Latest News

« back to 2010 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index

Get it Right

Get it Right is an occasional feature created to provide accurate information on NCAA-related issues.

In his August 31 story for the Daily Athenaeum (“NCAA Needs to address eligibility issues”), reporter Brian Gawthrop wrote about two incoming freshman football players at West Virginia University being denied initial eligibility for academic reasons. It was a prime example of a reporter  writing on a subject without the benefit of facts.

Gawthrop’s claim: In complaining about the timing of the decisions, Gawthrop stated the NCAA could have handled both cases more quickly and that the NCAA treats student-athletes like a joke.

Fact: The NCAA Eligibility Center did not receive high school transcripts or the required proof of graduation in both cases until the middle of July.  Furthermore, one prospective student-athlete did not submit a standardized test score until August 26, well after the start of fall practice.  In the case of the second prospective student-athlete, his high school delayed his graduation.  Given these facts, it took some time to sort out the details before any final decisions were made.  As to why the individuals were even practicing, NCAA bylaws allow prospective student-athletes to practice pending final certification decisions. 

In the end, the two individuals Gawthrop wrote about did not meet NCAA membership-established academic requirements and were denied initial eligibility.  While this is unfortunate, correct decisions were reached in a timely fashion once all the required documentation was received.

The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies approximately 90,000 prospective student-athletes every year.  Of those, approximately 95 percent are certified within five business days once all the necessary documentation is received.

The initial-eligibility certification process is a collaborative effort between the NCAA Eligibility Center, the school, and the prospective student-athlete, with the responsibility on the prospective student-athlete and the school to make sure the NCAA Eligibility Center receives the required documentation in a timely manner. Historically, about 93 percent of Division I and II prospective student-athletes ultimately are deemed eligible to compete.