Kory Gedin is nothing if not an opportunist.
Gedin graduated from Penn last year as a two-time All-Ivy player after starting three seasons at linebacker for the Quakers.
But only on Saturday did he end his final year of college eligibility as a part-time player for Wagner College in New York City. As a graduate assistant, Gedin attends Wagner for free.
Gedin was able to play for Wagner because of a one-time transfer exception instituted by the NCAA. This dispensation allowed any athlete who graduated from a four-year college and attended a different institution for graduate school- - but did not use up their four years of eligibility - to play a varsity sport and be eligible immediately.
However, on Jan. 7, 2007, Division I institutions voted on Article 14.1.9.1, the rule that allowed students with eligibility remaining to play during their post-graduate year, and 70 percent voted to override the rule because they felt it would create another recruiting period for graduate students with eligibility remaining.
"I had to get a special waiver from the NCAA because they changed the rule while [my transfer application] was in the process," said Gedin, who played only sparingly this year because of nagging injuries. "The rule said if you graduate from a four-year school, you can play right away."
Penn coach Al Bagnoli is a longtime friend and former colleague of Wagner coach Walt Hamline. In Bagnoli's opinion, the rule advantaged both Gedin and Hamline.
"I wish the rule would've allowed him to play here," Bagnoli said. "But it was in his best interest; he gets a free education and Walt got a pretty good football player."
Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, may be a bit wary of these transfers.
He told The NCAA News that the override would be useful because it would discourage athletes from transferring to high-profile institutions with athletics specifically in mind.
"I am worried about the integrity of the game," Haney said. "I see unintended consequences . [The override] is in the best interest of the game."
Proponents of the override noted that athletes who truly wanted to transfer for academic reasons - to pursue a graduate degree not offered at their current school - could still avail themselves of a waiver process. Carol Iwaoka, associate commissioner of the Big Ten, said the waiver process would assure transfers were for academic reasons.
"Our conference supports the override because we support the academic pursuits," she told The NCAA News. "We want transfers through a waiver process that offers quality control."
"Our people here spent a lot of time going back and forth with the NCAA," Hamline said. "But in the end, it was worth it because he's an exceptional player and person and we were fortunate to have him."
