Former target lands at UNO

[MUfan12]

Interesting story. Luke Cothron has ended up at New Orleans, and is immediately eligible.

Because of the pending drop to D3, I guess guys can play there this year, and leave without having to redshirt. Guess it's becoming kind of a pseudo-JUCO.

Evan Daniels thinks a couple more guys might head that way-
http://evandaniels.yardbarker.com/blog/evandaniels

[GGGG]

But since he didn't qualify after high school, wouldn't he have to sit out another year?  That loophole makes no sense.

[MUfan12]

But since he didn't qualify after high school, wouldn't he have to sit out another year?  That loophole makes no sense.

Doesn't make much sense to me, either. Goodman's take-

http://jeffgoodman.yardbarker.com/blog/jeffgoodman/luke_cothran_takes_advantage_of_loophole_and_lands_at_new_orleans/3811317

[NCAARules]

Generally speaking - a nonqualifier has to sit out one year to pay for their initial eligibility deficiency. He has done that at UMASS. Once he sits his first year, he is like every other student-athlete and subject to the same eligibility rules.

That he could use a discontinued sport exception to allow a second transfer is a bit of a loophole, but necessary to protect transfers who did not know about the reclassifying when they transfered to UNO originally.

[GGGG]

I thought a non-qualifier had to either go to prep school, and then attempt to requalify, or go to junior college for two years and graduate.  Am I wrong here?  They are treating UNO like a prep school?

[dsfire]

I was under the same impression, but it seems that D3 doesn't have any academic qualifying requirements from the NCAA since they can't offer athletic scholarships(?).  The loophole in this case, by my understanding, is that you'd typically have to sit out a year transferring between NCAA schools but an exception is granted to the athletes transferring out of UNO due to the reclassification.

[NCAARules]

14.3.2.1.1 Eligibility for Aid, Practice and Competition.

An entering freshman with no previous college attendance who was a nonqualifier at the time of enrollment in a Division I institution shall not be eligible for regular-season competition or practice during the first academic year in residence. However,
such a student shall be eligible for nonathletics institutional financial aid that is not from an athletics source and is based on financial need only, consistent with institutional and conference regulations. (Revised: 1/10/95 effective 8/1/96)

[GGGG]

Not only this, he *just* got to New Orleans...probably at the end of their first semester.  He's only played one game for them so far.

[Dawson Rental]

OMG, just look what's happening to UNO!  If we lose Buzz, could this happen to us too???

[Jay Bee]

I thought a non-qualifier had to either go to prep school, and then attempt to requalify, or go to junior college for two years and graduate.  Am I wrong here?  They are treating UNO like a prep school?

Yes, you're wrong.  A nonqualifier generally can't receive athletic aid, practice with the team, etc.  However, nonqualifiers can be granted a partial waiver (for example, which allows them to be on athletic scholarship, practice with the team, etc.).  After one year they may be eligible for competition (technically they lose one year of eligibility, but that 'lost year' can be earned back 'easily' - if they have completed 80% of their course work after 4 years at school)...  in this situation, it begins to look very similar to the old 'partial qualifier' that existed earlier this century.