Article on Florida State Scholarships

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ ... 033185.htm

Run hard for the money

NCAA limits force FSU to stretch track-cross country scholarships

By Jack Corcoran

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

As a 17-year-old, Tom Lancashire ran the second-fastest 1,500 meters in British junior history.

Full-ride scholarship offers were coming from everywhere. Even though he knew Lancashire wouldn't actually need the full scholarship, Florida State track coach Bob Braman wasn't about to buck the trend on his visit to Lancashire's home in Bolton, 13 miles northwest of Manchester.

"I'm not going to tell this guy, 'Hey, I want you to take this scholarship for 87 percent, OK?"' Braman said.

Lancashire was an exception.

But Lancashire, now an All-America junior at FSU, isn't on full scholarship anymore. He's at about 90 percent and yet all his expenses from academics, housing and meals are covered because he doesn't take 30 credit hours. The saving allows Braman to stretch his scholarship money.

Every dollar counts since the NCAA limits men's track to the equivalent of 12.6 scholarships. That doesn't even match the 19 individual events for an outdoor track meet. The equation becomes even trickier when you factor in cross country, which doesn't have separate scholarships.

Still, FSU was one of only seven schools that finished in the top20 in men's cross country, indoor and outdoor track last season. How does Braman do it? He has to be an expert capologist, managing scholarship money and weighing outside academic aid to keep the Seminoles filled with not only elite sprinters but distance stars and solid field performers.

Leaving scholarship money available for an addition at the semester break, FSU has divvied up 12.3 scholarships this fall for 27 student-athletes. Only two student-athletes count as receiving full scholarships.

Cross country doesn't get shortchanged. According to Braman, his distance runners are receiving the equivalent of 4.5 scholarships, although none of them are receiving over 90 percent.

"The thing that was really different when I got here was everything was track," said Braman, who took over FSU's cross-country programs in 2000 and was promoted to head coach of the track programs following Terry Long's retirement in 2003. "Coach Long said, 'Look, these are track scholarships, Bob. If they're not scoring in track, why should I give them money?' Well, you're fielding a cross-country team."

On the rise

Two years ago, FSU reached the NCAA championships in cross country for the first time since 1981. The Seminoles won the school's first South Region title last season and finished 17th at nationals.

FSU will try to claim its first Atlantic Coast Conference title on Monday at the Miccosukee Greenway. Scotsman senior Andrew Lemoncello, who was a British university champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, transferred to FSU last year and won the school's first ACC individual title. He's nearly on full scholarship.

"I knew I could live on what I was going to get," said Lemoncello, who finished fourth at the NCAA outdoor championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, breaking his own FSU record. "I got offered full scholarships elsewhere, but they just didn't seem like they had the backup that they had here."

When Braman reluctantly dangled a full scholarship on his visit to Bolton, Lancashire didn't project as a top cross-country runner. But he finished 72nd at nationals last season, second on the team behind Lemoncello. Lancashire then went on to become the ACC's indoor and outdoor performer of the year. He finished fifth in the mile at the NCAA indoor championships and eighth in the 1,500 at the outdoor meet. His personal-best time of 4:00.64 in the mile is one of his three school records.

Lancashire said he realized he didn't need the full scholarship.

"The only thing that kind of comes out of my pocket is flights to and from England, which is obviously quite a lot," Lancashire said. "But other than that, I don't cost anything to myself or my family to be here."

A student-athlete cannot receive financial aid that exceeds the value of the cost of attendance, which includes tuition and fees, room and board as well as books and supplies. But there's an exception for student-athletes receiving a Pell Grant. The federal need-based program awards eligible students $400 to $4,050 per academic year. The NCAA also provides special assistance for student-athletes in financial need.

FSU's cost of attendance for the 2005-06 school year is $12,074 for in-state students and $25,206 for out-of-state students. But in determining equivalent scholarships, student-athletes on full scholarship count the same whether or not they're from the state. It's the percentage that counts.

Academic awards that are part of regular academic scholarships are exempt from the equivalency computation.

FSU benefits especially from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Recipients of the top Florida Academic Scholars Award receive 100 percent of tuition and fees to a public state institution. The Florida Medallion Scholars Award pays for 75 percent of tuition and fees.

"We might give you 10 percent (athletic scholarship), which would be basically fees," said Charlie Carr, a senior associate athletic director at FSU. "But you could have your tuition paid as a Bright Future (recipient). You get that on top. So basically you're getting almost 50 percent of the whole grant in athletic terms and Bob is only investing 10 percent."

All sources considered

The state also has several linkage institutes with foreign countries in an effort to build economic, cultural and social ties. Brazil, France, Canada, Israel and Japan are among several countries that have developed partnerships with the state. West Africa and the sprinter-heavy Caribbean also have institutes that are allowed to award up to 1,050 credit hours through a non-resident tuition exemption program. The international students are charged in-state tuition rates.

Awards from linkage institutes are based on academic performance, which provide another opportunity to stretch athletic scholarships. Carr said the FSU women's track team benefits from the Canadian Linkage Institute. But the scholarship crunch isn't as bad in women's track since there are 18 equivalent scholarships allowed by the NCAA.

"You look at all sources of revenue," Braman said. "You look at Bright Futures, academic scholarships. You look at financial aid. You look at whether they're an out-of-state kid. If the kid is an at-risk kid, you're not going to put him at 30 hours anyway."

FSU charges $539 per credit hour for out-of-state students. A student-athlete who takes 27 credit hours instead of 30 hours would save $1,617, making a full scholarship unnecessary. But that mechanism to stretch scholarships wouldn't be possible if the state Legislature authorizes FSU President T.K. Wetherell's plan for block tuition.

At his state of the university address in September, Wetherell again pushed for the Garnet and Gold Guarantee, which would allow students to take up to 30 credit hours annually while guaranteeing no tuition increases for four years.

Track and other programs with NCAA equivalency scholarships such as baseball, swimming and soccer could be impacted.

"It's not in our best interest to be charged for hours that our kids won't take," Carr said. "We push them along. We use summer school to some degree to keep our kids on track. But let's face it, if they're playing in a sport during the season, some of our kids do better with less (hours)."

The NCAA requires students-athletes to be enrolled as full-time students to maintain their eligibility. At FSU, that's 12 credit hours per semester.

Important decisions

Hundred-meter NCAA champion Walter Dix led FSU to a fourth-place tie at the NCAA outdoor championships. The strength of the team is reflected in the 5.5 scholarships the Seminoles have allocated for the sprinters next semester. The field events have taken the scholarship hit. The Seminoles don't typically invest much in the pole vault and javelin because those athletes usually aren't versatile. The 800 meters falls into the same category because top runners in the event typically can't contribute to a championship-caliber, mile-relay team.

"And that guy hates cross country," Braman said.

Going heavy with distance runners isn't in Braman's plans either because it's so difficult to peak at three championships.

Cross-country runners face the longest grind. Their season begins in September and, if all goes well, doesn't end until June.

"We want to do certain things at cross-country nationals, but I want to make sure I'm in shape for indoor nationals," Lancashire said. "And then outdoor nationals is the ultimate goal, obviously."

FSU doesn't cut athletic aid from year to year unless student-athletes run in to trouble. Student-athletes receiving about $1,000 per month in off-campus room and board could be asked to live on campus for violating team rules or struggling in the classroom. But the student-athletes can boost their scholarship with strong performances. Even the little guys. Braman promises that cross-country runners who make the all-region team can earn themselves in-state tuition, books and fees.

Seniors Kevin Cook and Sean Burris took advantage of the offer. Cook made the all-region team in 2003.

"It was a nice, little bonus," Cook said. "I think it was Coach's appreciation for how hard I worked."

But like in the salary-cap world of the NBA and NFL, mistakes with precious scholarship money can be costly.

"I lament that at times when we have to carry someone who has maybe lost the fire," Braman said. "You better make good decisions."

[pole cat]

"The field events have taken the scholarship hit. The Seminoles don't typically invest much in the pole vault and javelin because those athletes usually aren't versatile"
I get money for books and 4% tuition from track. The rest I get from Bright Futures and not to mention Florida Prepaid which my parents did since I was born. Combine that with living at home since I'm from Tallahassee and I end up getting money back. Also with regards to polevaulters not being versatile, I did the indoor hep. the year before last and I'm going to long jump this year. It's sacrifices like this, and the fact that our sprinters and dinstance runners kick butt, that mekes FSU the team that can knock Arkansas off this year. GO NOLES.
-Matt Hurley -16'7"

[Scott Go Pre]

polevaulters not being versatile, I did the indoor hep. the year before last and I'm going to long jump this year.

Man that a funny picture of you throwing the shot! I just wish I still had that picture.