Inflation fighter: Six columns for the price of one.
Now that the Illinois High School Association has decided to split the boys state soccer tournament into two classes, expect momentum to build for increases in classes in other sports–including basketball.
Under a relatively new system for dealing with classification changes, all it takes for an increase is a recommendation from a sport’s IHSA advisory committee and approval by the association’s board of directors.
Proponents of increases have been waiting to see how the board reacted to the first such recommendation, which came in soccer. More no doubt will follow.
Still failing: It’s as certain as death, taxes and a Dennis Rodman tantrum that any change in NCAA initial-eligibility standards will be disastrous for high school athletes.
According to a story in the Oct. 14 NCAA News, tougher academic standards–in particular the demand for a fourth core course in English–have caught many incoming college freshmen unaware and left them ineligible as freshmen.
The latest confusion resulted in a glut of appeals–800 from July 15 to Sept. 15 alone. And as it was after other changes in initial academic requirements and after the implementation of a central clearinghouse to certify eligibility, the newest mess is a cooperative effort among the NCAA and college and high school coaches and officials.
The NCAA worked hard to publicize the latest changes, but it once again overestimated the ability of many high schools to cope with them, particularly because changes in initial eligibility requirements have descended almost annually.
Some high school officials, for instance, still don’t realize they must submit a list of their core courses to the NCAA for approval early each school year, not when and only if one of their athletes happens to get a scholarship offer.
“I can’t tell you how many (of those) forms haven’t been updated in three or four years,” said a local college athletic administrator.
Not very promising: A recently filed lawsuit will put the spotlight on an often-overlooked NCAA rule under which athletic scholarships are renewed annually.
In a lawsuit, junior Chad Wright has accused the University of Washington of negligence, intentional misrepresentation and breach of contract because his financial aid was stopped after he injured his back during weight training. He asked for unspecified damages in the suit, which alleges that Washington’s coaches guaranteed–in writing–his scholarship for five years.
Washington officials have denied the charges, stating that Wright’s scholarship wasn’t renewed because he failed to do required work in a program designed to help defray the costs of his schooling.
Regardless of which side is correct, the NCAA can’t deny that its refusal to make schools honor scholarships for four or five years makes commitment a one-way street.
Spooning up talent: Charlie Spoonhour has been known more as a great basketball coach than a great recruiter at St. Louis, but his recent efforts have hurt Lon Kruger’s first full shopping effort at Illinois and John MacLeod’s continuing struggle to upgrade his talent at Notre Dame.
In the last month, Spoonhour has convinced three St. Louis-area stars, 6-foot-6-inch point guard Larry Hughes and 6-6 forward Justin Tatum of Christian Brothers and 6-9 Matt Baniak of DeSmet to stay home for college.
Hughes, regarded as one of the top 25 prospects in the country, was a major recruiting target for Kruger; Notre Dame wanted Baniak, a top-100 prospect.
Get to the point: Spoonhour’s success is bad news for DePaul, a Conference USA rival. DePaul’s first oral commitment of the recruiting season came from former Peoria Manual All-State point guard Willie Coleman, who will soon sign his third letter of intent in about a year and a half after having second thoughts about Illinois and Bradley.
DePaul’s struggles of late have been partly the result of recruiting point guards who starred on the court but stumbled off it, starting with Howard Nathan, who flunked out in 1992, continuing with Belefia Parks, who also left prematurely, and extending to junior Jermaine Watts, who is not expected to play this season after violating athletic department rules. One hopes Coleman will end this string and not continue it.
Theory of relativity: It’s easy to understand how Thornton All-State center Melvin Ely could have Missouri and Fresno State on his list of college finalists. Missouri is a frequent NCAA tournament visitor, and Fresno, in its second season under Jerry Tarkanian, may soon be one.
But Ball State? Mid-American Conference schools usually aren’t serious contenders for high school All-Americans. What gives the school a shot is that its head coach, Ray McCallum, was an assistant at Wisconsin when Melvin’s brother, Louis, played there. McCallum has stayed close to the family.
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Send e-mail to Barry Temkin at BarTem@aol.com
