Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. III - Building a better tomorrow...today!
Can they do that? I just assumed signing an NLI meant he'd be here next season. Milewski also mentioned the possibility of him coming in next year in an article in February.
Its supposed to mean next season - The NLI has a provision that was designed to prevent players from signing NLI's, then reneging on the agreement, and heading to another school after waiting out the one-year NLI agreement. As a result, the NLI agreement was ruled to remain binding if the school was still interested in offering the agreed upon terms the following school year.
College hockey coaches and compliance offices have begun exploiting this rule, under the pretense that "if a student-athlete decides of his own volition" to defer a year they can do so and the NLI agreement holds the following season. The reality of the situation is they just want to exert their power over a verbal commitment and eliminate any potential change of heart. The school signs the player, tells them they will be deferring and then the student-athlete decides of his "own volition" to defer...
It is situations like UNH's deferral of Mike Vecchione that led to this manipulation of long-standing rules. Vecchione was unhappy that UNH changed their plans for him and booked to Union. If he had signed an NLI at the earliest possibility, instead of waiting until his arrival year, he would have been stuck. Its a power move by coaching staffs and athletic departments. In many cases, it may be initially agreed upon - such as this one for UW (no harm, no foul) - but it was born out of (and is often used for) selfish intentions by the schools...
This is why it bothers me when people aimlessly attack the NCAA for their treatment of student-athletes. What they do not realize, is the poor treatment often comes from Universities exploiting loop-holes in rules that have long served the student-athlete. Additionally, it is the coaches, athletic departments and conferences that make (and have the power to change) these rules. They don't, because they'd rather exploit them. The NCAA enforces, gets the blame and the others skate free...
If you haven't yet, you really should try to make it to an NCAA coaches convention (in any sport) to listen to the GROWN UPS who trash student-athletes and young adults character, behavior and attitudes in an attempt to rationalize their self-serving rulings. It is a scene man...
