NCAA Hypocrisy Strikes Again, Waives Clemson Practice Limits

Submitted by gremlin3 on

While I certainly believe the two teams should have equal practice time, instead of limiting Alabama's time, the NCAA--who claims to have the best interest of student-athletes at heart--waives the limit on Clemson. It has the basic effect of saying, "Skip class. This is more important."

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bjk

January 7th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^

the true answer is simply that televised college football games cannot be scheduled in potential conflict with college class schedules. If players are true scholar-athletes, class comes first. ESPN will just have to schedule games accordingly. Certainly the NCAA won't stand for the appearance of money corrupting the purity of amateurism in the college game, and the player's commitment to school as a first priority.

Joined: 11/26/2009

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SoDak Blues

January 7th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^

I was going to post a gif regarding the stupidity of the ncaa until I came across this gem. Hadn't seen it before, but I like it. Best part is the score. Sorry for the thread-jack!

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goblue2017

January 7th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^

Who cares? It's one freaking week of practice, in preparation for the biggest football game the university has played in in a very long time. Yes the NCAA can be ridiculous at times but I'm not seeing what's so absurd about waiving the practice limit for one week.



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4godkingandwol…

January 7th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^

... If you are going to preach about student athletics, you need to be consistent in your rules.  Otherwise it is a sham.  It is JUST AS EASY to say, "Alabama, you only practice 2 hours a day."  Just as easy and consistent with the supposed reason for your organization's existence.  Principles matter.  Without them we're rutterless.  

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Wolverine in DR

January 7th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^

The game is on Monday, not sure, but I'd be willing to bet they are already on site.... It's not like they weren't going to miss class regardless.... It's basically the same issue with the EE that are playing in the US Army game, they are already enrolled, should be in class, but are playing in San Antonio.... None issue on my part, besides look at it this way, No limits on the amount of practice time we get next year when Jimmy is taking us to the promise land

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charblue.

January 7th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

playing field. Place this in one of those unequal rules that needed to be equalized. I mean are you getting worked up about this during March Madness, if you knew about it? There are plenty of issues to get upset about with the NCAA, but providing equal time for practoce in spite of semester or quarterly scheduling dfferences is not a sweat issue.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11385

SFBlue

January 7th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

This is really all the NCAA could do. It couldn't just cut Bama's practice time. What is it's authority to do so? No rule was broken. There is not precedent for cutting practice time that is otherwise allowed.

Joined: 11/02/2009

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jp24elk

January 7th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^

As a former college athlete, you need to realize athletes schedule classes around practice as much as possible.  Where it's unavoidable, sure you overlap some of the normal practice time.  It happens.  Sometimes classes are only offered at a particular time.  If it's part of their major and it's just so happens there aren't other classes to fill the schedule with or they can't plan ahead to take that class in the offseason, then they have to deal with it.

It's pretty difficult to carve out a time for 100 guys to all show up and have zero scheduling conflicts.  It's not high school where there might be an athletic period to do walktrhoughs or watch video and then practice is at the end of the day after classes are all done.  There are classes all day long and you can't help it sometimes if a class is only offered during team practice.

It's not the NCAA saying skip class.  They're giving Clemson room to make a call.  Can't penalize Bama the way the rule is written.  ESPN worded their story poorly--surprise surprise.  If the expectation of the athletes is to skip that class for practice, that's on the university and the athletic program.

Clemson's first day of class was yesterday, January 6, which is when the limitation kicks in.  Unless I am not remembering the rules from my orientation correctly, they could have practiced extra up until yesterday when they became subjected to a prorated number for the week or the 4 hours per day.

The article shows even with that limit lifted, players need a waiver from the professor to miss that class, which is no different from when I played.  If there was something big going on and we weren't traveling or on the road that day, we could miss with permission.  If said professor was in dick mode, then you had to deal with it... and we're most likely talking about one class as I'm sure tomorrow is a travel day anyways.

Again, I know the NCAA (and Bama) are not exaclty favorites around here, but it's an awkward situation that Dabo handled perfectly.

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NYCBlue

January 7th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^

Hypocrisy indeed.  And classic NCAA inconsistency.  Apparently Oregon didn't complain as much as Clemson.  The NCAA chooses to fix the problem this year after letting it slide last year. 

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