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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Florida coach Urban Meyer spoke out against the NCAA's new graduate-transfer rule in May, calling it a loophole that needed to be - and eventually would be - closed.
He's more approving now, especially since cornerback Ryan Smith used the rule to leave Utah, enroll at Florida and give the Gators some much-needed depth in the secondary.
"I like it this year. I won't like it next year," Meyer said.
Cal coach Jeff Tedford and Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson might agree; they also accepted transfers under the new legislation. Others, though, have questioned and criticized the rule that allows athletes who graduate and have eligibility remaining to transfer without the penalty of sitting out a season.
"It's a bad rule because anything that encourages disloyalty is an awful thing," Duke coach Ted Roof said. "It's awful for college football, and it's the wrong message to send to young men - that it's OK to do that sort of thing."
The Division I board of directors passed the legislation in April, giving accelerated student-athletes more options when it comes to pursuing graduate degrees and waiving the normal one-year waiting period if they decide to transfer. Although most coaches believe the rule won't have a widespread effect, they fear it will encourage programs to secretly recruit players who qualify to transfer.
It might have already happened. At least three prominent players have taken advantage of the change.
Smith started 12 games for Meyer and the Utes in 2004 and had 44 tackles and an interception. He started the first five games last year, but was replaced in the lineup midway through the season by the new coaching staff.
He left Utah after spring practice, saying he was physically and mentally exhausted from the game, but quickly began making plans to move to Gainesville.
His transfer somewhat coincided with the departure of cornerback Avery Atkins, who was released from his scholarship in June after he was accused of striking the mother of his 2-month-old child.
Smith said he considered transferring long before Atkins' troubles. But he also didn't choose Florida solely for its graduate program in educational leadership; he wanted to be reunited with Meyer and position coach Chuck Heater.
"It could possibly affect every school in the wrong way," Roof said. "I doubt that the intent of every rule is to enhance the quality of the game and the experience. But this is one I know a lot of people don't agree with."
Roof acknowledges being somewhat biased, having lost a two-year starter on the offensive line to Cal because of the legislation.
