Recruitment to Graduation report
Massive State University (MSU) is an NCAA Division I-FBS football powerhouse. The MSU football program is looking to bring in some talented new student-athletes for the 2021-2022 academic year. However, there appear to be three issues of concern.
1) RECRUITS: One of the high school players that MSU coaches have their eyes on is Stacee Jaxx, a promising wide receiver, who is in the middle of his senior year at George Washington High School in Florida. Schmo has a grade point average of 3.350 in his NCAA-designated high school core courses. He scored a 620 on the SAT exam (he took the so-called “New SAT” in 2020).
Marshall Mathers also is a senior at George Washington High School, where he is the star quarterback. He has a grade point average of 2.250 in his NCAA-designated high school core courses. He scored a 1040 on the SAT exam (he also took the so-called “New SAT” in 2020).
2) CONTINUING EDUCATION: The MSU football program, which has 100 football student-athletes, also is looking to continue its team’s academic achievement: Five football players were named Academic All-Conference last year, with grade point averages above 3.8 (the university requires a 2.00 GPA for graduation). That helps the coaching staff to hide the fact that five juniors and two sophomores – including five starters on defense – each had grade point averages of between 1.60 and 1.75 last year.
3) SPORTS AGENCY: Word also has gotten around to Joe Kane, the current quarterback for MSU, that the school is close to bringing Mathers to the university. Kane, who is a junior, knows that this may mean that he will not play quarterback the next season. Kane calls Ariana Grande, a famous sports agent who lives and works near the MSU campus. They arrange to meet at a local restaurant.
Once at the restaurant, Kane explains his situation to Grande. The player and agent agree that, if Kane is benched in favor of Mathers during Kane’s senior year, Kane will leave college, seek a quarterback position in the NFL and that Grande will represent him. The two agree not to put the agreement in writing until Kane is ready to sign an NFL contract. Grande pays the $75 lunch bill and the two part ways until the start of the football season.
The local newspaper finds out about the actions described above and prints a big article in its Sunday edition outlining the above scenario.
You are the Special Athletics Assistant to the President of MSU. Write a memo to the president of the university explaining: (1) Jaxx’s eligibility, (2) Mathers’ eligibility, (3) Other players’ continuing, including APR ramifications, and (4) Kane’s eligibility. You must explain, in detail, whether any of the above actions violate NCAA bylaws, explain why they may or may not violate NCAA bylaws, and give the specific NCAA bylaw references that are applicable. Since the local newspaper found only the above information, you are free to infer any other information which you may feel is necessary in order to write your report.
