OXFORD - Allie Cummins of Lakota West has learned the ins and outs of the National Letter of Intent the hard way after trying unsuccessfully to be released from her legal commitment to the University of Akron's softball team.
However, without a release from Akron and her NLI, she's ineligible for a year.
Akron recruited Cummins when she was 15. After signing her NLI with Akron this past November, she changed her mind during her senior season when Lakota West finished as Division I state runner-up. By July, she and Lakota West publicized her commitment to the Miami Redhawks.
She said a factor in her decision to exit Akron were videos and texts indicating smoking and drinking among players.
"I was friends with a girl on the team and she sent them to me personally," Cummins said. "I don't participate with drinking and smoking and stuff. I feel like I'm being punished for making the right decision. It's going on four months of me trying to get out of it."
Akron softball coach Julie Jones denied such behavior, according to Cummins. Upon requesting her release, Cummins said Jones ceased communicating to her and her family.
Akron released the following statement Aug. 27 from Jones:
"The University of Akron and Department of Athletics has followed all of the required protocols in place when dealing with a National Letter of Intent. After receiving a request to release the NLI, the department thoroughly reviewed the request and ultimately decided to uphold the requirements of the NLI program. The University released Allison from her obligation to attend the University of Akron and allowed her to speak freely with any schools or programs. After an appeal was filed to the NLI committee, the University followed all protocols required and the NLI committee upheld the requirements established by the NLI program."
The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective athlete and an NLI member school. Schools are not required to be a part of the program, but most are. Division III, NAIA, junior colleges, prep schools and two-year schools do not participate.
Signing means you agree to attend full-time for one academic year, in turn, the school provides athletic financial aid for the year. The penalty for not fulfilling a NLI is losing one season of competition in all sports for one year at the next NLI member institution, which in Allie's case is Miami University.
"Signing Day is supposed to be a holiday for athletes," Cummins said. "It can't really be a holiday if stuff like this happens."
Akron and Miami both play in the MAC
The Zips softball team finished 4-43-1 last season. They play in the Mid-American Conference with Miami, who was 24-25. The Redhawks won two of three over Akron this past season.
"Their season had nothing to do with me not wanting to go there," Cummins said. "I understood they were down to eight or nine players healthy. It really had nothing to do with coach Jones. She was there for me the whole time and I appreciate everything she did. It was the situation and the environment going on at Akron that made me uncomfortable."
Meantime at Lakota West, Cummins was an all-state selection, hitting .591 with a Greater Miami Conference-leading nine homers and 44 runs batted in. Over the summer, her Ohio Hawks team took second in the Junior Olympic Cup in July.
Getting the social word out
Many have come to her aid in the softball community from all parts of the state, including Akron. Her father, Daryl Cummins also posted a plea on Twitter Aug. 24 that has gathered steam in social circles.
The Cummins family is now down to one appeal. The request for release form was filled out on the NLI site, which Akron denied. She then appealed to the NLI Policy and Review Committee with her evidence and that environment. Now, she's waiting for a phone call that will determine whether she'll get one last conference-call shot at getting released and suiting up for Miami.
No turning back from Miami
Either way, she's enrolled in Oxford and practicing with the team. Miami coach Clarisa Crowell took a shot at her despite thinking Cummins would land at Ohio State.
"Coach C (Crowell) was like, I just had to go for you. You were so close," Cummins said. "I just fell in love with the campus. She's been nothing but great since I've been here and before that, helping me get through (the release process)."
Though not as prevalent, athletes can circumvent the NLI and sign an agreement with a university for athletic aid, but only if the school were to agree.
Ohio Hawks coach Wendell Hutchinson, hitting instructor for Cummins, has never had a player in this predicament but may start advising girls to seek other ways of being signed.
"The intentions of the NLI are good," Hutchinson said. "There needs to be some sort of compromise that allows players to leave or the schools themselves to get out of a NLI if there's cause."
Cummins will stay in the Miami program, where she can practice with the team daily.
"I wanted to get started on my classes," Cummins said. "I'd rather be up here and lose a year possibly than to go somewhere else and have to start all over again with my classes and trying to figure out the team. I'll practice and probably play on another team this summer to get some reps in before I can come back and play. I'm happy I made this decision."
