Vandy scholarships

60sdog

Senior
Oct 9, 2010
755
512
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Why the scholly advantage is allowed by the NCAA/SEC is beyond me. Congrats Dores. Hope you’re proud of your unearned advantage. 27 full schollies vs. 11.7!
 

DAWGS1.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 15, 2007
2,503
2
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Knew they had an advantage but had no idea it was that much.
If that’s accurate, that’s total BS!!!
So how the 17 do they actually get that much of an advantage?
I’d really like to know how they’ve been able to work the system the last 10 -12 years bc prior that they sucked at baseball !!!
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
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I've posted about this a number of times, but the trolls didn't appreciate it. I'll see if I can find a post from the past.
 

UpTheMiddlex3Punt

All-Conference
May 28, 2007
18,186
4,314
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I think it's "academic" scholarships. It reminds me a lot of how Bear Bryant put a lot of players on swimming and tennis scholarships.

Know this: if we ever tried this we'd get the death penalty
 

bigiron.sixpack

Redshirt
Jun 24, 2009
682
0
15
Vanderbilt is private. Lottery has nothing to do with it. They have the "Opportunity Vanderbilt" fund. Being private, they can allocate the funds to star athletes or anyone else they want on campus. https://giving.vanderbilt.edu/oppvu/


Edited. Financial need has nothing to do with it. It's just a scholarship fund for anyone they want to give it to.
 
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tatedog

Redshirt
Mar 28, 2015
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Vanderbilt is private. Lottery has nothing to do with it. They have the "Vanderbilt Opportunity Fund" for students that have a financial need. Being private, they can allocate the funds to star athletes or anyone else they want on campus.

Another public institution in this state tried it. It didn't work out.
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
22,635
16,613
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Despite what the Vandy versions of Yancy Porter try to say, they give out "leadership" scholarships like hotcakes.
 

bruiser.sixpack

Redshirt
Aug 13, 2009
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Trying to think of how many of those guys that just played are in needs based scholarship. Gonna going out on a limb here, but probably no more than 3 or 4 and we know Rocker is not one of them.
 

DAWGS1.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 15, 2007
2,503
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Ok but what is the percentage that can go or does go to those that play sports?
Have they just gone all in on baseball given it’s a much smaller percentage of total players?
With their liberal idealism, I would think women’s basketball would get a large majority of that money as well it if so it hasn’t translated into the success like baseball has.
There’s a whole lot more to this than we know obviously.
This **** happened overnight almost in baseball and it’s pissed me off.
Where’s a good investigative reporter when you need one?
 

tatedog

Redshirt
Mar 28, 2015
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Bottom line: If this type of advantage existed in a sport that wasn't mostly a regional niche, this advantage would be short-lived.
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
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I think it's "academic" scholarships. It reminds me a lot of how Bear Bryant put a lot of players on swimming and tennis scholarships.

Know this: if we ever tried this we'd get the death penalty

Can't find the previous post, but it has been a number of things that have helped them since the NCAA started squeezing scholarships. While they do have to follow the same NCAA rules, as a private institution they have had more flexibility to offer non-athletic scholarships and aid than do public universities. But it really took off for them when they initiated Opportunity Vanderbilt...a program that pays as much in grants as a family's ability to pay will allow. They no longer make up the difference with any loans that must be repaid.

Every student who gets accepted into Vandy accumulates zero debt. They offer this to every student so can offer it to as many as they want who also happen to be really good at baseball. I've read they are also very creative and liberal in how they view a family's ability to pay, including the fact they do not look at assets or net worth.

Additionally, there is an NCAA rule that states any non-athletic aid granted to, "close the gap" on whatever portion of athletic scholarship is granted must be, "counted" as part of the 11.7 technically allowed. However, as I understand it, if Vandy offers zero athletic scholarship aid to a player, then their grants and non-athletic scholarships are not considered, "counters". This allows them to offer as much as they find they need to to any specific player. If they run out of 11.7, they just have to manipulate the aid classification so that some of their players are there solely through Opportunity Vanderbilt, and considered walk-ons if they make the team.

In this way, they can pretty much sign as many players as they want, technically even beyond the ones who are put on the in-season roster, so long as those follow the rules about participation in official team activities once the season starts.

HUGE advantage.
 
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bigiron.sixpack

Redshirt
Jun 24, 2009
682
0
15
The "Opportunity Vanderbilt" fund campaign was launched in 2008. Their first CWS appearance in school history was 2011. This is the key to their success. How they get away with it? I have no idea.
 

Hail State

Sophomore
Dec 27, 2009
474
119
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But why are private schools allowed to have more scholarships than anyone else?

Vanderbilt is private. Lottery has nothing to do with it. They have the "Opportunity Vanderbilt" fund. Being private, they can allocate the funds to star athletes or anyone else they want on campus. https://giving.vanderbilt.edu/oppvu/


Edited. Financial need has nothing to do with it. It's just a scholarship fund for anyone they want to give it to.

I’m well aware they’re allowed to have more but why does the NCAA allow it? The NCAA’s sole job is to promote the integrity of college athletics by keeping an even playing field.

Also I always assumed the scholarship limits in baseball are based in Title IX. Title IX is a federal directive right? Vandy should be held to that standard just the same as everyone else as that goes well above the lowly NCAA. It just doesn’t make any sense.
 

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,725
8,074
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Pretty sure that ESPN mentioned that they’ve had 4 of the last 5 #1 recruiting classes as well. We’re seriously not talking about some minor advantage here, and it’s ridiculous that it’s been allowed to go on for this long
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
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They are, "need-blind". Vandy will look at their ability to pay through a very loose set of standards, including the fact they don't look at assets, investments, etc. Rather than net worth, they look at the family's monthly earned income minus all expenses to determine ability to pay/family contribution. At public institutions they consider loans you can take out as part of your ability to pay. Vandy hasn't done this since Opportunity Vanderbilt. No loans...no debt. Vandy pays for everything that a family can demonstrate they can't pay off of monthly earned income alone.

I've also read they can get creative if a kid comes from a home with divorced parents. They can choose the income of the parent who makes less, ignoring the income of the other, even if the athlete lives with the parent making more.
 
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maroonmania

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2008
11,380
1,159
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How in the world was Rocker only drafted in the 38th round? Did he just tell all the teams not to bother, that he was going to college? A big dude like he is that can throw with that velocity? He would normally go in the top 2 rounds.
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
113
I’m well aware they’re allowed to have more but why does the NCAA allow it? The NCAA’s sole job is to promote the integrity of college athletics by keeping an even playing field.

Also I always assumed the scholarship limits in baseball are based in Title IX. Title IX is a federal directive right? Vandy should be held to that standard just the same as everyone else as that goes well above the lowly NCAA. It just doesn’t make any sense.
THey don't have more athletic scholarships. They just supplement their 11.7 with grants through Opportunity Vanderbilt. They just have to massage it a little to avoid what's called, "counters", which are what you call guys who get a partial athletic scholly supplemented by other forms of aid. The loophole, as I understand it is, they don't have to count any grants awarded if they don't give any athletic scholly money to the student.

The NCAA is aware and have made statements admitting the advantage it gives schools like Vandy, but have decided the rules allow for more schools with fewer resources to have a chance to field competitive teams. They want parity and are just willing to accept the advantage it gives Vandy in favor of the "greater good".

So, Vandy is held to the same scholarship limits, but they have a way to compensate well beyond what other schools do that do not count vs their 11.7.
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
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Technically they all have 11.7 athletic scholarships to give. Some have more ways to find extra money, and Vandy has a way and willingness to find as much as they want or need to without breaking any existing rules.
 

blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
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We can't afford to offer need-blind full tuition, room and board to every student who could possibly qualify. That's the only way to have as much latitude as Vandy. We're nowhere close to that.
 
Jan 23, 2018
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Sorry, poor phrasing on my part I reckon. Yes all schools have 11.7 baseball scholarships. MSU and Auburn are, to the best of my knowledge, the only two CWS teams to have no way of supplementing this number.
 

13thEagle

All-American
Dec 3, 2004
16,716
5,051
0
LSU has done somthing similar things in the past. Yes they have the lottery based topps program. Each state legislator has a ss they can award to anyone in their district.
My wife;s 1st cousin was a senator for 2 terms. I heard him say more than once. I cant give that away without the "OK from Skipp"
 

tatedog

Redshirt
Mar 28, 2015
8,739
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While Polk was writing to the NCAA begging for rule changes, Skip was pushing every limit (and beyond) to get an advantage.
 

PineGroveBully

Redshirt
Nov 13, 2007
8,508
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A team just took a flier in the 38th, if had of gotten hurt he might have decided to go ahead and get paid while rehabbing in a pro system. Really a smart pick, as anyone else drafted in the 38th only has maybe a 2% chance of ever making the majors
 

drummerdawg

Redshirt
Mar 14, 2013
334
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Still don't understand why we can't do something similar. We just spent nearly $70 million on our baseball stadium, surely we can find a way to put some money aside for scholarships. If the NCAA is allowing this loophole and if we're serious about a championship, we have to find a way to be competitive here. Get creative Cohen!
 

60sdog

Senior
Oct 9, 2010
755
512
93
All of what y’all are saying is fine, except in FB and Basketball recruiting, EVERYTHING is equal, and in baseball, it is most certainly not.
 

Bobby Ricigliano

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2011
2,636
1,630
113
Hot cakes are sold, not merely given out.

I cannot believe you would cheapen the greatest of all similes like this.
 
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blacklistedbully

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2008
4,251
1,053
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I thought you didn’t resort to name calling unless provoked.

Oops, there goes another one.
A) Just who specifically did I call a name?

B) I also said I do return insults once the other party throws them out. Haven't been very successful, "turning the other cheek". Once the other guy starts the BS, I allow myself to treat them like a POS from them on, unless they apologize and offer to start over. In my book, the one who first decides to be an *** is the one who needs to set things right. That's what I did with Engie, and that's my code. I fully recognize that most on here don't have a, "code". Codes may be old-fashioned, but never out of style.

That said, I've occasionally decided to, "pull it in anyway" if the aforementioned trolls just stop behaving like dicks. Don't respect them, but don't go out of my way to be nasty either...at least for some. Plenty of times conflict is the result of misunderstanding or miscommunication. One party posts something the other party perhaps reads tone into, or another party decides the other is somehow being pretentious or egotistical just because he's not throwing enough, "aint's", or 17's around, or something similar.

Rocketdawg has made a point of mentioning I tend to use decent grammar/vocabulary. Some may read that as me trying to be, "hoity-toity", but it's not. It's just the way I talk, probably because I traveled the world quite a bit when I was young, going to schools overseas, etc.

I'm sure there are many who resent me because, when I believe something, I'm not shy about voicing my opinion, and then defending my position vigorously in debate. I can most definitely become argumentative, which can be really frustrating and irritating to some, but that's more on them than me, as long as I'm not being disrespectful in the way I respond to them. Convince me I'm wrong and I'll admit it and change, but if you can't convince me, you shouldn't expect me to just roll over and give in, just to save your feelings. Most of us here are grown men and women, and should be mature and decent enough to not be jackasses to anyone who hasn't been one to us first. But that's not how it works, so we all have to accept this for what it's worth, hopefully getting enough out of it to enjoy it and continue participating.

In any case, that's how I feel about it, FWIW. Thank God I don't look to this or any message board for any sort of personal validation or sense of worthiness. That would be truly pathetic.
 
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Colonel Angus.sixpack

All-Conference
Aug 23, 2012
992
1,219
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Small clarification here because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this statement made here. TOPS is not funded by lottery money it is funded by the Louisiana general fund and tobacco settlement fund. Lottery money goes to elementary and secondary schools. No big deal. Carry on.
 

greenbean.sixpack

All-American
Oct 6, 2012
9,473
8,922
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Still don't understand why we can't do something similar. We just spent nearly $70 million on our baseball stadium, surely we can find a way to put some money aside for scholarships. If the NCAA is allowing this loophole and if we're serious about a championship, we have to find a way to be competitive here. Get creative Cohen!

During Polk 1, baseball players were getting "leadership" and other scholarships that a non-athlete student would not have gotten. I wouldn't be surprised if that still goes on today. Additionally, many baseball players are high achievers academically and the bar to get academic schollies at MSU is fairly low compared to many other colleges.
 
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