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bullsh!t we know as the NCAA clearinghouse...

NCAA denies pleas of Ole Miss, school board

LaDerrick Vaughn planned to be on the Ole Miss practice fields this month, battling for a backup position in the Rebels secondary.
Instead, he finds himself working out daily at Manassas High School, trying to stay in shape. And trying to hold back the building frustration of still being in Memphis, after doing everything he thought was necessary to enroll at Ole Miss, only to find out the NCAA Clearinghouse thought otherwise.

Vaughn graduated from Manassas last spring with a 2.7 grade point average. He scored an 18 on his ACT. And he had the necessary 14 core credits needed to make it through the Clearinghouse, which reviews academic transcripts. Or so he thought.
But after already completing two summer school classes at Ole Miss while working out with the football team, Vaughn learned that the Clearinghouse refused to accept one of his algebra classes, which left him with 13.5 credits, a half credit shy of being eligible.

''It really is frustrating,'' Vaughn said. ''It makes it real tough.''

Instead of offering Algebra 1, which is required by the NCAA, Manassas offers Algebra 1A and 1B classes. If successfully completed, students at Manassas are awarded one credit for Algebra 1 and one elective credit.

The NCAA, though, only recognized the Algebra 1B class, giving Vaughn half a credit, and leaving him a half-credit short.

Since that time, former Manassas principal Glen Chapman, current principal Gloria Williams, Manassas volunteer assistant coach Jim Tipton, and Memphis City School officials have sent numerous letters to the NCAA Clearinghouse, trying to explain their curriculum requirements, and urging them not to penalize Vaughn for MCS's wording of their course selection. But on Monday, the Clearinghouse announced its ruling, saying it would not accept credit for the class.

According to an Ole Miss official in the athletic department, the school is now in the process of gathering the necessary paperwork to file for a waiver.

''It's extremely disappointing,'' said Stanley DeMoss, Vaughn's legal guardian. ''To find out he's short by .5 hours as far as the NCAA is concerned. I really think they should make it more clear to the student. We did all the right things. We took all the right classes. And it's the wording in the way the school system is set up, which I don't understand. And now trying to get waivers, it is quite frustrating for both of us.''

Renee Malone, a spokeswoman for Memphis City Schools, said MCS officials have had conversations with both the Clearinghouse and officials at Ole Miss, explaining that Vaughn has the proper requirements to be eligible. They followed those conversations up with letters to both parties, explaining that their curriculum was approved by the Memphis Board of Education.

''As far as we can tell, we've never had this problem before,'' Malone said. ''We weren't aware of it. We want to do anything possible to help a student receive higher education.''

Malone said she didn't know if any other MCS school offered Algebra the way Manassas does.

It could be up to two weeks before Vaughn learns if the NCAA accepts the waiver, but classes at Ole Miss start Monday.

Vaughn could attend Ole Miss on his own, but could take no more than six credits to keep his four years of eligibility. If the waiver goes through during that time, he would be able to be on scholarship in the spring.

If the waiver is denied, Vaughn could opt to either pay his way to attend Ole Miss for a year, or attend another two- or four-year institution. One way or another, DeMoss said Vaughn will be in school somewhere.

''It might be a little too late to get him enrolled in the university for the fall,'' DeMoss said. ''But he will still attend school, if I have to wait until January and get him in school then. But he will go to college, if that's the last thing he does. I will see to that. Absolutely.

''Even if he went someplace else, he'll probably be limited to the amount of classes he can take to preserve his eligibility. But that's something we'll have to look at because my main concern is him going to college and getting an education. Would I like for him to play football? Of course. For me, is it major? No. It's major to him, of course. Him signing with Ole Miss was a way to get that education. If we have to go a different avenue, we have to go through a different avenue.''

As a senior at Manassas, Vaughn had 1,485 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, while passing for more than 900 yards. He also was a standout safety. He attended the first summer session at Ole Miss in June, getting a C in a theater class and a B in an English class. With the Rebels thin in the secondary, Vaughn had a shot playing as a backup safety.

Tipton, who took an interest in Vaughn while coaching him at Manassas, can't believe the NCAA has chosen to ignore their pleas.

''He is a top-notch kid,'' Tipton said. ''He's never been in any trouble. It's just not right. This is the biggest farce I've ever seen, denying a kid an opportunity. He's done everything he's supposed to do. He's being deprived of an education and a chance to play football at no fault of his.''

So he took 2 classes, which are broken down versions of Algebra 1. When you take 2 classes to pass one, you get credit for one. I don't see how they came up with an elective credit.

Greenhead22 wrote:So he took 2 classes, which are broken down versions of Algebra 1. When you take 2 classes to pass one, you get credit for one. I don't see how they came up with an elective credit.

We had this same thing in high school....What's the difference? the class is broken down...he passed em both, so how you give him credit for one half and not the other half??? That's what baffles me? Either through the whole deal out, or except the whole deal! It's $#!+...another question to prove the stupidity, who did they decide which to accept, A or B???

F'in stupid!

Another thing that gets me, is the kid does what the school tells him, he makes the grade and he moves on. Now he is being punished for it...he is missing out on a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. This class was taken in the 9th freaking grade! I mean come on!!! They are screwing this kid...

I did what my school told me to do also, that being Holmes CC. I transferred to MSU and lost 15 hrs.......that chit was not fun to make up.

Greenhead22 wrote:I did what my school told me to do also, that being Holmes CC. I transferred to MSU and lost 15 hrs.......that chit was not fun to make up.

Yeah, but you are talking about an institution thing, not a NCAA thing. What the heck shoudl the NCAA be this involved. If the academic institution approves the student scholastic hours to be enrolled, then the NCAA shouldn't be finding some crazy 9th grade algebra class that disputes the university. Especially after he'd already taken two college summer courses!

I remember a few years back when Bama got some crap stirred up about Mario Austin's transcript when he signed with MSU. They questioned his 9th grade core math class, and the ncaa made Stans sit him out for 3-4 games before they cleared it up.

Greenhead22 wrote:I remember a few years back when Bama got some crap stirred up about Mario Austin's transcript when he signed with MSU. They questioned his 9th grade core math class, and the ncaa made Stans sit him out for 3-4 games before they cleared it up.

That is really bullsh!t. In my opinion, if the student isn't enrolled at your school then you got ZERO right to be reviewing his transcript!

This kid did what his high shool required him to do. He should be granted a waiver. If the NCAA would have informed him sooner then he probably could have taken a class this summer to get the credit.

GH22 I agree with you about the jr college thing. They advise you to take what is required to graduate from jr college even if you will not get credit for it in sr college. I have seen this happen to several people.

GH22...... the issue here is this.... 1/2 + 1/2 = 1, he should have recieved 1 full credit for the 2 completed classes b/c of the way the NCAA ruled the classes. Instead, he is given 1/2 a credit for taking a class that normally gives you 1 full credit, regardless of if the class was broken into 2 semesters or not. The clearinghouse counted 1/2 of the class, but not the other, which makes absolutely no sense, especially since the class doesn't change.

bigoak wrote:GH22 I agree with you about the jr college thing. They advise you to take what is required to graduate from jr college even if you will not get credit for it in sr college. I have seen this happen to several people.

I think the reason they do that is because lots of people won't go ahead to senior college. But it sux for you if you do go like I did and lost credits.

I'm with cam, they should clear this kid if he took the classes and passed the tests. Anybody with a 2.7 and 18 ACT deserves to be there. He's getting screwed on a technicality--kinda like those Ins. co's do it

here is my final word...if the university says this kid has a transcript and final score that merit him seeking a degree and education at our universtiy and will allow him to enroll and achieve that, then the NCAA has NO right to dispute that and say he can't be an athlete...if the university allows him to be a student, then the NC-doubled f'ing-A should allow him to be a student-athlete...ESPECIALLY given the stipulation is a half a math class from 4 years ago! He finished as damn near an honor student .3 points away!!!

I fully understand the issue.

The school gives 1 full credit for alg 1a, and 1 full credit for an elective, which in itself is pretty stupid.

The ncaa felt like alg 1a was a remedial class and doesn't deserve creditable recognition. Alg 1B is the actual alg class, but since he only took it for 1/2 a yr, he only gets credit for .5. That's the way I see it, just like the ncaa.

What y'all need to do is go find some kids that ended up at a div 1 school playing football from this hs and see whether or not their alg1a and 1b counted as full credits towards college.

timberjack wrote:

bigoak wrote:GH22 I agree with you about the jr college thing. They advise you to take what is required to graduate from jr college even if you will not get credit for it in sr college. I have seen this happen to several people.

I think the reason they do that is because lots of people won't go ahead to senior college. But it sux for you if you do go like I did and lost credits.

I'm with cam, they should clear this kid if he took the classes and passed the tests. Anybody with a 2.7 and 18 ACT deserves to be there. He's getting screwed on a technicality--kinda like those Ins. co's do it

Aiight, now look at this from my point of view. State signed a RB out of Fla last season that's supposed be on campus right now. He was a 3.0 gpa student and made at least a 20 on his act. Now, in all actuallity he should be on campus.........NOT !!!

Because the kid failed the damn functional literacy exam to graduate from high school, not once but twice.

not going to argue bout it and it really doesn't ruffle my feathers one way or the other, just making a point about how absurd the NCAA can be at times..... it's a moot point, with Johnson passing his classes, now he just has to be accepted by the school, there's only 1 more scholarship spot open for the 3 remaining players. The other two will greyshirt. The main problem here is the new SEC rule that states if a player is deemed academically ineligible at one institution in the SEC, they can't play for another SEC school during their eligibility. I don't know if this ties over to the clearinghouse denying a player admission, or if it only pertains to the college admissions board.

So, what is "X" ?