[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:10p).]

"Last week the NCAA gave 25 year old Mohammed Dakki two more years of college eligibility"

If its ok with the ncaa, then its ok with me. Sounds like rickochet is a little jealous of our program's standing with the ncaa.

The short answer to your question is that Coach Cass did not have anything to do with the NCAA determination on Dakki. While he is on one of the committees dealing with tennis, his committee has nothing to do with individual eligibility determinations. The A & M NCAA compliance officers made the presentation on behalf of Mohamed (and Jerry Makowski for that matter) and were obviously persuasive with their arguments. I do not have personal knowledge of the particular rules which were in play in Dakki's case, but I suspect that the eligibility committee is given some leeway to deal with "hardship cases". I am assuming, without first hand knowledge, that this is the type ofexception Mohamed was claiming.

you have to be kidding me. The NCAA has the possibilities of extending elibility of an athlete due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. The NCAA thought he deserved to finish out 4 playing years.

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:11p).]

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/9/2004 5:46p).]

rikochet

Maybe you should post this where someone cares what you think. You sound a lot like that fat, stupid rocket horn that used to post here.

Have a nice evening.

i didn't even have to open this thread to know it was rocket horn. typical fake sip.

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:11p).]

There is no correlation between Dakki and the Baylor German players. Dakki didn't play in a semi-pro arena during the time he should have been in college and due to the different status of tennis in the United States was able to come to the US and compete in the NCAA. It seriously doesn't have as much to do with age as with individual situations. Dakki missed two years due to a situation that he couldn't control. What was keeping the older players from Europe from coming to the US and playing? Another player would probably get a waiver from the NCAA also as long as he had documentation showing that he was trying to use his eligibility during that year and for a reason beyond his control (US government refusing to allow him back into the nation).

My question is whether Dakki has gained anything from his extra two years.

rikochet - Did Dakki play pro tennis, or is the only complain that he's older than the average college kid?

I don't think it's the age of players like Dorsch and Becker that is the problem, but their previous standing as professionals. If Dakki did not play professionally then your whole argument is moot.

I agree. Ethically coach cass should have not pushed for Dakki to get another two years, but with the way Division I tennis is run now days he does not have much of a choice if he wants to stay as competitive. The lone purpose of being a college coach is to develop teenagers into men and better athletes, and of course win. Now all what all what coaches seem to care about is win, forget about developing, and that defeats the purpose of college athletics to a certain extent. If i were in coach cass' shoes, i would have done it the ethical way just because he was one of the 1st people to ask that college players should be between the age of 18 and 23, but i cannot blame him because we are in a win at all cost age, and according to that he is doing his job to catch up with the Baylors and UCLAs.

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:12p).]

Just to set the record straight, Helga is not illegal, and cannot be mentioned in the same breath as anything to do with Baylor or even Dakki (which I dont agree with what you guys say, but thats another post). She sat out a year at A&M and lost that year of eligibility. She is not the same situation, and she never went to the NCAA asking for another year. this is her last year to play, hands down, there is no way for her to get more. She played by the rules that the NCAA has set down, and she is legit.

that being said, I dont see anything wrong with Dakki getting more years, although the rule may be shady. However, if the NCAA gives him more years, then that is between him and the NCAA and doesnt really have to do with Cass.

Rikochet- reveal yourself to us...I want to know who you are and if you really know anything about what you are talking about....

[This message has been edited by LadyAg05 (edited 9/13/2004 12:29p).]

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:13p).]

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:13p).]

Interesting viewpont Rik. However, I think it is unfair to compare the Dakki case with that of Dorsch and Becker. You know as well as anyone, I bet, what exactly is going on in the Bundas League in the summer in Germany. That subject has been exhausted here so no need to go any further on that.
All in all, I think if a student-athlete qualifies for eligibity under NCAA rules or approval, shouldn't they be allowed to use it? I imagine that if the NCAA did not believe that Dakki was worthy of additional years, they would have never awarded it.
After they awarded Dakki the years, should Cass have said "Sorry Mohamed, you are too old to play here. I'm glad you got your years. Let me pick up the phone and see if I can find a school that will take you. I can't have you play for me, but I know someone will take you."
That's a little far fetched.
Student-athletes gain extra years of eligibility all of the time. I bet the NCAA does not just give those out like candy at Halloween. They treat each student-athlete's case individually.
Hardships are a part of life. Many things are hardships like death and untimely injuries.
Athletes like Jeremy Bloom and Mike Williams unfortunately miss out on the NCAA's good graces. Other athletes benefit.
One player I remember who recently benefited from the NCAA granting extending years, and I think RIK does too, is former Texas standout Jimmy Haney. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think Haney got a sixth year of eligibility. I don't recall RIK or anyone else claiming foul play there. I'm sure Haney deserved it for some type of hardship.
Perhaps Coach Center should have just said that Haney was too old and to just find another school to use his eligibility at besides at Texas.
Can't wait for the exhaustive research RIK has been gathering on Makowski to surface. I'm sure the NCAA just gave that kid four years without looking in depth at his situation, too.
College sports are for the student-athletes and the NCAA is in place to ensure it. Let's let them to their job.

[This message has been edited by AgTenGod (edited 9/13/2004 10:49p).]

The only other point I would make in this matter is that Coach Cass had been working to get Simo to A & M for several years. The year before last he was expected to be here in January which would have given him two years at least. The visa issues that were previously discussed caused him not to be able to get here for the beginning on the spring semester, thus making him start in September 2003. Coach Cass never knew whether he would have Dakki for one, two, or three years, but made a commitment to help him finish his degree. Simo's situation is clearly unique and hardly the same as the tactics used by a number of schools which I believe have now been addressed by the NCAA. In any event it will be nice to have this fine young man on our team this year and next, and I look forward to seeing him graduate from A & M in a couple of years.

[This message has been edited by rikochet (edited 9/22/2004 6:14p).]

If cursing in anger after missing a shot categorically eliminates you from being a fine person then I'm out of contention and so are 95% of people who have ever played tennis.

rikHORN, i saw you deleted your first entry?? Is there a reason for that???

Actually you deleted them all?? Hope thats the last we will see of you around here.

goodbye rocket horn, you fat, ignorant, pos.

HORNMAN i hope u will be in austin this weekend so i get to laugh at you