The NCAA is a feckless, outdated institution whose functionality effectively ended the day that everyone else in the world woke up and realized college athletes are no longer free labor.

Its rulebook is as thick as a New York City phonebook, which is somehow appropriate considering that both publications are equally obsolete.

What’s worse, the rules and regulations spelled out in that book are administered in an incredibly arbitrary manner.

The old joke that Cleveland State has been put on probation because Kentucky’s basketball program was found to have committed recruiting violations isn’t far from the truth.

These days, the hypocrisy has become even more blatant.

And even more damaging. Because now, it’s the “student-athletes” who are bearing the direct brunt of it rather than just the programs for which they play.

It’s all about the kids, right?

Yeah, right.

Tell that to Tez Walker and Darrell Jackson. And undoubtedly many beyond the confines of the ACC.

After standing idly by watching tradition, rivalries and reasonable geographic boundaries being tossed aside in pursuit of the almighty television dollar – only expressing disdain for the insanity of conference realignment after the damage is done – the NCAA’s leadership has felt it necessary to assert its authority by dropping a petty hammer onto those who want nothing other than to play the game they love.

Less than a month before the season starts, Walker at North Carolina and Jackson at Florida State have been told that they’re not eligible because the NCAA felt like now would be a good time to start enforcing its rule on 2-time transfers.

As if the ruling wasn’t heartless enough at face value, consider the circumstances of the 2 ACC players affected.

Jackson is a defensive tackle who spent his freshman season at Maryland before transferring to Miami in 2022. His decision to pursue a hardship waiver and move to Florida State this season was based on a desire to be closer to his ailing mother, who lives about a half-hour from Tallahassee.

Walker’s situation might be even worse.

He signed to play at East Tennessee State but never actually attended a class there after suffering an ACL tear that required a full year to rehab. He then enrolled at NC Central but never played a game there because COVID wiped out the school’s 2020 season.

The speedy wide receiver eventually landed at Kent State, where he caught 63 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past 2 seasons, before entering the transfer portal and becoming a Tar Heel.

He originally was granted a waiver to play this season. Tuesday, UNC coach Mack Brown announced that the NCAA has reversed its decision and sent him to the sideline.

According to Brown, the rules on 2-time transfers were amended on Jan. 11 – 2 days after Walker enrolled at UNC. For some reason it took until now, 7 months later, for the powers that be to decide he was ineligible.

JK, kid. At least now you can watch your team’s games on The CW.

Needless to say, the decision didn’t go over well.

Receivers coach Lonnie Galloway described the Biletnikoff Award candidate’s reaction when he was given the bad news.

“He leaned his head on my shoulder and started crying,” Galloway said. “Can you imagine what that does to a 21-22 year old kid?”

In a lengthy statement issued through UNC’s athletic department, Walker went through the reasons for his transfer and his desire for “this to be over.” The most poignant passage, however, came near the end when he wrote that he’s “hoping the people making this decision realize the stress and anxiety that comes along with this and can provide a resolution.”

Stress. Anxiety.

For the kids, right?

UNC has already filed an appeal on Walker’s behalf, claiming that since he has only played football at 1 school, he should be considered a 1st-time transfer. He is still practicing with the team in hopes that his case will be resolved in time for him to suit up and play in the opener against South Carolina in Charlotte on Labor Day Saturday.

Brown called it “a no-brainer” that the decision will be reversed and Walker reinstated.

That might be an overly optimistic assessment.

Because while it’s clear that there are no brains involved when it comes to the NCAA and its rules, the arbitrary nature of the governing body’s decisions are such that anything is possible in this case.

It might be perfectly fine to look the other way while “student-athletes” from UCLA are forced to travel across the country to New Jersey for a mid-week conference game at Rutgers, knowing that they’re supposed to be back in class the following morning.

But heaven forbid a kid wants to play closer to his sick mother or play at the school of his choice after missing 2 full seasons to injury and the pandemic.

As far as the NCAA is concerned, they’re the human embodiment of Cleveland State when a blue-blood gets caught breaking the rules.