Air Force hockey player Kevin Wright, who will be a junior in the fall, is out of eligibility, according to the NCAA.
Why? Not for anything nefarious, but because he inadvertently started his “five-year clock,” during which an athlete must play his or her four seasons, three years before coming to the academy.
He did it – get this – by taking classes at a community college that is not affiliated with the NCAA and does not have a hockey program.
After high school Wright had no Division I offers, so he played midget hockey to attempt to attract the attention of junior league teams, from which colleges recruit players. Nearly all of Air Force’s players came to the academy after playing for junior league teams.
Nearly all those players also take some classes at community colleges to show they haven’t given up on academics (it looks better for applicants trying to impress admissions folks).
So why didn’t they start their five-year clocks? Because they took classes part-time, while Wright took enough classes to be considered full-time. That’s right – he’s being punished for doing too much academic work.
If that sounds crazy, consider these facts:
1. He was told by a counselor at the community college that his eligibility would not be affected. So he received bad counsel.
2. He was unable to bring the credits he amassed to Air Force (he had to start from scratch), so he received no benefit other than the knowledge that he gained.
3. Again, players taking classes prior to starting their clocks is common. The only reason Wright was affected was because he was considered full-time.
Still, the NCAA rejected his request for a waiver and his subsequent appeal.
“I just think it’s a horrible injustice,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “If he doesn’t qualify for an exemption, a waiver from the five-year rule, who the hell would?
I wrote a lot more about this in a story that appeared on the front page of The Gazette this morning. You can find that story here. Also, you can find the NCAA bylaws that pertain to Wright’s case here.
Let me know what you think about this.
This is absolutely crazy.The average college freshman hockey player in D1 is 20 yrs old.So they come in 2 years after graduating high school on average.Please semeone do something to help this poor kid.
My son is graduating “Prep” school this year and is going to play D1 hockey next year.He turns 19 this summer which will make him 1 year younger than the average freshman.He will not pass initial eligibility because he repeated his 9th grade year in 2005 when he transfered to “Prep” and according to the new rules of 2007 a kid must graduate in 4 years or 8 semesters to be eligible so he will require a waiver.
He meets all other requirements but in 2007 the ncaa implemented a new rule that says you must graduate on time in 4 years.
He was advised by all New England Prep schools that he should repeat because 90% of kids who transfer to Prep repeat a grade.In 2005 there was no such rule as to graduate in 4 years and it was recomended due to the fact that if he did.nt repeat he would be 1 year younger that everyone else in his class.
Now he is at the mercy of a bureaucrat who does not know Hockey and will say he delayed his grad date on purpose for athletic reasons which is completely false.
Please I hope someone does something to help this kid or alot of hockey players will get hurt by the NCAA rules which make no sense.
I was under the impression that education was 1stt & sport 2nd. I congradulate Kevin Wright for doing the right think getting an education 1st & sports 2nd. Kevin Wright sound like he has his head in the right place.
Education is very important for all young athletes, very few make it to the pro’s.
Please give this young man an chance to complete his dream, He has worked very hard & should be able to play his last 2 years.