Looks like one of Greg Sankey’s noble stands is about to bite the proverbial dust.
Malik Zaire has been a popular topic for Gator Nation this offseason.
The former Notre Dame quarterback has interest in joining the Florida football program as a graduate transfer, but for now he is on standby.
An SEC rule instituted in Jan. 2016 prevents UF from taking Zaire because former grad trnasfer Mason Halter and Antony Harrell failed to meet academic requirements in 2015.
However, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in December that the league could alter the rule at its spring meetings in late May. Sankey reiterated those comments Friday on the Pat Dooley Show on ESPN Gainesville 98. 1 FM.
“It will come up,” Sankey said. “I do think we need to look where we’ve been restrictive in the past because of the absence of national rules and look at reducing some of those restrictions. I’m one who would position it as interest in freeing things up without just removing every restraint, because I think the restraints have been healthy for us.”
At this time, the SEC is the only conference with a grad transfer rule in place. Sankey said he’s disappointed that the NCAA has not taken a harder look at the issue.
“There’s this notion that they’ve graduated, so let them just have freedom,” Sankey said. “I don’t necessarily argue with that, but there’s nothing in the context of intercollegiate athletics that says, ‘Oh, just go play games.’ We never say that.”
“I look at it now and say that we’ve adjusted to realities, and we likely can pull back on some of those internal policies. … I don’t want us to just walk away. I do think it’s a good conversation to adjust because we are performing (better academically).”
Eh, what’s the big deal about graduation, anyway? Besides, now that you’ve adjusted to realities (Translation: the other conferences are taking the kids we’re having to turn away because of our rule), the spin becomes rather obvious.
There will be another hill to die on retreat from soon enough.
Get The Picture 
Rules are rules unless you’re Alabama, Auburn or Florida. Then the SEC office does whatever it can to accommodate your desires.
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My thoughts exactly. I think what Sankey’s trying to say is, “we may pull back from the rule a little bit for the athletic departments who are willing to fight us on things. Georgia had better make sure Mo Smith gets his Master’s, though, because we’re not making exceptions in Athens.”
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The grad transfer rule never made any sense to me and I don’t think I’ve ever heard an attempt to explain it. I know I’ve never heard anything with any logic. Anybody know why the thing was adopted in the first place?
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Agree with this. Graduation should be the objective, once that is accomplished I feel the player should be able to choose one school to attend for his remaining eligibility. Conferences and NCAA should get out of the way, and SEC should take note of no one agreeing with their position. And they should do so immediately following the chance for FU to improve themselves! 🙂
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I am on the side of the players here, if the coaches can move and systems can completely change a kid should be able to transfer as a graduate and ideally have his remaining eligibility.
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One of my favorite songs of all time. I recommend the cover by Less than Jake. Best played VERY loud.
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Pearl Jam’s cover rocks too.
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“It will come up,” “I do think we need to look where we’ve been restrictive in the past because of the absence of national rules and look at reducing some of those restrictions. I’m one who would position it as interest in freeing things up without just removing every restraint, because I think the restraints have been healthy for us.” “There’s this notion that they’ve graduated, so let them just have freedom,” “I don’t necessarily argue with that, but there’s nothing in the context of intercollegiate athletics that says, ‘Oh, just go play games.’ We never say that.” “I look at it now and say that we’ve adjusted to realities, and we likely can pull back on some of those internal policies. … I don’t want us to just walk away. I do think it’s a good conversation to adjust because we are performing (better academically).”
Now THAT is some first class babbling. No wonder he gets the big bucks.
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Meanwhile, coaches have none of these types of transfer rules.
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I thought Zaire was going pro. No?
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The guy that beat him out, DeShone Kizer, is.
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I heard that, too. I thought they both were. Why would Zaire transfer if the guy ahead of him is leaving? It seems to me he would be in position (as a former starter) to get his old job back at ND.
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I have now read up on this. ND has NOBODY as in NONE with real game experience at QB plus a whole lot of new coaches. This is going to be a long season in South Bend. After that, there likely will be a new HC in South Bend.
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