Taylor Bennet Plays and Ryan Sits

This is a story from AOL Fanhouse from Brian at Mgoblog with some of my takes:

Both Taylor Bennet and Ryan Mallet were "victims" of a coaching change as starting QB's at their respective schools; Georgia Tech and Michigan. Both decided to transfer because their new coaches systems didn't fit their style of play. (on the ironic side of this story - Steven Threet Michigan's most likely starter next year, was a Michigan HS QB that enrolled early at Tech and even before fall ball started transferred to Michigan to sit/play behind 5 Star recruit Ryan Mallet - now Mallet is gone (so is Bennet), and Steven finds himself as Michigan's starter. He also has the pleasure of welcoming another 5 Star recruit in next year - Kevin Newsome.)

Taylor transferred to Louisiana Tech (yes they are D1) and Ryan transferred to Arkansas. Either one could have transferred to Youngstown State or Delaware (any D1A or D2 school) and played right away. Taylor happens to have one year of eligibility left and Ryan has 3 years.

Ryan as you know filed for an appeal to play right away. The NCAA said, "are you freaking kidding me - No way!". Taylor used a "special rule" and is eligible to play next year.

I'm sure your going through a number of emotions right now, like "WTF how can that happen?".

Brian puts it nicely in his post:

Well, remember that one year the NCAA allowed anyone who'd picked up an undergraduate degree to transfer without penalty? Yeah, that rule was repealed after coaches complained, but by "repealed" we mean "not repealed."

[Myles] Brand and the NCAA created a workaround. The waiver process Bennett used to be able to play at Louisiana Tech has been used successfully by about 30 Division I athletes since July 1, 2007, NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson told me. That's actually more than took advantage of the graduate student transfer rule in the one year for which it applied. "For any individual who has legitimate academic reasons to transfer after graduating, we will grant it," Brand said.

So to break it down BHB style: Have a year of eligibility left, graduate, don't have NFL skills (yet), have a reason why you don't want to play at your current school (coaching change or you sort of suck and they don't want you anymore), transfer to a new D1 school, enroll in graduate classes and play right away.

In another ironic twist, Ryan Mundy was a "not very good" Michigan Safety two years ago. He had enough credits to graduate and wanted to play his final year at Michigan. Coach Carr, said "Thanks but no thanks" and let Ryan be on his way to a successful business career as a Michigan grad. Hold the phone everyone! He transferred to West Virgina enrolled in graduate classes, played for Coach Rod, got faster and stronger via Mike Barwis, had a pretty good year and just got drafted by the NFL. I would say Ryan supports this rule. (Ryan Mundy that is).

The NCAA is a complicated beast, if you ever come across it, don't look directly into it's eyes. It might bite you or help you.

Now if they only could fix that D1 football playoff problem.