The NCAA has said that 17 yr old Olympic medalist Missy Franklin can accept $$ for winning medals in the Olympics AND retain her NCAA eligibility.

 

How is it different than Enes Kanter?

 

She got paid above her expenses for sports performance.

It's not the NCAA is stupid. I never did understand why it was allowed for sports such as swimming. I think it's because people don't really care about swimming all that much other than 1 month every 4 years. Not just swimming but other lower level NCAA sports where this type of thing is allowed.

The NCAA specifically exempts certain expenses and prize moneys associated with being on an Olympic or National team.

 

Edit: I'd like for that statement above to be absolutely true, but I'm having trouble proving it. Anyone know where I can find a copy of the NCAA's actual eligibility rules? I can find what I'm pretty certain are draft rules and other places that simply mention a specific rule. I'm looking for a primary source here...

Edited August 13, 201214 yr by Getslow

The NCAA specifically exempts certain expenses and prize moneys associated with being on an Olympic or National team. Maybe it ain't fair, but it's been in the rules for several years.

 

For another example of this: There were several amateur golfers who took home cash prizes for their efforts in last week's Ky. Open golf tournament. Many of those amateurs are NCAA and NAIA athletes.

For another example of this: There were several amateur golfers who took home cash prizes for their efforts in last week's Ky. Open golf tournament. Many of those amateurs are NCAA and NAIA athletes.

 

Right, there are definite exemptions on prize money, but I thought they were pretty small and only to the extent they covered expenses. I had thought there were explicit exceptions made for Olympic and National team members.

To pony of what Jim said, my daughter won a couple of gift certificates and a small sum Visa gift card from an amateur tournament she played this and when we called to compliance at NKU to make sure it was OK, they told her as long as it wasn't more than the expense incurred for playing in the tournament it was OK.

To pony of what Jim said, my daughter won a couple of gift certificates and a small sum Visa gift card from an amateur tournament she played this and when we called to compliance at NKU to make sure it was OK, they told her as long as it wasn't more than the expense incurred for playing in the tournament it was OK.

 

I can see that.

 

The swimmer will earn well over $100k.

NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.3.3 “Operation Gold Grant”

 

An individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) may accept funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold program. (Adopted: 4/26/01).

 

Pretty clear to me...

NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.3.3 “Operation Gold Grant”

 

An individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) may accept funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold program. (Adopted: 4/26/01).

 

Pretty clear to me...

 

Although clear, it doesn't make it right or fair.

NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.3.3 “Operation Gold Grant”

 

An individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) may accept funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold program. (Adopted: 4/26/01).

 

Pretty clear to me...

 

No question the wording is there to support the ability for the swimmer to collect $$. That's not the issue.

 

NCAA says "no pay for play" and then allows this. You don't see any inconsistency?

There's a pretty big difference between playing on a European club team and representing your country in the olympics. Although this is not the case in every sport, the olympics is widely considered an amateur event.

You don't see any inconsistency?

 

Not at all. Winning prize money while representing your country is not the same as taking money from a professional club.

Not at all. Winning prize money while representing your country is not the same as taking money from a professional club.

 

Enes got nailed for the money received being more than his expenses.

 

Seems inconsistent to me. I don't get the rationalization that it's "prize money" and it's OK because you're "repping your country." Why can't the fact that they repped their country and got a medal be enough?

There's a pretty big difference between playing on a European club team and representing your country in the olympics. Although this is not the case in every sport, the olympics is widely considered an amateur event.

 

The Olympics quit being an amateur event in the 80s.

The Olympics quit being an amateur event in the 80s.

 

In certain sports. In other sports it is still very much an amateur event.