U. Florida President not exactly welcoming Jon Horford

Wow. That seems like a strange thing for a university president to weigh in on, a very questionable position to take, and a pretty dick move to call out Horford by name like that.

it is filling a last minute void.  Personally, it feels like this waiver process is going to turn into a form of free agency in the college rannks.  You're already seeing as we're trying to get that kid from W. Virginia. . . 

Two straight forum posts... Is that you Shakey Jake?????

Its like free agency. But unions and pay to play is on the way, eventually, its just going incrementally for now. We just have to get used to it.

But very incrementally. This only really applies to someone who was redahirted, unless someone can graduate in 3 yrs -- hard to do for anyone esp a D1 athlete.

To play quarterback.  But Greg Paulus wound up playing QB for Syracuse for a year after he'd graduated from Duke.

I suspect that Jim Boeheim would've been happy to welcome Jon Horford to play at Syracuse for a year.

"University Brass Nostalgic For Days When College Athletes Were Fully Indentured".

Maybe coaches and university admins should also have to sit out a year when transferring institutions?

Way to roll out the welcome mat for a specific student, Bernie.  Classy.

at his statement.  without cynicism or guile, maybe that's not such a bad position.  however, if he's thinking a few leaps ahead, he might just be posturing in a clever fashion.  

of course we all wish horford stayed, but such is life. 

happy saturday everyone.

Imagine if our university President made these comments about someone coming to play at Michigan.

Billy Donovan needs to have a chat with his prez. 

Funny how College Administrators find their "ethics" when considering the one rule in the entire NCAA rule book that favors students over Universities. The fact that it's a University President questioning whether the move could be based on legitimate ACADEMIC considerations is just BBQ sauce on the ribs.

What a dick

While, of course, the majority of college presidents are more interested in the integrity of their respective school's academics, it would be completely understandable if such were not the case in the SEC. It is less-than-difficult to imagine a SEC President losing their way in the Southeastern part of the U.S., based simply and realistically on the 180 degree difference between the importance their donors place on sports achievement vs.that of the academic arena.   Ironically, the majority of mega donors are capable of such because of their academic prowess. But just as they did while attending their respective schools, even though among the best and brightest, their collective infatuation toward super-star athletes often equaled or surpassed such emotions toward more logical and hormone based targets for that respective age group. The fact they've not outgrown this adolescent mindset is not surprising at all.                                       Every sports fan in America is fully aware of the SEC's eagerness to ignore the rules(let's be honest and call them NCAA guidelines) in favor of fielding the best possible team, most obviously, of course, on the gridiron.  I cannot even imagine a SEC AD expressing a similar attitude, even in private, for fear of being taken seriously.                  The ADs in the BIG, SEC, ACC and more recently even the former Big 8 take a far different approach, and with the exception of a few in all conferences, actually attempt to oversee their athletic programs operate within the psuedo guidelines referenced above.  And this should be applauded given the fact that many of the schools in these conferences are located in regions every bit as fertile as SEC recruiting areas. It is entirely possible his remarks were based solely on the obligations and intended duties associated by the office-holder, and might not have been made at all if FL were receiving one our recent POY(s) instead of a lesser talented athlete, but I strongly believe his remarks were genuine and would have been the same if the later scenario were the case.                  ^ H.S. athletes know it, every fan in the nation is aware of it, but above all every AD and Head Football coach in the SEC are fully aware of the expectations and even more importantly, the unparalled rewards for perennial success on the gridiron, that to step out of line and operate in a manner as do coaches in other conferences is tantamount to career suicide.  And every bit of the commonly shared knowledge mentioned immediately preceeding this statement is the fact that to experience even as little as two successive seasons of what are now routine 11 win seasons coupled with a BCS Bowl invitation at a few of these schools would result in the HC being forced to accept a job at a much less prestiguous school like say UM or a ND. And every bit as preposterous as that statement sounds, so too is the realization that today it is now FACT!!!!                          ^And again, let's applaud these ADs and HCs that do work within the rules. HCs, no matter where they operate are just as competitive as those in the SEC and to be forced to "supposedly" operate in the same profession with out-dated, obsolete equipment has to eat away at them in a manner we can only imagine.  To be able to compete with what is now the equivalent of a Triple AAA farm club leauge in baseball, demands an operation similar to that of the SEC. And for all who have been willing to operate in a like manner that, not surprisingly, resulted in equal success, i.e., USC and OSU, sanctions immediately followed whereas the SEC operates with total impunity which is the equivalent to an unstated endorsement of the governing body.  Hell, they should be operating as a completely separate entity, scheduling only those who are likewise capable of operating as a professional league and winning NCs vs. those that aren't.  It will be interesting to see how soon, and if, FSU will again be found guilty of NCAA infractions or if they too will be granted clemency due to the fact they fall within that certain geographical area.                    ^So yes, I did find it refreshing, albeit a complete contradiction for the President of a school that is among those located in the "free zone," to campaign against any measure that might produce a competitive edge, even at a later date. If even 75% sincere, I hold a more than small amount of admiration for his courage to speak honestly.  

The President is a total dick. Basically, he believes in screwing over (like the NCAA) the student/athlete to protect their profits in the sports business. In their chase of more and more dollars, universities and the NCAA have lost sight of why they even exist - for the benefit of the student/athlete for Pete's sake. If universities and the NCAA had even a shred of integrity, they wouldn't force any transfers to sit out or deny them transfers to the college of their choice. If they aren't willing to do that, they should stop being hypocritical and start requiring coaches to sit out a year after transferring. Heck, to be totally consistent, they probably should require all employees and students switching schools to sit on their ass for a year. What a #%^>#%ed up system.

Until coaches have to sit out a year and are required to get permision from Arbitrary Authority Figure to change schools, students should not haver to either.

 

I'm too lazy to look up the stats, but I doubt student-athletes transfer schools at a rate any greater than non-athlete students. (Or at least at any rate that is statistcally significant) 

Does anyone know what grad program Horford is doing at Florida that Michigan doesn't have?