Zakai Zeigler suing for 5th year

[wtmvol]

Those were all covid guys, which LC seems to excuse, even in the case of non-UK guys, so that isn’t really the issue at hand.

Weird that he excuses guys with the covid year since he's such a "you had your 4 years, deal with it" kind of guy. Everyone's about to have the 5 to play 5 standardization applied. We're just living through the remnants of the grey area. Once you start arbitrarily granting waivers to players, it makes sense why others like Zeigler say "well, if they get to, why can't I?"

It will be interesting to see how the NCAA responds to the 1st player looking to push the envelope in the new 5 to play 5 era. Guys that have multiple injuries, family tragedies, going on Mormon missions, etc.. will the NCAA stand firm? Or will it just start a new waivers/exceptions process on top of the 5 to play 5?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

You continually ignore the questions I ask and keep speaking like ZZ is somehow being unfairly persecuted.

He missed 6 games at the end of the season and then played 36 the next year. Come on dude.

Again, you’re setting an arbitrary number…Stute also played in too many games to get a redshirt, 14 to Zeigler’s 30. If Zeigler had played in 15 should he get another year? What about 20? 25? Why is 30 too many, it was time missed? Stute has played in more overall games, same for Cambridge and others I’m sure.

 

[LSG410EC83]

I had a disgusting thought.....
View attachment 743295

I just puked in my mouth.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

fairness? How was he treated unfairly? If it was about money then he should have left UT and chased the bag elsewhere in years prior.

I believes he’s just using the lawsuit as a pretense so that he can just play another year of college ball. He knows he got his 4 years but he looks around at the confusion caused by the ncaa and thinks, “heck, I might as well sue too and it might even work”. No harm no foul. I get it.

But it’s lame to see all these athletes fighting for extra years when they have gotten their fair chance. You get 5 years typically to play 4 eligible seasons. ZZ got his 4 years in 4. Move along

It also could be the difference of his name being in the rafters or not... he's played his entire career at TN with 5 year starters like jjj & Vescovi... they both are in top 10 all time vol stats like in steals etc... but they did it in 5 years... zeigler became #1 all time in vols history for steals and assists in under 4 full seasons... and in a system under barnes that many believe around the country is less than impressive offensively...to be 1st in assists after the record was held 40+ years by a player who played alongside Bernie & ernie & multiple nba players each year and multiple 20+ point scorers is impressive... zz, he's an anomaly to say the least, he was even recruited as a probable redshirt coming into tn with the same class as our highest rated point guard of all time in KC... He almost has all of the accolades required to get his jersey retired... and seeing that we have the best recruit in Tennessee basketball history along with another Elite guard and our best frontcourt depth in possibly vol history he sees an opportunity to get a national championship if he returns... with an incredibly deep bench to help as well that would solidify him in the record books and rafters with a natty... legacy matters and he wants to win it all for vol fans his coach, teammates and himself... so I get it. The money is going to be great for him but much more than money is at stake here... he would ultimately have John Stockton type of almost untouchable steal and assist records at Tennessee with another year, even sec records etc... Zeigler is being smart and I hope he is allowed to return seeing as nba scouts value height and measurements over defense lsadership and what zeigler can provide an nba team if given the shot... if you need more clarity on zeigler and his wanting to return as a Vol please ask away... but he has earned the right for that 5th year more than any 5th year player I've seen in the SEC or as a vol.

So here's to hoping Zeigler gets back as a Vol. As youre a Cats fan, your fan base has had the luxury of riding the traditional success that makes it a dream school to so many top recruits throughout history. It shouldn't offend any cat that an afterthought undersized 3☆ recruit would like a chance at a 5th year like so many others have experienced

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Any idea about the timeframe for this case?

 

[therickbol]

You guys are weird that don’t want the 5th year to pass. He played with and against so many players that got extra years because of COVID.

The players that will use all 5 years I’d be willing to bet that majority would/will have barely played their first few seasons anyways. There will be more players like Cade who have played very sparingly, compared to ZZ who has played major minutes since he was a freshman. He is a rare circumstance. He has the talent and ability to play in the NBA, but it’s his size that will not allow him too. A player of his caliber that was 6’2+ would have already left for the NBA.

This post has been flagged for excessive logic and common sense. You should receive an email from Freak today. Click on the link to follow thru with paying the fine.

 

[GoneViral]

5 pages in a little more than 5 hours.. impressive..

It's not surprising. ZZ may be the most popular UT basketball player since Lofton. He's in the top ten all-time and probably in the top five.

 

[LittleCat]

Seriously! Asked and answered. He just doesn't like the answer.

No, you all just keep pointing at other players who all played during covid, or got clearance because medical issues.

It’s like when your parents say no to something and instead of accepting it, you cry about how the kid down the street gets treated differently and it’s unfair to you.

I already said I don’t the players getting 5th and 6th years. Yes, this includes UK players. Yes, this includes Stute. Ya’ll keep bringing up him as if him and Zakai are somehow in the exact same situation. They aren’t.

Bottom line, if the ncaa changes the rule to allow guys to play 5 years with no limits, great. That’s not the rule though. I don’t want to see guys like ZZ abuse the system when they got their fair opportunity. I don’t remember this much crying about players 10 or 20 years ago when the ncaa continually screwed players out of eligibility for arbitrary reasons.

 

[GoneViral]

Love Zeigler. Just don't like the precedent it would set.

The precedent is already set. Some of you are gatekeeping.

 

[GoneViral]

Any idea about the timeframe for this case?

I presume the goal here is to get a quick injunction, knowing that the NCAA won't have time to push it more before the season. I suspect that's one of the reasons why ZZ didn't do it immediately. They're targeting a specific court date window.

 

[Mountvol]

Cats fans talking about upholding rules is pretty good stuff imo

 

[Sugaray13]

No, you all just keep pointing at other players who all played during covid, or got clearance because medical issues.

It’s like when your parents say no to something and instead of accepting it, you cry about how the kid down the street gets treated differently and it’s unfair to you.

I already said I don’t the players getting 5th and 6th years. Yes, this includes UK players. Yes, this includes Stute. Ya’ll keep bringing up him as if him and Zakai are somehow in the exact same situation. They aren’t.

Bottom line, if the ncaa changes the rule to allow guys to play 5 years with no limits, great. That’s not the rule though. I don’t want to see guys like ZZ abuse the system when they got their fair opportunity. I don’t remember this much crying about players 10 or 20 years ago when the ncaa continually screwed players out of eligibility for arbitrary reasons.

If this bothers you this bad, why not just post on UK forums and leave this one for Tennessee fans!!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The NCAA was also pretty random with COVID. The year that didn’t count (2020-21) was a complete season with both the SECT and the NCAAT. The year that was actually shortened (2019-20) counted against those player’s eligibility.

So in ZZ’s career he’s held to 4 years to play 4 and players after him are going to get 5 years to play 5. The latter group gets to play in 5x NCAATs. With ZZ’s injury shortened season, he only had an opportunity to play in 3x NCAATs.

 

[LittleCat]

Those were all covid guys, which LC seems to excuse, even in the case of non-UK guys, so that isn’t really the issue at hand.

I don't make the rules. But covid was a once in a lifetime sort of event and really opened pandora's box on the eligibility issue. If ZZ had played during covid then naturally he would have gotten that free year.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I don't make the rules. But covid was a once in a lifetime sort of event and really opened pandora's box on the eligibility issue. If ZZ had played during covid then naturally he would have gotten that free year.

The 5th year rule is imminent. It is. People can put blinders on and assume the can is going to be kicked down the road forever (it won’t) or accept that there is a class of seniors that are likely going to take the NCAA to court whenever the rule comes out, likely this summer. Zakai is just ripping the bandaid off something we all know is coming.

Why does the NCAA get to set an arbitrary rule of which class of seniors is less deserving of the 5th year than others? The House Settlement is almost certainly going to result in 5 for 5 as the ultimate outcome.

I don’t really see much of a difference between COVID or NIL in the sense that they are two major inflection points in college athletics that have changed and are changing the meaning of eligibility. Seems ridiculous to me to think that certain players should be able to play 6-9 years of college athletics and then draw the line at one class of seniors and say “This is the class that we’re going to draw a red line with.”

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I don't make the rules. But covid was a once in a lifetime sort of event and really opened pandora's box on the eligibility issue. If ZZ had played during covid then naturally he would have gotten that free year.

Why was the extra COVID year granted when it was a complete season with both post season tournaments played out to completion? Because the NCAA makes it up as they go along?

 

[LittleCat]

Why was the extra COVID year granted when it was a complete season with both post season tournaments played out to completion? Because the NCAA makes it up as they go along?

There was quite a few smaller schools who had disrupted seasons or cancelled. The entire Ivy League didn't have any sports that fall/winter. Some players may have opted out or not even been able to travel/train. I could go on. That season was still impacted by covid.

But yes, you are right. The NCAA makes rules up sometimes. I think they are a stupid organization that makes a lot of nonsensical rulings.

 

[VolArmy74]

I wouldn't care one bit if ZZ wanted to stay here 10 years.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

There was quite a few smaller schools who had disrupted seasons or cancelled. The entire Ivy League didn't have any sports that fall/winter. Some players may have opted out or not even been able to travel/train. I could go on. That season was still impacted by covid.

But yes, you are right. The NCAA makes rules up sometimes. I think they are a stupid organization that makes a lot of nonsensical rulings.

Why should a player at a P-6 be granted an additional year if some mid-major and lower level programs had disrupted or cancelled seasons? The P-6s traveled on chartered flights and buses.

Why should players that began school in the fall of 2020 and 2022 and later get 5 years to play 5 but players that began in the fall of 2021 be the only group that can only play 4 seasons? In ZZ’s case he even had an injury that limited him to get exposure in 3x NCAATs.

 

[SlyStone]

Has anyone mentioned if this happens (ZZ getting 5th yr) how this would affect the playing time for Boswell? Dude has got to be thinking about this.

 

[VolArmy74]

Has anyone mentioned if this happens (ZZ getting 5th yr) how this would affect the playing time for Boswell? Dude has got to be thinking about this.

Unless he vastly improves, Boswell is going to continually be recruited over. It's up to him/his performance in practice to get the playing time.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Has anyone mentioned if this happens (ZZ getting 5th yr) how this would affect the playing time for Boswell? Dude has got to be thinking about this.

His playing time is likely already going to be minimal regardless. He’s going to be a true sophomore, so he still has 3 years of eligibility left (assuming the 5 year rule passes), and while it would suck for him in the short term he’s replaceable so you don’t worry about how he may feel if you can improve the roster. I doubt Barnes will be here to see the end of Boswell’s career anyway.

 

[VolGee4]

No, you all just keep pointing at other players who all played during covid, or got clearance because medical issues.

It’s like when your parents say no to something and instead of accepting it, you cry about how the kid down the street gets treated differently and it’s unfair to you.

I already said I don’t the players getting 5th and 6th years. Yes, this includes UK players. Yes, this includes Stute. Ya’ll keep bringing up him as if him and Zakai are somehow in the exact same situation. They aren’t.

Bottom line, if the ncaa changes the rule to allow guys to play 5 years with no limits, great. That’s not the rule though. I don’t want to see guys like ZZ abuse the system when they got their fair opportunity. I don’t remember this much crying about players 10 or 20 years ago when the ncaa continually screwed players out of eligibility for arbitrary reasons.

It's called arbitrary and capricious- a legal term. That's what the NCAA likes to do. They are random with their decisions, and that's why they have legal fights.

Now that NIL is involved, it's gotten worse because of anti-trust laws.

 

[VolGee4]

I don't make the rules. But covid was a once in a lifetime sort of event and really opened pandora's box on the eligibility issue. If ZZ had played during covid then naturally he would have gotten that free year.

Yes, the NCAA makes the random rules, which are being contested. That's the point.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

It's called arbitrary and capricious- a legal term. That's what the NCAA likes to do. They are random with their decisions, and that's why they have legal fights.

Now that NIL is involved, it's gotten worse because of anti-trust laws.