NCAA president Charlie Baker responds to Charles Bediako eligibility ruling
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
NCAA president Charlie Baker on Monday night released a statement after Charles Bediako’s injunction to remain eligible to play with the Alabama program for the rest of the season was denied by a Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) judge.
“Common sense won a round today. The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students,” Baker said. “College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream.”
Baker called on Congress to take action to “fix” what he called a “mess of state laws” that currently exists across the country.
“It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability,” he said.
Bediako’s situation became a national talking point, especially considering he’d played in the G League after a pair of seasons with the Crimson Tide between 2021 and 2023.
His bid to remain in the college ranks, though, has been shut down, even after receiving a temporary restraining order that allowed him to play five games for the Tide during late January and early February.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
