IN summary, Coach Franklin is staying within the rules. The real issue is the NCAA and it's rules. The "NEW" legislation barely addresses the real issues.
The big PROBLEM is The NCAA "Athletics Activity Waiver" Bylaw 14.2.1.4
Based on this Bylaw, anyone can say they were "training for" a major championship as long as their National Federation provides a letter to confirm this. Because of the nature of athletics in the UK (Club system), most UK athletes can get their hands on such a letter without any big deal. Not so easy for a US collegiate athlete to do.
UK athletes hide behind this rule all the time especially using the BUSA (British Universities Sports Assoc.)Championships as their out because they it is the trial for the World University Championships. I wonder how many UK athletes running at Sterling University (BUSA XC Champs) this weekend will compete next year in the NCAA because it is the TRIAL for the World University Championships. If they can do this then why can't the NCAA athletes who ran last fall's NCAA Championships and are "selected" to go to the World Univ. Champs (4/11 - Kingston, Ontario) do the same. The shit would hit the fan if every NCAA school looked to the NCAA for a waiver based on what the UK kids are doing.
Lets see who goes to Kingston for the US Team and if they are NCAA collegiate athletes, than they should be entitled to the "Athletics Activity Waiver".
Another major issue here is that UK college/university athletes can "double-dip" and get away with it. Meaning that they can run for their college/university one day and the next day run for their club team without any penalty. Here in the US, you cannot compete for a "club team" in "organized" competition during the NCAA season.
They say their college/university teams are "club" teams and therefore do not count. However, they also run for their real club teams (UK Athletics) during their college season and US collegiate athletes cannot.
Any competition (for a club or college)once you begin classes at a college/university should trigger a season of competition. End of issue.
Foreign athletes are good for the NCAA, but the playing field MUST be equal.