LOI

[77fan88warrior]

I have read in a number places about recruits having clauses in their LOI which allow them an out if the coach leaves or........
An example of which is in this article by The Indianapolis Star.
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS06/80410007

I have pulled out the paragraph that deals with this subject.

Ebanks, at a Connecticut prep school, and Holloway, at a prep school in Cincinnati, are both New York natives who played summer basketball together. Both signed letters of intent with Indiana but had clauses freeing them to go elsewhere if IU made a coaching change.

I find it hard to believe the NCAA allows this. Are these bogus contracts that schools use to calm fears of recruits?

Wouldn't there be a standard LOI that every NCAA scholarship athlete signs?

[Ready2Fly]

I think this is something that SHOULD be allowed by the NCAA. 

A coach like Crean can bolt whenever he feels like it for more loot but a 17-18 year old has to be held to a contract even when one of the most important aspects of it changes drastically?

[77fan88warrior]

I think this is something that SHOULD be allowed by the NCAA. 

A coach like Crean can bolt whenever he feels like it for more loot but a 17-18 year old has to be held to a contract even when one of the most important aspects of it changes drastically?

I don't disagree with you. Everyone feels scorned by Crean when they should be pissed that the NCAA allows coaches too much freedom with the rules. It appears to me that the NCAA doesn't require permission to talk to another college's coach who is under contract.
 We have seen coaches take recruits from their old school to their new school and that is wrong. Why should a player have to sit out a year when guys like Kelvin Sampson can wreak havoc at multiple programs without penalty?

[MUCam]

Do you know whether a University has to honor a LOI with a scholarship.

For example, let's say that two days after signing the LOI, student destroys his knee to the point where he is never the same player. Does the University have to honor that scholarship and does it count against the scholarship count. Once the kids is enrolled, can the University withdraw the scholarship just because the student does not work as hard as was expected or as hard as he had claimed he would. Can the University withdraw the scholarship just because the student becomes a total bust?

I think both the University and the student take a risk here. When you sign a LOI, it clearly states you are signing to play for the school and not for the coach. Just because circumstances change, should the student or University be allowed to go against the contract?

I am still tossed up on my feeling with respect to LOI's and coaching changes and would love to hear some discussion on the topic in general.

[dwaderoy2004]

Most of your answers are here:

http://www.national-letter.org/

[MUCam]

Thank you for that. Very informative.

I was a little disappointed to learn that the LOI only binds the University for one year.