Britton; clarification on blue shirting

[Fab5Coug]

I'm not clear on whether or not Burnett actually has to pay for a semester out of his own pocket. I've read conflicting reports on that.

The plan is for him to be added to scholarship once fall camp starts. That would be sometime in early August. Classes don't start until some time in late August. So, assuming scholarships are effectively immediately, he'd be on scholarship by the time he enrolls in schools and attends a class.

Basically, the way I understand it, you're adding a scholarship player, but delaying the "cap hit" till the following year. Kind of the opposite of counting an early enrollee back to the last class.

 

[froropmkr72]

"They will still count toward the total scholarship limit, but will not
count toward the initial counter limit until the following year."

It's still the same as you've described above. I don't know why more teams "in need" don't use it more often. I proposed they get the message out to some JC players a couple years back. We could of used them.

Blueshirt

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by Fab5Coug:
I'm not clear on whether or not Burnett actually has to pay for a semester out of his own pocket. I've read conflicting reports on that.

The plan is for him to be added to scholarship once fall camp starts. That would be sometime in early August. Classes don't start until some time in late August. So, assuming scholarships are effectively immediately, he'd be on scholarship by the time he enrolls in schools and attends a class.

Basically, the way I understand it, you're adding a scholarship player, but delaying the "cap hit" till the following year. Kind of the opposite of counting an early enrollee back to the last class.

I had never heard that before. That is interesting. Sarkisian sure does have a lot of Bill Belicheck in him. Staying within the letter of the rules, but not in the spirit of the rules. Of course, spygate was both.

Last year, USC started classes on Monday, August 25th. I am guessing that it will be close to the same this year, probably Monday, August 24th.

 

[dgibbons]

Originally posted by froropmkr72:
"They will still count toward the total scholarship limit, but will not
count toward the initial counter limit until the following year."

It's still the same as you've described above. I don't know why more teams "in need" don't use it more often. I proposed they get the message out to some JC players a couple years back. We could of used them.

Do they still count if the blueshirt leaves school before the following year begins?

 

[Fab5Coug]

The more I think about it, there's not even that great a risk to the recruit either.

Let's say Sark gets slimy and doesn't come through with the scholarship for Burnett at the beginning of fall camp. Burnett hasn't enrolled yet, so he is actually free to transfer anywhere he wants. He could call up any school in the conference, ask for a blue shirt scholarship, and show up at camp the next weekend. Of course, he'd have to get through admissions.

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by Fab5Coug:
The more I think about it, there's not even that great a risk to the recruit either.

Let's say Sark gets slimy and doesn't come through with the scholarship for Burnett at the beginning of fall camp. Burnett hasn't enrolled yet, so he is actually free to transfer anywhere he wants. He could call up any school in the conference, ask for a blue shirt scholarship, and show up at camp the next weekend. Of course, he'd have to get through admissions.

WSU starts fall semester on August 24 this year. They could fast track admissions. If he could get into USC, he can get into WSU. I don't think he ends up at WSU.

 

[froropmkr72]

Originally posted by dgibbons:

Originally posted by froropmkr72:
"They will still count toward the total scholarship limit, but will not
count toward the initial counter limit until the following year."

It's still the same as you've described above. I don't know why more teams "in need" don't use it more often. I proposed they get the message out to some JC players a couple years back. We could of used them.

Do they still count if the blueshirt leaves school before the following year begins?
Bylaw 15.5.6.3.3 A student-athlete not recruited (per Bylaw 15.02.8) by
the institution who receives institutional financial aid (based in any
degree on athletics ability) after beginning football practice becomes a
counter but need not be counted as an initial counter until the next
academic year if the institution has reached its initial limit for the
year in question. However, the student-athlete shall be considered in
the total counter limit for the academic year in which the aid was first
received.

This being the only thing I've read....It's unclear whether the scholarship is granted right away or retroactively once the next semester begins with the thought that they could carry more than 85 if it wasn't retroactive. What constitutes contact is much greater than a team reaching out to a player....informing them of the blueshirt bylaw and also informing them you could possibly use them at a certain position this year. According to these bylaws and those concerning official recruiting....SC's broken no rules. They can have all the contact and he can unofficially visit all he wants.

 

[ttowncoug]

Here's the concept as I understand it:
1. A kid is "offered" a non-binding scholarship if he walks on and makes the team.
2.
Since this kid wasn't "recruited" (didn't come on campus for an
official visit) and didn't sign an LOI, the kid can be extended a
scholarship after he walks on...or maybe after classes start. The "count" can get pushed forward to
the next year's class because the kids "wasn't recruited" as a part of
the class that just entered.

The key issues:
1. The kid still is recruit-able.
2. No guarantees on the scholarship.

In our case, SC could let Burnett he didn't get admitted, or some kind of other excuse if they want to go after another kid. I.E. maybe another kid from Alabama calls Sark and wants to transfer in July.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Despite the fact that it kind of burned WSU in this instance, I don't really have any issue with this. It's basically just delaying the "cap hit" of a scholarship.

The only thing I don't care for are the rules about it being a unrecruited athlete. I don't really see the purpose of that. It really gives an enormous advantage to a metro school like SC, who can easily still recruit SoCal players without technically bringing them in on an OV or having an in home.

Can't see this rule ever really benefiting WSU, unless it's an "in the bag" Spokane kid, or a kid with no other options.

 

[froropmkr72]

This rule has supposedly benefited the New Mexico's of the world until SC does it once and then it's a national scandal. WSU could of benefited from this for years now.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Originally posted by froropmkr72:
This rule has supposedly benefited the New Mexico's of the world until SC does it once and then it's a national scandal. WSU could of benefited from this for years now.

Probably because UNM uses it on recruits no one's ever heard of before. This is the first time I recall a school doing it with a kid who has legitimate other options.

Personally, I find it brilliant. Although, again, I don't care for the "unrecruited" stipulation as that puts WSU at a disadvantage.

 

[ttowncoug]

I really don't see the benefit unless you are trying to add more bodies into one class. You just fill a spot of the next year's class.

My guess is Davie a New Mexico was trying to get as many new bodies on the team as possible. Cancel scholarships of existing players, all is good, as long as you don't exceed 85.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Originally posted by ttowncoug:
I really don't see the benefit unless you are trying to add more bodies into one class. You just fill a spot of the next year's class.

My guess is Davie a New Mexico was trying to get as many new bodies on the team as possible. Cancel scholarships of existing players, all is good, as long as you don't exceed 85.

USC is coming off sanctions, so maybe they're just trying to get back up to 85 as soon as possible.

You're right though, for anyone else, it's just delaying the "cap hit" of a scholarship.