Covering the Intersection of Sports and the Law
On National Signing Day (last Wednesday) Alex Collins was expected to sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play football at Arkansas. However, Collins’ mother, Andrea McDonald, refused to sign the NLI, preferring that her son attend college in their home state of Florida. The next day Collins’ father signed his NLI. His mother hired Johnnie […]
National Signing Day is upon us again in college football. For student-athletes signing their National Letter of Intent (NLI), the day is full of excitement. However, the NLI is undoubtedly a one-sided agreement, drafted by the colleges, for the colleges. When student-athletes got wise, and began negotiating escape clauses in the NLI (such as for when the […]
Legal Issues in Collegiate Athletics recently featured my article on Gunner Kiel and verbal commitments in the recruiting process. (Click on the following link to view the article in PDF: Gunner Kiel Demonstrates that Verbal Commitments Are Not Binding). I have also posted the article below. My sincere thanks to Holt Hackney, publisher of Legal Issues in Collegiate […]
Last night, the UConn football program held its annual National Signing Day event, introducing fans to the newest Huskies. The event drew a standing room only crowd, thought to be the best turnout to date. Coach Paul Pasqualoni and his staff were entertaining and enthusiastic. As always, it was a first-class event. Here is the list of players that […]
When many student-athletes sign their National Letter of Intent (NLI) today, they will be become bound to an agreement that refuses to acknowledge the obvious: coaching changes have become a regular aspect of Division I college athletics. The NLI, however, clings to the unrealistic notion that student-athletes make their college choice based solely on the school, irrespective of […]
Wednesday, February 1, is National Signing Day for college football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country, and men’s water polo. Although many student-athletes will sign a National Letter of Intent tomorrow, they are not required to do so, as the signing period continues through April 1. For National Signing Day, I’ve updated the post that […]
Parents and high school student-athletes who expect to be recruited should take note of the signing dates for the National Letter of Intent (NLI). For more information, visit the NCAA’s website on the National Letter of Intent. NLI Signing Dates for Prospective Student-Athletes Enrolling 2012-2013 Sport Initial Signing Date Final Signing Date Basketball (Early Period) Nov. 9, […]
I recently read about an Ohio State football recruit who signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with Ohio State, but asked for, and was granted, his release. Other players who orally committed to Ohio State have also changed their minds. None of this comes as a surprise considering the NCAA investigation concerning allegations of improper benefits during Jim Tressel’s […]
