A retired NBA player, J.R. Smith, played golf at NC A and T this past year. He's about to turn 38. He entered the NBA straight out of high school, so he had never played college sports.
I actually have a friend that just graduated from miss college that ran with him, and I asked him about this, this is what I was told. Jan came over and ran for Lamar, but something happened with the setup that had him in the US. He had to go back to Germany for a few years. When he was able to return he ran at Queens before transferring to Miss. Co. He won D2 10000 last year. The next natural question was what was the end goal of being this age running in D2? He said he was doing it for the education.
It's not just his age people are shocked about its the fact that he started college in the fall of 2014. I did 5 years of college track, 4 plus a redshirt 5th year while I got my master's and I have been out of school for 4 years this fall.
Lots of ways to extend eligibility. Medical hardship, redshirt years, Covid years, missions, military service, Olympic redshirt in some sports (doesn’t apply to track I think).
I think community college athletes can be much older.
pretty sure a couple years ago there was a 9th year senior at NCAAs bc of covid + injury + redshirt + maybe something else idk
Wasn't there a letsrun article about this a few years ago, probably during 2020? I couldn't find it, but can someone else dig it up if you remembers what I'm talking about
I think this is it, great stuff by Jon Gault as usual
There are around a dozen athletes who will get to run NCAA XC for a 5th time on Saturday. We introduce you to a few of them, plus the 26-year-old ninth-year senior (and mother) who first ran NCAA XC in 2013.
I want to know how someone leaves in 2015, goes home to Germany, races every single year from 2016-2020, then COMES BACK and has 3 years of eligibility in every sport?? come on now?!?!?
Exactly! If you're competing in those years where you're matriculated from HS, but not enrolled at U full time it should still count against your years of eligibility. Having coached at the NCAA level I know our kids have to list the competitions during those windows of time. Guessing this isn't happening in this case?
I went to university for a year on scholarship before I dipped because I thought it was a joke, but there was all these old heads in my classes and they were doing well actually getting something out of it apparently. Fast forward 8 years debating getting a degree in my field, wondered if I could run NCAA’s surprised to find out they have an age limit in D1. It never occurred to me that they would set a limit in stone. I would think time away from the sport would offset any kind of gain achieved from aging and maturing, especially for a 400/800 specialist. As long as you’re not collecting money as a professional I don’t see why they need to have an age limit in the first place.
I actually have a friend that just graduated from miss college that ran with him, and I asked him about this, this is what I was told. Jan came over and ran for Lamar, but something happened with the setup that had him in the US. He had to go back to Germany for a few years. When he was able to return he ran at Queens before transferring to Miss. Co. He won D2 10000 last year. The next natural question was what was the end goal of being this age running in D2? He said he was doing it for the education.
Queens is one of the rare D2 schools that isn't garbage academically
12.8.1 Five-Year Rule. A student-athlete shall complete the student-athlete's seasons of participation within five calendar years from the beginning of the semester or quarter in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution, with time spent in the armed services, on official religious missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government being excepted. For international students, service in the armed forces or on an official religious mission of the student’s home country is considered equivalent to such service in the United States.
Division II rule:
14.2.2 Ten-Semester/15-Quarter Rule. A student-athlete shall complete their seasons of participation during the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which the student is enrolled in a collegiate institution in at least a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the regulations of that institution. For an institution that conducts registration other than on a traditional semester or quarter basis, the Academic Requirements Committee shall determine an equivalent enrollment period.
Transferring to BYU to run in 24-25 while he finishes some post doc work.
I love how the byu slander never ends here haha.
In all seriousness, I don’t think people gave proper credit to their team last fall. They were all still “college” age (yes including clinger, he was younger than a lot of international guys), and performed really well all year long. 3 of those guys on their top 7 didn’t go on missions if I recall correctly…
I hated byu when Rory and Clayton ran for them, but they’re pretty respectable now. Of course, it’s still nearly impossible to diss Mormons.
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