Question About NCAA Eligibility

[colchar]

Here's a question regarding NCAA eligibility:

I know that if a player has played pro, or even just signed a pro contract, he is not eligible to play in the NCAA as a scholarship athlete. But if he was to pay his own way could he walk-on in the NCAA? Or is he allowed to play in the NCAA providing he plays in a sport other than the one in which he played pro/signed a contract?

I know Trajan signed a pro contract with the Padres organization so did he walk-on and pay his own way at Duke or was he allowed to be a scholarship athlete because he was playing a different sport?

[rockymtn devil]

Here's a question regarding NCAA eligibility:

I know that if a player has played pro, or even just signed a pro contract, he is not eligible to play in the NCAA as a scholarship athlete. But if he was to pay his own way could he walk-on in the NCAA? Or is he allowed to play in the NCAA providing he plays in a sport other than the one in which he played pro/signed a contract?

I know Trajan signed a pro contract with the Padres organization so did he walk-on and pay his own way at Duke or was he allowed to be a scholarship athlete because he was playing a different sport?

I'm no expert, but I don't believe it's as cut-and-dry as signing a pro contract abrogating eligibility. I think it depends on a) the sport and b) when you take the money associated with the contract.

Hockey players, for example, are often contractually tied to an NHL team while playing NCAA college hockey. But, I believe they cannot receive any benefits from the team that owns their rights as long as they are playing college hockey. Also, players often sign baseball contracts but end up playing other sports (like Trajan). These players cannot receive compensation from the MLB team that signs them while they are playing college sports. The situation I'm not sure about is where a player signs a baseball contract, plays baseball but then decides to go to college to play football or another sport. Current Ohio State backup QB Joe Bauserman is in that boat, but he's definitely a scholarship player and he definitely got paid by the Pittsburgh Pirates for several years.

But, someone like Jeremy Bloom was ruled ineligible by the NCAA because he was a professional skier while also playing football at the University of Colorado.

In the end, I think it comes down the bizarre mind of the NCAA. There is no rhyme or reason. Joe Bauserman or Chris Weinke can play MLB baseball and get paid, and then play college football, but Jeremy Bloom can't compete in professional skiing events and play college football. The NCAA is a terrible organization with hypocritical, contradictory stances on everything.

[colchar]

Also, a hockey player who plays Major Junior hockey in Canada cannot play in the NCAA because they are considered to be professionals due to the fact that they are paid a living allowance while playing Junior.

When I played Junior years ago we were warned when we signed with the team that, if we were considering going to the NCAA, we would not be eligible due to having played junior.