[Goose]

At the [WVB] BBQ, I wish I'd asked Madeline Gates just when she decided to graduate early [a 2nd string All-American from UCLA] & try to get in Stanford.  I understood her to indicate she really came for the grad school in statistics, but you have to figure she was thinking of trying to join this team, esp. since it was down a middle.  (I'd also like to understand why she didn't talk to Hambly before her acceptance at Stanford.  Maybe she knew she'd definitely be accepted.)

An alternative explanation is that she didn't know she would definitely get accepted and wanted to demonstrate (to herself and/or others) that she could get admitted independent of volleyball. She also undoubtedly knew Hambly really couldn't help her much. She apparently was also willing to attend Stanford and NOT play volleyball. That could have happened to her.

While I'm glad she joined Stanford, I fear the grad transfer rule can be abused to benefit top teams at the expense of other teams.

IMO the problem is that given the state of the art today it won't be "abuse". As long as the program is also open to non-athletes, it isn't against the rules. If the faculty and administration of the school in question is willing to do it, it is "just fine". Obviously, lots of us don't think programs that are basically a sham to allow admission of athletes are "proper", but as we have seen with undergraduates, shams are ok as long as they aren't restricted to athletes.

[Goose]

At the [WVB] BBQ, I wish I'd asked Madeline Gates just when she decided to graduate early [a 2nd string All-American from UCLA] & try to get in Stanford.  I understood her to indicate she really came for the grad school in statistics, but you have to figure she was thinking of trying to join this team, esp. since it was down a middle.  (I'd also like to understand why she didn't talk to Hambly before her acceptance at Stanford.  Maybe she knew she'd definitely be accepted.)

An alternative explanation is that she didn't know she would definitely get accepted and wanted to demonstrate (to herself and/or others) that she could get admitted independent of volleyball. She also undoubtedly knew Hambly really couldn't help her much. She apparently was also willing to attend Stanford and NOT play volleyball. That could have happened to her.

While I'm glad she joined Stanford, I fear the grad transfer rule can be abused to benefit top teams at the expense of other teams.

IMO the problem is that given the state of the art today it won't be "abuse". As long as the program is also open to non-athletes, it isn't against the rules. If the faculty and administration of the school in question is willing to do it, it is "just fine". Obviously, lots of us don't think programs that are basically a sham to allow admission of athletes are "proper", but as we have seen with undergraduates, shams are ok as long as they aren't restricted to athletes.