NCAA Releases Statement on Greg Paulus

The NCAA decided to address the Greg Paulus situation by releasing a prepared statement, specifying exactly what policy would allow him to transfer without sitting out a year.

"Mr. Paulus has expressed an interest in competing in a second sport at another Division I school after earning an undergraduate degree at Duke University and competing on the men's basketball team. The NCAA encourages and applauds academic achievement and realizes this is an unique situation and opportunity for Mr. Paulus. Student-athletes seldom have the opportunity to transfer late in their college careers and compete in a second sport after four seasons of competition. The NCAA established a "students first" waiver process to address unique situations and extenuating circumstances such as this that are not outlined in our rules.

If a student-athlete wants to transfer and immediately compete as a graduate student, the college or university they are transferring to would need to seek a waiver, because in most cases they would have to sit out a year before competing under NCAA transfer rules and would not have any remaining eligibility. One of the factors our members have determined is appropriate for a graduate student waiver is if the transfer is academically motivated."

One thing I noticed yesterday is that during his interview on PTI, Paulus made it a point to talk about how he would further his academic career if he went to Michigan. That is really the most important part of this situation it sounds like. To transfer, it is necessary for it to be as much about academics as athletics, which leads me to speculate a bit about Jason Forcier.

Tate's older brother, who transferred from Michigan to Stanford a couple years ago, is hoping to come back to Ann Arbor if he is accepted to grad school. Forcier's motives for coming back to U-M are strictly academic. However, I believe he would rejoin the team if he was granted the same waiver Paulus is trying to get. Considering Jason Forcier is focused on academics first and football second right now, it certainly seems like the NCAA would grant him a waiver, which would certainly make things interesting. He would upgrade the QB position immensely, and it would be nice for him to be around his brother considering so much pressure is on Tate. I imagine Jason would be a backup, but like Paulus, he would be there in case injuries happen.