Iowa QB has to decline $25k price for hole in one.

[VirusX]

What a load of BS!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2471422

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The golf course giveth -- and the NCAA taketh away.

Iowa quarterback Drew Tate hit a hole-in-one at a charity golf tournament on Friday, a feat entitling him to $25,000 toward the purchase of a new car.

James White, 31, of Cedar Falls, told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that Tate was prepared to cash in the prize and spend the winnings on a new Harley-Davidson.

But Tate's visions of a thundering down Iowa highways on two wheels were short-lived.

Iowa Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby, who was present for the tournament, let Tate know that he couldn't accept the prize. That would be against NCAA regulations, since Tate, the 2004 all-Big Ten quarterback, has a year of eligibility left.

Using a 6-iron, Tate aced the 178-yard 6th hole at Finkbine Golf Course, the University of Iowa's golf course in Iowa City. Two of his playing partners told the Press-Citizen that Tate's shot flew a few feet beyond the hole, then spun back in.

Was Tate angry about the motorcycle that got away? No, White told the newspaper.

"He said, 'No, not really because if it weren't for football and the university, I wouldn't be playing in this outing anyway,'" White said.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I wonder if the people in charge of the payment could put it in an account somewhere to hold it back and once Tate is out of college send the money to him then.

 

[VirusX]

That would be nice, its not like you hit a hole in one every day.

 

[bobtheflob]

I wonder if the people in charge of the payment could put it in an account somewhere to hold it back and once Tate is out of college send the money to him then.

They could probably do it, but it would have to be under the table. If that was allowed the collages would pay their players that way.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I'm really curious as to why Tate taking the "prize" is forbidden. Unless the event was some sort of "celebrity" event and Tate was playing gratis or the event was sponsored by Iowa itself, I can't see how he'd be ineligble.

It's perfectly allowable to be a professional in one sport and maintain eligibility in another as long as there's no sponsorship money.

 

[peplaw06]

I'm really curious as to why Tate taking the "prize" is forbidden. Unless the event was some sort of "celebrity" event and Tate was playing gratis or the event was sponsored by Iowa itself, I can't see how he'd be ineligble.

It's perfectly allowable to be a professional in one sport and maintain eligibility in another as long as there's no sponsorship money.

Nah, that's what got Jeremy Bloom out of NCAA football. You can't take any monetary pay of any sort when you're an NCAA athlete, whether it's your primary sport or not.

IIRC, you can for instance go play baseball and retain your NCAA eligibility a la Chris Weinke, but you can't be accepting money while you're playing NCAA sports. I think it's a stupid rule, especially in this instance. Playing in a charity golf tournament and winning a prize for a hole-in-one would be analogous to gambling in my book. I wouldn't expect the NCAA to take away my blackjack winnings if I was a football player. I might be wrong though.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Nah, that's what got Jeremy Bloom out of NCAA football. You can't take any monetary pay of any sort when you're an NCAA athlete, whether it's your primary sport or not.

IIRC, you can for instance go play baseball and retain your NCAA eligibility a la Chris Weinke, but you can't be accepting money while you're playing NCAA sports. I think it's a stupid rule, especially in this instance. Playing in a charity golf tournament and winning a prize for a hole-in-one would be analogous to gambling in my book. I wouldn't expect the NCAA to take away my blackjack winnings if I was a football player. I might be wrong though.

You'd be incorrect. The Bloom situation was different than most student-athletes in that freestyle skiers only make money from sponsorships. The NCAA's problem was that it's impossible to differentiate between money received because he was a world class skier and money because he was also a high profile football player.

A recent example is the Notre Dame safety who is also a professional boxer. There were strict limitations on what he could and could not say in promoting the fight and couldn't accept certain promotional fees, but he can collect his full purse.

And all athletes that participate in minor league ball while playing another sport (usually football) receive full compensation during their stints. Henson was being paid by the Yankees while QBing Michigan.




In this example, it doesn't say, but I'm under the assumption that this was a fundraiser for either the athletic department or a charity chosen by them or I don't see the problem.