The NCAA turned down Notre Dame's request for a sixth year of eligibility for Tim Abromaitis -- who only played two games of his senior season (his fifth year) after a season ending knee injury.
Abromaitis, who's the three-time defending Big East Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year (the first "three-peat" winner ever) is the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete.
I was honestly shocked to learn that Abromaitis was denied his request to get a sixth year of eligibility -- after learning the NCAA gave Minnesota's Trevor Mbakwe a sixth-year on March 26th after his knee injury. In fact, Mbakwe played in SEVEN games this past season before his injury -- FIVE more games that Abromaitis.
FACT: Mr. Mbakwe played his freshman season at Marquette -- he then transferred to a junior college in Miami to play his sophomore season -- then he transfers to Minnesota and sits out that season with a "knee sprain." Mbakwe then plays the next season for Minnesota and this past season (his fifth year of eligibility) he plays the first seven games before the knee injury. Key fact -- Mbakwe doesn't have a degree after five years in college (Major: Recreation, Parks & Leisure Studies).
NOW'S THE TIME WHERE I MUST CLEARLY STATE -- THESE VIEWS ARE MY OWN AND NOT THE UNIVERSITY THAT EMPLOYS ME.
Yet, the "student-athlete" who already has an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree -- who plays FIVE LESS GAMES in his fifth year -- is not granted a sixth year by an institution that supposedly places value in the term STUDENT-ATHLETE.
It's not right.
LINK:
ABRO DENIED BY NCAA
LINK:
TIM ABROMAITIS -- SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
LINK:
MINNESOTA PLAYER GETS SIXTH YEAR
