Qhead posted:cabbagedad posted:Yup, this can be the toughest time of year... cuts. Even as we discuss this at the D1 level. Imagine these very talented players, all the years of work, dreams, accomplishments, expectations, the recruiting process, with the hope of reaching D1 baseball, finally doing so only to have it abruptly and harshly end before it really gets started.
Hi Cabbage could you explain who can be "cut" in more detail in the context of DI only? Presumably, players that attend a school as a "walk on" or "preferred walk on" can be cut, any regular student attending an open "tryout" can be cut, and (except for Power 5 where there is a 4 year deal), any scholarship player after his first year can be cut (because it is a year by year deal)?
If that is accurate, how common is it that a scholarship player gets "cut" after his first year? Off the field trouble (bad grades, criminal offense for example) is one thing. But if a coach cuts former scholarship recruits because he feels he made a mistake or he can now do do better with new recruits - that would seem to be bad business in that recruits would learn that this coach cuts scholarship players and may avoid the program for fear they would be "cut" after the first year. How prevalent is that?
My experience is with DI volleyball where there is not much "cutting" of scholarship players - there are situations where a coach makes the player uncomfortable and does not play her in the hope that she voluntarily quits or transfers -- but no "cuts" per se. I always assumed the primary reason for that is that the coach/AD does not want the reputation of cutting scholarship players.
It might help to clarify/differentiate between "Cut" and "Scholarship"
Cut: Anyone can be cut, that is, removed as a player from the team. They won't be part of the team or participate any further as a team member. They will likely be removed from the dorm room they're in (sharing with other players) at the next semester change. They won't receive tutoring, academic advising, etc., etc.
Scholarship: If a player has an NLI, then they are guaranteed that scholarship money for the term specified on the NLI, so for example, a graduating HS senior signs a 4 year NLI at a P5 school, then unless they choose to leave, are removed for non-performance issues (i.e., grades, violation of rules, etc), they will receive that athletic aid for the duration of their NLI, regardless of whether the coach keeps them as an active member of the baseball team. NOTE that these players will count as part of the 35 man roster and 11.7 as long as they remain at the school under the NLI.
Of the players cut so far in my one example, a couple of them are new, incoming freshmen on scholarship. (worth noting that there had been a coaching change, so these players weren't recruited/signed by the current staff). A couple of cuts were first year JUCO xfers that didn't perform as expected, and at least one other was a senior.
So addressing a couple of your points above, some freshmen scholarship guys didn't make it through fall to their first spring, even though they'll count against 35 man roster & 11.7 for as long as they remain at the school. That now becomes the driver. Will they remain at the school as a regular student or will they transfer to find a place to play. This is where getting cut now is actually an advantage as these guys can find a place to play this spring and not lose a full season. If and when they do this, then their roster spot and money become available for the coach to bring in other JUCO guys this spring, or count on the roster/money for next year.
I also think that this is a great example of when the NCAA should definitely allow a one-time transfer from D1 to D1 without any restriction of sitting out. Plain and simple, the kid was cut. No fault of his (other than performance) and if the NCAA truly had the student athlete's best interest at heart, wouldn't "punish" these students by limiting their transfer/play options. If another D1 who might have recruited them still wants them and has space, then there should be no issue for these guys to find a place and play in the spring and not have to worry about losing a year.