The Elusive Line Between College and Pro: A New Era of Athletic Eligibility The Southeastern Conference (SEC) recently made a unanimous decision to prohibit athletes who have previously declared for professional sports leagues from returning to college teams.
On the surface, this move appears to be an attempt to establish clearer boundaries between amateur and professional competition.
However, as we examine the SEC's new rule more closely, it becomes clear that this decision represents something more profound: a recognition that the NCAA's traditional model of eligibility is no longer tenable.