5 years eligibility

Many non-athletes take more than 4 years to get a college undergrad degree.  Some can do it in 3 years.

If you had a rule that students were eligible as long as they were students, they could play for years.

As long as the only reward for playing college sports was a scholarship for education, it could make sense for it to be for 4 years.

Now with NIL collectives, which are paying athletes salaries, the athletes can make the case that if you limit them to X years, you are depriving them of potential income.  If they are employees, why cut them off?

That's the argument being made in some of the lawsuits currently.

College leaders will have to decide whether they want to operate professional sports leagues, or be places of education where some students can play sports.

In the sports which have actual professional leagues, the incentive would presumably be to leave college and go pro, as it is today.  But for the ones who don't get drafted, staying "in school" and getting NIL money makes sense.

Personally, I think it's all disgusting.  The only thing going for it, I guess, is that the athletes would still have to stay academically eligible.  But that's not hard to do; schools with grad players have very minimal academic programs for those students to remain eligible.

Definitely need to know more about this consideration/proposal.   Who is going to really benefit.  Is it the NCAA, AD & College Presidents, ESPN, Fox and other broadcasters, advertisers for bigger games and venues?  I'm not so inclined to believe the NCAA is doing this out of the kindness of their "little Grinch-like hearts".    My initial thought was college is very, very expensive so why would I want to pay more. 

"According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the total cost of attending a four-year college in the U.S. has increased significantly over the last 40 years, rising from around $10,631 to approximately $29,033, representing a substantial increase of over 170% when adjusted for inflation."   https://educationdata.org/aver...t-of-college-by-year

So, why now and how would this work for the benefit of all student athletes.   As always, JMO.

The landscape is going to be whatever the people making the money want it to be, it’s typically our job as parents to help our kids navigate the terrain. The faster we help them adjust to new normal, the better their opportunities.

This is a good place to vent, if venting and wishing things were different doesn’t slow our ability to help the kids fit into the new normal (whatever that is).

I can only equate the coming changes in college athletics to the recent changes in pro ball. Minor leaguers sued for fair pay and won, so pro ball cut the draft and eliminated half the minor league teams. Seems harsh but given the returns on the back half of the draft and the increased cost to run minor league teams – it was a no brainer.

When the dust settles in all the upcoming changes the athletes and parents that objectivity understand how they fit (academic/athletic talent) into the new landscape will be best positioned to succeed. Some athletes will benefit from the changes, some will be hosed - same as it ever was...

I am not sure that it would  benefit everyone because if you figured it out not too many schools really would have funds available for the 5th year.  And regardless most coaches, I am assuming, really want their players to move on.

This would make the transfer portal crazy.

It's an ongoing discussion.

When college sports are nothing more than a lower level quality of major league sports will the overall interest still be there?

My rooting interest starts with my college, UCLA. In basketball they’ve flipped the roster so much each year the last three seasons I’m losing interest despite their top twenty ranking. The only thing I can depend on is Mick Cronin coaching a certain style of ball. In football they won’t put up big NIL money. Rooting for better than .500 isn’t much to get exited about.

When college sports becomes about paid mercenaries the spirit is gone. I find it pathetic someone is willing to pay Quinn Evers more to stay in college to win a FBS championship than he would make if he went to the NFL.

It seems most college athletes last name is now “Transferred from.”

Add: Instead of hearing a college player say, “As a kid I dreamed of playing for State in college” to “It was always my dream to receive the largest NIL deal in my recruiting class. Where I play is irrelevant. If there s a better deal elsewhere next year I’m gone.”

I agree, JucoDad, but we don't have to like it!

Agree with RJM too.

Grad students can be much cheaper than undergrads; schools have certificate programs that cost a fraction of undergrad tuition.  So putting a bunch of 5th years on scholarship can give you a lot of bang for the buck.

Of course, that means that the athletes have to have earned their undergrad degrees, and with all the transfers that might be less likely.

@anotherparent posted:

So putting a bunch of 5th years on scholarship can give you a lot of bang for the buck.

With 34 on roster can someone tell me how that would actually work? 

(Back in the day....like 7-8 years ago) I would think 5th year players are playing for that last chance to be in the draft.  Coaches know this and award scholarships to freshmen recruits to entice them to come to their school.   

TPM, what are the other reasons?  (Happy holidays to you, btw)

@keewart posted:

(Back in the day....like 7-8 years ago) I would think 5th year players are playing for that last chance to be in the draft.  Coaches know this and award scholarships to freshmen recruits to entice them to come to their school.   

TPM, what are the other reasons?  (Happy holidays to you, btw)

Hello my friend!

Not sure what you are referring to about the 5th year player.

Maybe it might  apply to a player with pro potential who had a redshirt year or two?

In sons case, when offered at Clemson, the expectation was that he would be drafted in 3 years, which he was and where most are unless a player is considered a super 2. That's when a player turns 21 during their sophmore year and eligible for draft. In that case he may only be there for 2 seasons.

Keep in mind a coach DOES NOT have to keep a player on staff if he chooses not to.

That's basically how it works at many programs. That doesn't apply to every player but does to those who will give up the draft to come make a program better.

UF has a pitcher who was offered quite a bit of money to give up his commitment, which he would not. He will get drafted for much more $$$ offered end of his junior year.

IMO ,the more time spent in college playing ball after 3 seasons, unless injured, the farther you might fall on the draft board or sign as a FA.

Hope all is well with your family and grandbaby!

Just remembered that UF has a lefty who hits over 100 but has been injured. Could be going on a 5th year. That's pretty rare but he is an exceptional human being.

The question is would 5 years mean no more redshirting. That could actually be a good thing to eliminate the funny business that sometimes happens with redshirts.

@auberon posted:

The question is would 5 years mean no more redshirting. That could actually be a good thing to eliminate the funny business that sometimes happens with redshirts.

I don't think that's on Bb coaches minds right now.

Could be a possibility that 38 will be max roster size. That was discussed at convention.