re: Josh Malone has signed his financial papers to Tennessee

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How did the NCAA let this happen?

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What it does: The interpretation allows high school midyear-graduating seniors to sign scholarship papers six months before the letter-of-intent signing period opens in February.

Traditionally, midyear enrollees have signed, after beginning college coursework, with the remainder of their recruiting classes in February. This ruling gives those players an opportunity to secure their scholarships before the start of their senior years.

Universities must verify that the prospect is on track to graduate at midyear before providing the agreement. Once signed, the agreement obligates the university to honor the scholarship.

What it doesn't do: It doesn't create an early signing period. It doesn't establish a new rule -- this is simply an interpretation of pre-existing legislation.

It doesn't obligate the prospect to attend the school with which he signs the financial-aid agreement. It doesn't create a recruiting ban on other programs from pursuing the prospect after he signs the agreement.

And it doesn't replace the letter of intent, which remains the standard document by which universities are bound to prospects, notably for the majority of prospects who graduate at the end of an academic year.