Vandy Football News

[Agent Kev]

Not sure if Brad saw this yet or not. BTW the new transfer rule is bullsh*t. This transfer doesn't really matter to me but if they want to transfer they should still have to sit out a year- this is going to lead to major NCAA violations with boosters/coaches recruiting guys from other schools IMO.

Kovalcheck will be immediately eligible at Vanderbilt


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Arizona starting quarterback Richard Kovalcheck is transferring to Vanderbilt and will be eligible to play immediately under new NCAA rules, the Commodores announced

Under new NCAA bylaws, Kovalcheck will be able to play because he has two years of eligibility left and has completed his undergraduate degree.

He'll likely compete to replace Jay Cutler as the Vanderbilt starter in 2006.

Kovalcheck will become the most experienced quarterback on the team after starting a total of eleven games for Arizona during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

During spring drills, redshirt sophomore Chris Nickson and redshirt freshman Mackenzi Adams were competing for the starting job.

Cutler, the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year, became the first Vandy quarterback drafted in the first round since Bill Wade in 1952, going to the Denver Broncos with the 11th pick overall.

"This gives our football team more quality depth at a critical position and should create enormous competition at the position," coach Bobby Johnson said in a statement.

Kovalcheck started the first seven games for the Wildcats last season, completing 125 of 220 passes for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns. He eventually lost his starting spot to freshman Willie Tuitama.

[brad512]

Yeah I heard about the transfer. At first I never heard of a player being able to transfer from 1 school to another without sitting out a year. In this case, Kovalcheck wanted to enroll in a field of study that wasn't offer by Arizona's graduate school. This is why he transfered and thus why Vandy's fortunate to get him. I can see this new transfer rule causing a lot of debate in the future. So far, only a couple guys have taken advantage of this rule that started on April 27th.

[brad512]

Here's an article about the SEC opposing the transfer to Vandy.

DESTIN -- Southeastern Conference athletic directors have discussed helping to organize opposition to recently passed NCAA legislation regarding athletes who have received undergraduate degrees and then transfer schools to finish their athletic eligibility.

Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said Wednesday that the 12 league ADs remain undecided about how active to become in the debate. Regardless, coaches and athletic directors at the SEC spring meetings here seemed uncomfortable with the NCAA's mandate.

"We don't love this rule," Foley said.

The rule, adopted by the NCAA Management Council on April 27 allows a student-athlete who has graduated and has athletic eligibility to transfer to another institution, enroll in graduate school and immediately retain their athletic eligibility.

NCAA rules give students five years to complete four seasons of athletic eligibility in a sport. Almost all transfers who have yet to graduate must sit out one year before competing for their new school.

At least two Division I-A football players already have taken advantage. Duke offensive lineman Tyler Krieg bailed for Cal, and Arizona quarterback Richard Kovalcheck now is at Vanderbilt. Both will be eligible this fall.

Discussion about the matter continues today, when the SEC's presidents and chancellors arrive. Unlike the coaches, these academic representatives could support the measures, citing incentive for athletes to graduate and a chance to pursue advanced degrees.

"On one hand, you say if they've finished their work and done what they're supposed to do, then why not?" Georgia AD Damon Evans said. "The other side is the feeling that people are going to come in and steal players from another program."

That's the part that worries coaches. Those at small schools say their top players who redshirt could leave to play their fifth year at bigger programs. On the flip side, some coaches said athletes who struggle in sports but succeed in studies at "big" schools could finish at a smaller school, where they likely would play more.

"It's unbelievable," Florida football Coach Urban Meyer said. "It's a loophole that needs to be closed."

If the rule remains, Foley said the SEC will alter one of its rules in response. The conference currently prohibits any athlete from transferring to a member school with fewer than two years of eligibility left. But if the NCAA rule holds, the league will say fifth-year seniors who fit the rule's criteria can transfer in for one season.

Kovalcheck qualifies under the SEC's old transfer rule because he graduated from Arizona in three years, playing two seasons and redshirting one.

When Tennessee basketball Coach Bruce Pearl was hired from Wisconsin-Milwaukee 14 months ago, at least two of his players, both of whom had graduated, inquired about moving with him. If the new transfer rules existed then, Pearl could have considered taking them.

"That does a disservice [to smaller schools]," said Pearl, whose starting forward, Dane Bradshaw, is eligible to leave under the rule. "[It's] a disservice to Wisconsin-Milwaukee