but set a reasonable window. If student is not on track, they have to sit out a year upon transferring, ideally using that year to focus on studies and get back on track.
   1. 

      GCHokie34 May 8, 2024 at 6:23 PM

      That is already currently the case...there's a reason Ramon Brown isn't a lock to come to VT
7. 

   lazarus1 May 8, 2024 at 4:30 PM

   Drew should be appointed commissioner - seriously.
8. 

   zman1978 May 8, 2024 at 3:03 PM

   Interesting article that brings to mind how much has changed and continues to change in college athletics. Not to diminish the topic, but……..Personally, I’m at an age in life that I just don’t care about all of this NIL, etc. You younger folks can figure it out. I’d rather play with the grandkids and take my naps.
   1. 

      hokie 1969 May 8, 2024 at 3:32 PM

      Ditto.
   2. 

      HtownHokie May 8, 2024 at 9:39 PM

      with (a) all the hocus pocus of ncaa rulings' inconsistencies, (b) athletes wanting to be paid to play beyond a 'free' $cholar$hip+amenitie$ college education, (c) and the ncaa being a bonafide representative of either the athletes and member colleges so the ncaa can realize their own huge profit, i'm about with you on not caring about any sports any more. our grands have arrived and i'm investing my time and money on them and their future. the only thing that keeps me hanging on is the loyal maroon and orange blood imbued in me by 5 years (BArch) and still flowing through these ancient veins and the great memories of bygone amateur athletics back when i was matriculating at VPISU. and i'm already too old and tired of seeing all the selfish greed on everybody's parts. just proves: "the love of money is the root of all evil" and the ruination of college amateur sports. Congratulations VT2024 Graduates! . . Go Hokie Softball Ladies! . . Go VT Baseball!
      1. 

         arcadtect May 9, 2024 at 12:32 AM

         Another Cowgillite! When did you donate those 5 fabulous years? Talking about ancient veins - '74 thru '79 here. Burchard was still dean and handed me my diploma.
9. 

   OC_Hokie_JC May 8, 2024 at 2:51 PM

   I like the ideas given in transfer structure and uniformity, but I don't think it necessarily helps with graduation rates. What do you think of the idea of including a requirement of "academic progress" caveat before anyone can transfer (just like non-athlete student transfers)? Something like a 2.5 GPA and 75% required hours toward completion (e.g., 240 hours required for graduation, must have 45 hours year 1, 90 hours year 2, etc.). Also, is graduation rate still a thing that matters for scholarships? There used to be some punishment for low grad rates, but I forget what. How about having an NIL eligibility academic progress minimum similar to transfer minimum?
   1. 

      133895Hokie May 8, 2024 at 3:24 PM

      Your comments and the article focus in on my concerns. As it stands, transfer "rules" allow an athlete to move around without regard for academic progress or even academics at all. The timing of many transfers allows athletes to avoid the end of an upcoming semester, thus grading or qualifying etc. I get the impression that a significant percentage of athletes have zero focus on academics and 100% focus on money. Maybe the NCAA or some of the sports money guys can invest in a "minor league" for those athletes who are only interested in the NBA and NFL, and are fooling themselves and the universities with academic pursuits.
   2. 

      GCHokie34 May 8, 2024 at 6:25 PM

      I think that's a great idea. I think in order to get it though, the NCAA would have to give up something else. I don't see a player's union agreeing to an APR standard that can sometimes* (* - in very few cases) be out of their control ...unless they're getting something in return. Like an extra year of health benefits, more protections, etc.
10. 

    Frozen Hokie May 8, 2024 at 2:07 PM

    Is there a redshirt year one and then gradshirt option? Effectively six to play five?
    1. 

       GCHokie34 May 8, 2024 at 2:11 PM

       Yes, all redshirt and medical redshirt rules would still apply. But keep in mind this is all a hypothetical and would be open for negotiation
11. 

    Hokebury May 8, 2024 at 1:10 PM

    Bookmark this and let's come back in 5 years and reread..... Interesting article, thanks for taking the time to write it.