Continuing Eligibility

Although all returning student-athletes have to go through academic certification at the beginning of the Spring semester, the process is not as extensive as it is at the beginning of each school year {{link to prior post  about beginning-of-the-year eligibility certification}}.  Once a student-athlete is certified as academically eligible at the beginning of the school year, he or she remains certified during the whole school year as long as he or she is in good academic standing at the institution and satisfies specific NCAA requirements.  The NCAA requires that all continuing student-athletes fulfill a minimum GPA requirement, as follows: 1.8 GPA for those who have completed 24-semester hours or below; 1.9 GPA for those who have completed 25 to 48-semester hours, and; 2.0 GPA for those who have completed 49-semester hours or above.  However, each institution or conference has the ability to require more stringent GPA standards.  In addition to fulfilling minimum GPA requirements, each continuing student-athlete must have passed at least six-semester hours the previous semester.  Every student-athlete is required to complete a minimum of 24-semester hours during the course of the whole school year (including summer) to be academically eligible to compete the following school year.

Mid-year enrollees (either new freshman or transfers) go through the full academic eligibility certification process, which is explained here .

Rodriguez through in Ann Arbor

By now you know about Rich Rodriguez being out at Michigan. Of course the losing record was the main factor in his ouster. But think of all the compliance issues that not only put the program in an unfavorable light, but took time away from Rodriguez being able to perform his ordinary day-to-day coaching duties. Rodriguez' failure to follow compliance guidelines, combined with the losses, sealed his fate.

Adrian Beltre and Texas Rangers come to terms

It's always nice to have a little baseball talk in January. News of Adrian Beltre agreeing to terms with the Texas Rangers reminds us that spring training isn't far off.