SPORTS

Mulligan: Extra Year Of NCAA Eligibility For Fall Athletes?

Aug 18, 2020, 10:48 AM

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the stadium as the sun sets as the Oregon Duck...

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the stadium as the sun sets as the Oregon Ducks play the Wisconsin Badgers during the fourth quarter in the Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual at Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Michael Heiman/2020 Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Heiman/2020 Getty Images)

AP – Whether college football players play a lot in the fall, a little in the spring or not all over the next 10 moths, some athletic administrators want to give them a mulligan on the 2020-21 season.

The NCAA Division I Council meets Wednesday with two important issues on the agenda:

  • What will happen with the eligibility of fall sports athletes heading into an uncertain season already impacted by the pandemic?
  • Should the NCAA stage fall sports championship events in the spring now that most of Division I has punted on trying to play sports in the first portion of the school year?

The Council’s job is to make a recommendation the NCAA Board of Governors can vote on when it meets Friday.

“I think the most forgiving, flexible plan would be the best,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said of the first question.

The council already made one recommendation last week. A year of eligibility and an additional season of competition would be granted to fall sport athletes who opt out of this coming season because of COVID-19 concerns or if they participate in 50% or less of the maximum number of competitions allowed by NCAA rules.

For a football player that would be half or fewer of 12 regular-season games. Most of the Division I teams still hoping to play this fall have fewer than 12 games scheduled. Meanwhile, four FBS conferences and all of FCS have said they won’t play in the fall and instead try to have a spring football season.

Not a single game is guaranteed because of the pandemic, and athletes are wondering what should they do?

“For me and my parents one of the things we’re focusing on is eligibility,” said Stanford defensive back Joshua Drayden, who is part of the players’ rights group We Are United. “We’re just trying to weigh all of our options. Same for a lot of athletes around the Pac-12 and the nation.”

Because of the uncertainty and so many variables, West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is part of the DI Council, would like to allow athletes in all fall sports to get an extra year of eligibility and competition, regardless of how much they play and when.

“We talk about the student-athlete experience and definitely the season’s going to be different. With crowd sizes, the number of competitions,” said Lyons, who is also head of the NCAA’s football oversight committee. “Why charge these student-athletes with a year of eligibility? That’s one thing they don’t have to worry about.”

As Lyons and others in college sports describe it, the problem for athletes is not just weighing whether to opt out or in at the start of the season.

There is concern a season filled with disruptions will have players who opted in reversing course before reaching the minimum number of games that would burn a year of eligibility. It also could tempt coaches to hold back players they normally would have played in order to gain that extra year.

Lyons said protecting eligibility for all fall athletes “seems to be getting momentum” among athletic administrators.

Ted Gumbart, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun — which does not sponsor football — said his conference is in favor of raising the percentage of games an athlete would be permitted to play and still get the year of eligibility back.

“My understanding is there will be some discussion about 75%,” said Gumbart, who is also a member of the Council.

“There is going to be a solid argument made in favor of saying, this should be a freebie,” he added.

Calling 2020 a free year for fall sport athletes would mimic what the NCAA did after the spring sports season was canceled by COVID-19 in March. Athletes were guaranteed a make-good on the eligibility, but not guaranteed a scholarship. That would be left up to the school.

The NCAA waived scholarship limits and roster size restrictions in spring sports where necessary to allow for the extra players, but only for this coming season.

The same would have to be done for fall sports. Instead of setting a new cap for football scholarships (85 in FBS and 63 in FCS), the sixth-year seniors would not count against the cap next year.

“How does everybody says it’s fair around the country when one team has 22 seniors that come back and one team has eight seniors that come back?” Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. “I don’t know there’s going to be any one way that will be fair.”

As for fall championships possibly being held in the spring, Lyons said fields are likely to be cut by as much as 75%, bringing 64-team brackets to 16.

The limited space means conferences big and small could decide holding NCAA championships in sports such as soccer, women’s volleyball and FCS football might not be worth it.

“Access to championships is really important,” Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito said. “We’re going to continue to advocate for as robust an opportunity as we can get in the spring.”

Sports

Utah Football tight end Caleb Lohner Basketball. PHOTO by Joel Davidson...

Steve Bartle

Caleb Lohner To Debut For Utah Basketball Vs Saint Mary’s

After a surprisingly successful Utah football campaign, Caleb Lohner is set to debut for the basketball program against Saint Mary's.

1 minute ago

Arizona State Big 12 Championship...

EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

Arizona State Roars Into College Football Playoffs, Waits To See Who Joins Them

Forget about rankings and analytics tied to Arizona State. Does anyone really want to face the Sun Devils in the College Football Playoff?

12 minutes ago

Michael Kesselring, Utah Hockey Club....

Cole Bagley

The Hat Trick: Utah Overwhelms Buffalo As Kesselring Records Gordie Howe Hat-Trick

After trailing in the first against the Buffalo Sabres, the Utah Hockey Club got back to their game in the remaining two periods enroute to a commanding victory.

2 hours ago

Utah Hockey Club history Buffalo Sabres...

Cole Bagley and Chandler Holt

Utah Hockey Club Makes Some History In Big Win Over Buffalo Sabres

The Utah Hockey Club started its east coast road trip out on a high note as they blew out the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

3 hours ago

Utah Hockey Club Michael Kesselring Gordie Howe Hat Trick...

Chandler Holt

Michael Kesselring Posts First Gordie Howe Hat Trick In Franchise History

The first Gordie Howe hat trick in Utah Hockey Club history came against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday courtesy of Michael Kesselring.

3 hours ago

Offensive Coordinator Jason Beck. Getty Photo....

Steve Bartle

Why Is Jason Beck’s Offense The Right One For Utah?

Utah's new offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, brings an offense that will feature a lot of creativity but simplicity.

4 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week – Week 15

SALT LAKE CITY – The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Salt Lake County. Presented by Hercules First Federal Credit Union, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our co-winners this week were Esun Tafa and Cooper Kingston from […]

...

Utah County High School Player of the Week – Week 15

SALT LAKE CITY – The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep football players in Utah County. Sponsored by Mr. Mac, it honors athletes for their performances on the gridiron and exceptional play. Our co-winners this week were Aaron Dunn from Spanish Fork High School and […]

Rice-Eccles Stadium...

Crimson Cliffs Completes Epic Comeback To Win 4A State Championship

Crimson Cliffs needed the largest comeback in Utah state history to knock off the Spanish Fork Dons 57-55 in triple overtime.

corner canyon football celebrates win over lehi...

Corner Canyon Comes From Behind To Win 6A State Championship

The Corner Canyon Chargers fell behind early but didn't panic, scoring 23 straight points to beat Lone Peak 30-27.

Siaki Fekitoa...

Siaki Fekitoa’s Four TDs Lead Bountiful To 5A State Championship

Title Thursday started on a high note with a fireworks-filled offensive show as Bountiful held on to beat Roy 42-35.

...

Northern Utah High School Player of the Week – Week 14

SALT LAKE CITY – The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Northern Utah. Presented by John Watson Chevrolet in Ogden, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our co-winners of the week were Beck Sheffield from Morgan High School […]

Mulligan: Extra Year Of NCAA Eligibility For Fall Athletes?