[M T]

Admissions probably relies on athletics coaches to vet each recruit's athletic bonafides.  To remove that trust is to put a larger burden on the admissions office...which might be necessary now.

I expect many sports have lists that rank athletes, either in their high school class, or as part of a larger group.   I can easily find out where, say, my grand-niece ranks in swimming.   The college coaches can work together as a group and create such a list.  As a public list, there'd be little chance to blatantly cheat to add a non-participant as a ranked athlete.  The NCAA could even support this effort, in order to avoid these scandals.   That would minimize work by the admissions office.

However, foreign athletes would be problematic.  How would the admissions office know whether a person from Yugoslavia was a good water polo player?     I suppose the NCAA could require that all (including) athletes considered for athletic scholarships be put on a public list.

Maybe it is the candidates who put themselves on this list, publicly for all to see.

Then you're left with sports that aren't NCAA sports.   And what about walk-ons?

[M T]

Admissions probably relies on athletics coaches to vet each recruit's athletic bonafides.  To remove that trust is to put a larger burden on the admissions office...which might be necessary now.

I expect many sports have lists that rank athletes, either in their high school class, or as part of a larger group.   I can easily find out where, say, my grand-niece ranks in swimming.   The college coaches can work together as a group and create such a list.  As a public list, there'd be little chance to blatantly cheat to add a non-participant as a ranked athlete.  The NCAA could even support this effort, in order to avoid these scandals.   That would minimize work by the admissions office.

However, foreign athletes would be problematic.  How would the admissions office know whether a person from Yugoslavia was a good water polo player?     I suppose the NCAA could require that all (including) athletes considered for athletic scholarships be put on a public list.

Maybe it is the candidates who put themselves on this list, publicly for all to see.

Then you're left with sports that aren't NCAA sports.   And what about walk-ons?