Maybe he thinks none of our recruits will last a year, and that the smart and well behaved Big10ers will finally get a competitive advantage.
Big Ten Commissioner and NFF Board Member Jim Delany Lays Out Plan For Freshman Ineligibility
Delany discusses his efforts to balance athletics and academics in a 12-page letter titled "Education First, Athletics Second: The Time for a National Discussion is Upon Us," which was sent to members of the media on April 17.
IRVING, Texas (April 28, 2015) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today highlighted NFF Board Member and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany’s plan for freshman ineligibility in an effort to balance athletics and academics. He laid out his plan in a 12-page letter titled “Education First, Athletics Second: The Time for a National Discussion is Upon Us,” which was sent to media members on April 17.
“The National Football Foundation is extremely supportive of Jim Delany and the Big Ten’s efforts to strengthen the balance between athletics and academics,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Promoting the scholar-athlete ideal remains the centerpiece of the NFF’s mission, and anything that can aid in giving young people the opportunity to have meaningful experiences as both students and athletes must be discussed at the national level. I strongly encourage everyone to read Commissioner Delany’s letter in full.”
In the letter, which can be read in full by clicking here, Delany reiterates why he believes a so-called year of readiness would be beneficial at this “critical moment in the evolution of intercollegiate athletics.”
“If we cannot defend—through an examination of actions and results as opposed to words—that education is the paramount factor in our decision-making process (rivaled only by the health and safety of our student-athletes), then the enterprise stands as a house of cards,” Delany wrote. “Accordingly, the more educationally sound the collegiate experience, the more sustainable intercollegiate athletics becomes.”
Though not an official proposal, Delany did lay out a plan to raise scholarship limits in FBS football and Division I men’s basketball and add scholarships in women’s sports to stay compliant with Title IX. Under his plan, athletes would still have four years of eligibility. Freshmen would be able to practice with their teams, though participation and travel would be limited.
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