<p>@notjoe, the league-wide rule states that the mean AI of all recruited athletes must fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean AI of the general student body at each particular school. It also stipulates that no athlete can be recruited with an AI below 176. Within those parameters, each school, athletic department and team may set their own guidelines. It may be that Yale swimming, for example, doesn’t go after kids under 210 but maybe Yale hockey can take a couple guys in the 180s. (Just picked those teams at random, I don’t know their actual guidelines). </p>
<p>I think the truth of the matter is that while a 176 is theoretically possible to recruit and remain in compliance, you’re unlikely to find many Ivy athletes that are anywhere near that floor. </p>