Jacob Busic transfer

Mixed thoughts.
If a Midshipman or Cadet is given a Rhodes scholarship (or other post graduate opportunities), they are given the opportunity to pursue this. But an athlete wanting to do so? Nope.
Also, the portal and NIL (name, image, likeness) money has changed the landscape of D1 athletics.
Some will say the programs should move to D2 or 3. That briefs well, but it would also mean eliminating many programs that are funded by the football teams.
Interesting times. I’m not sure how Busic is paying back the money he owes. That isn’t really covered in this article (or I missed it), and other articles are behind pay walls.

Rhodes scholars will get a graduate degree from the University of Oxford. I think that's a win for both the student and the military

Isn't a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

Ivy22 said:

Rhodes scholars will get a graduate degree from the University of Oxford. I think that's a win for both the student and the military

Isn't a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

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So who gets to go to grad school and who doesn’t? An athlete attending grad school would get a graduate degree from a university. Is it not a win for the military and the student if an athlete gets a graduate degree?
Isn’t a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

The various articles state he is enrolling at UCLA as a grad student. That indicates he will finish his undergrad at USNA and then withdraw. One of the articles stated he is using NIL money to pay off his USNA commitment. Not sure how this is all going to work out but interesting to watch. To the point of allowing a grad degree then commission, then what happens if he wants to go pro? Another delay?

I think the larger issue is regarding SA fifth years. I know with the COVID year and other things we are seeing 7th and even 8th year players in sports, which is just crazy to think about. I know during COVID USAFA gave the option to go home for the year and then return. I do believe that was an athletic move. That gave a red shirt year. Army has been using fifth years some. I think I had read Army had around a dozen this year. Overall USMA tends to have more Dec grads than Navy (not sure how many USAFA had). I believe Navy had 6-7 this year and Army had 25-26. Navy has sparingly used this for athletics. It’s generally something that drove an athlete to need to step aside. As far as how many of these were athletes, not sure. I know none were football or basketball at Navy. I would like to see consistency in fifth year usage and also pro policy for grads.

UHBlackhawk said:

So who gets to go to grad school and who doesn’t? An athlete attending grad school would get a graduate degree from a university. Is it not a win for the military and the student if an athlete gets a graduate degree?
Isn’t a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

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Hmm, maybe I misunderstood the original post. If the athlete pursues one of the grad programs offered to all cadets and midshipmen, and then just happens to play his last year of NCAA eligibility while he is a grad student in said program, then I don't see a problem with that. There are several opportunities for students at SAs or in ROTC to pursue grad school right after commissioning.

To answer your question on who gets the scholarships for grad degrees, a program like the Rhodes scholarship (which was mentioned in your original post) has a whole application process that involves getting endorsed by the college a student is attending/attended as an undergrad. You don't have to be an athlete to apply for it. Other scholarships, such as Truman and Marshall, have similar application requirements. It would seem counterintuitive to have a midshipman, endorsed by USNA themselves in the application process, win a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford, and then be denied by USNA/the Navy the opportunity to use it.

Interesting- Coach Ken just was named tight ends coach at UCLA.

A1Janitor said:

Interesting- Coach Ken just was named tight ends coach at UCLA.

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He was with UCLA this past season in a non-field coaching role. He was something leadership development coach or something made up. But definitely Busic is there because of Coach Ken.

NavyHoops said:

He was with UCLA this past season in a non-field coaching role. He was something leadership development coach or something made up. But definitely Busic is there because of Coach Ken.

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I read about Coach Ken taking the position - and his prior role the year before, before I saw the transfer news. I am happy for him.

UHBlackhawk said:

Mixed thoughts.
If a Midshipman or Cadet is given a Rhodes scholarship (or other post graduate opportunities), they are given the opportunity to pursue this. But an athlete wanting to do so? Nope.
Also, the portal and NIL (name, image, likeness) money has changed the landscape of D1 athletics.
Some will say the programs should move to D2 or 3. That briefs well, but it would also mean eliminating many programs that are funded by the football teams.
Interesting times. I’m not sure how Busic is paying back the money he owes. That isn’t really covered in this article (or I missed it), and other articles are behind pay walls.

Former Navy Edge Rusher Jacob Busic Commits to UCLA, Becomes Fifth Transfer Heading to Bruins

UCLA continued to replenish its pass rush Friday, landing a commitment from former Navy edge rusher Jacob Busic, according to the Capital Gazette. Busic’s announcement comes two days after the…

bvmsports.com

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Honest question. Is the football program profitable? The majority of Div. 1 programs are not.

UHBlackhawk said:

So who gets to go to grad school and who doesn’t? An athlete attending grad school would get a graduate degree from a university. Is it not a win for the military and the student if an athlete gets a graduate degree?
Isn’t a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

Click to expand...

Just writing below to illuminate the process for graduate education in the Navy. This guy hasn't graduated and isn't an officer. The Navy will treat him like any other guy that DOR'd following 2 for 7--most likely he'll get a bill. It'll only get interesting if the Navy insists on enlisted service, which they haven't done in a long while.

You get to go to grad school when and how the Navy chooses, on orders, unless you use your own GI bill and TA for it.

There's a list of authorized graduate programs. There is a specific process for most graduate education programs that includes an approval process for the specific curriculum and education plan and ensuring the program aligns with current needs of the Navy and the officer community in question (determined by subspecialty code alignment to billet requirements).

Depending on community there may be a community-specific screening or a board process in addition to Big Navy requirements. For example, SWO has talent management boards that require DHRB before being able to apply for any of the opportunities provided.

Rhodes, Marshall, Olmsted, Stamps, Gates-Cambridge, foreign war colleges, etc. have specific exceptions to policy. UCLA is not on that list.

For other programs, you don't get to just go and study Egyptian anthropology or whatever you feel like. It's national security studies, nuclear engineering, public policy, government, etc., something of use to the Navy. An education plan is submitted to the Naval Postgraduate School for approval, regardless of what civilian institution it might be.

Ivy22 said:

Isn't a graduate degree necessary eventually for officer promotion?

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Technically, no. It's just "highly recommended" for "best qualified" officers (and supported by promotion statistics).

It's like when you get a "promotable" FITREP, and you're *technically* recommended for the next rank, but in some situations being "promotable" is a career derailment.

There's a lot of unspoken "rules." Always ask a senior officer for mentorship.

WestCoastRefugee said:

Honest question. Is the football program profitable? The majority of Div. 1 programs are not.

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Yes. The Army Navy tv rights are pretty incredible.

WestCoastRefugee said:

Honest question. Is the football program profitable? The majority of Div. 1 programs are not.

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Last I heard was that USNA football is the only profitable sport, basketball or lax (can't remember which one) breaks relatively even, and everything else operates at a loss.