Division I A Football Powerhouse
As the first athletics assistant at the Big Private University, am writing to you regarding the eligibility of some students who are being eyed at by our coaches and few others who are continuing students regarding their eligibility to participate in our University team as well as those who are continuing. The primary concern here is on bylaws that govern the freshmen enrollment and their academic qualifications, eligibility issues for continuing students, and involvement of agents by any player which leads to any face to face encounter or even reaching an agreement whether verbal or written. My view on the above persons is as I have discussed them in this memo and my recommendations are based on the NCAA bylaws and my recommendations are backed up by (Groza, Mark D, 2010) in his work managerial and decision economics.
Stacee Jaxx eligibility
Being in his mid-senior year at George Washington high school, Stacee Jaxx stands a chance of being eligible to playing at the University as a freshman. However, this must happen after fulfilling some conditions as stated under Bylaw 14.02.10.1. First, he must have graduated from high school. Second, based on a scale of 4.000, Jaxx must have achieved a grade point average of 2.00 for him to be eligible and having a grade point average of 3.38 he stands a chance to play at the University. The grade point average is calculated in a satisfactory completion of at least sixteen main courses as required under bylaw 14.3.1.1. The bylaw defines a qualifier as a high school graduate who attains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000, with satisfactory academic courses including English for at least three years, Mathematics for two years, natural or physical science with one laboratory course, social science for two years. The above courses must be certified by the NCAA eligibility center using the official transcript from the high school. Also, he must have achieved an SAT score as required under bylaw 14.3.1.1.2 with the required score of 470 an equivalent of a grade point average of 3.375. Regarding Jaxx’s performance on his SAT, he achieved a total of 610 which is eligible since he had an excellent grade point average. Jaxx is likely to get enrolled in the Big Private University since he has acquired his SAT targeted total and a high cumulative grade point average of 3.38 as
Marshal Mathers’ eligibility
According to NCAA bylaw 14.3.1.1.2 Initial‐Eligibility Index, a cumulative grade point average of 2.05 will only be eligible for an SAT score of 990. NCAA bylaws must be adhered to verify the eligibility of any freshmen who may have joined the university with an aim of participating in sports. Taking the example of Mathers, he attained a grade point average of 2.05 and an SAT of 930. According to NCAA bylaws, Mathers might be left out due to his failure to reach the targeted SAT of 990 which goes hand in hand with a grade point average of 2.05.
Regarding both Jaxx and Masters, their core curriculum needs that can lead to their eligibility must follow the following criteria. That is, the course must be recognized and can result in graduation having taken into consideration subjects like English, mathematics, social sciences, physical science with several years of not less than two in each. The course pursued must prepare the graduate to college life, the mathematics subject must be well performed and depict high performance in algebra 1, any course on offer must have been instructed by a qualified instructor who is well conversant with the course content. However, according to NCAA bylaw 14.3.1.2.1.2 Students with Education‐Impacting Disabilities, Mathers can have a chance to repeat some core courses, and this must happen outside the George Washington High School, where he graduated, and if he does well, he might eventually get enrolled in college and participate in the game of football. Under this bylaw, any student with education related disability who graduates within the required time specifications can use a minimum of not less than two and not more than three main courses completed after high school and use them to fulfill the core curriculum or cumulative grade point average in order to become eligible to participate in college sports as a freshman. Mathers, therefore, stands a chance in redeeming his core curriculum by perfecting his SAT, which may eventually rule him out of college participation.
Continuing eligibility issues
An individual’s eligibility for participation is determined by some factors if he or she is a continuing student. First, for anyone who is entering of college study, he or she must have a grade point average that equals to not less than ninety percent of the required graduation grade point average as per bylaw 14.4.3.3. Second, anyone entering the third year of study in college, he or she must have completed forty percent of the course requirement in the specific degree program, with sixty percent for those who are joining fourth year students and eighty percent for those who are joining their fifth year of study.
The Big Private University is fielding some students who might bring controversies in the future when graduation happens. The institution maintains a grade point average of 2.000 for graduation. However, the coaching staff fields some seven players both junior and sophomores and most of whom play in the defense position with a grade point average of 1.6 to 1.78 may raise concerns in future for the required grade point average as stated in NCAA bylaws must be followed.
Sports agency issues
Joe Kane being a current quarterback player for Big Private University is scared about the arrival of Marshal Mathers, and he brings in the subject of agents into the context. Kane is worried that he may lose his position and invites sports agent Whitney Houston to discuss the matter. However, after holding their discussion in the restaurant and failing to write it down on paper, they fail to conform to the bylaws of NCAA under 12.3 under use of agents. According to Otto (39) any violation of the laws will be subjected to a ruling on NCAA bylaw 12.3 which states that anyone will be ineligible according to Bylaw 12.3.1 if any agreement has been arrived at either orally or in writing to be represented by a sports agent as a way of marketing their ability in that particular sport or any other sport. Moreover, any agency contract that has been orally conducted will be taken to apply to all sports and therefore the individual will be ineligible to participate in any sport. Under bylaw 12.3.1.1 on representation for future negotiations, any person will not be eligible as per bylaw 12.3.1, if entered into a verbal or written agreement with a sports agent for future activities in sports long after completion of his eligibility in that sport.
Still on Joe’s case, under Bylaw 13.02.4 on contacts, any face to face encounter with any institutional staff, athletics representative whereby any conversation happens more than greetings renders an individual to being ineligible to participate in any sport. Kane, therefore, faces two counts as stated by the NCAA bylaws both under 12.3.1.1 and 13.02.4. In our first case, Kane decided to meet Whitney Houston at a restaurant and discuss the matter. However, they did not put their agreement in writing but decided to do so when Joe is ready to join the NFL. Houston promise to represent Joe in the NFL deal renders Joe not ineligible to participate in the sport of football. Additionally, the duo fails to put their agreement down on paper, and this leads to the assumption that they might have discussed all types of sports, and therefore Joe faces a harsher ruling that will render him ineligible to participate in all sports. In our second case, Joe and Whitney Houston had a face to face encounter at the restaurant and discussed some issues regarding a possible arrival of Marshal Mathers and Joe’s future position at Big Private University’s team. Their contract rules Joe’s ineligibility to participating in all sports.
In conclusion, according to Depken, Craig and Dennis (826) on their work regarding college football, I would recommend that any high school student who wishes to be enrolled as freshmen in the Big Private University must strictly attain the required academic standards upon graduation for them to stand a chance of joining the university. Secondly, for those continuing students, regardless of their year of study must make sure they attain the percentage required for the overall course requirement for their specific degree programs. Additionally, players should avoid any issues of unethical conduct or in other words, avoid involving sports agents in their issues to avoid colliding with NCAA bylaws. Having fulfilled the stated laws, the University stands a chance of facing minimal issues when it comes to the eligibility of players.
Works Cited
Depken, Craig A., and Dennis P. Wilson. "NCAA enforcement and competitive balance in college football." Southern Economic Journal (2006): 826-845.
Groza, Mark D. "NCAA conference realignment and football game day attendance." Managerial and Decision Economics 31.8 (2010): 517-529.
Otto, K. Alexa. "Major violations and NCAA Powerhouse football programs: what are the odds of being charged." J. Legal Aspects Sport 15 (2005): 39.
