D1 - D2 - D1

My thoughts.

Why would a coach have a 5th or 6th year player on his team and pay for a scholarship for any other reason than, 1. he began in the program, or 2. came from a program where he made a significant contribution?

We do have experience with a related move... leverage as a senior is very limited unless, as TPM said, a significant contributor.  This becomes compounded when the player is trying to go up (D2 to D1) because there is less certainty that the performance will translate.  He will likely have far better options going down.  I am familiar with D2 to NAIA transfers (including son and some of his friends/former teammates) where player gets a decent package.

On paper it’s doable. But if the player is trying to walk on the masters should be more important than playing baseball. The rules say not only must the player be getting his masters. The school he came from can’t have the same masters program. To be recruited or walk on the coach has to believe the player will have immediate impact and fill a hole in the roster. 

Alabama (football) recruited a QB from East Carolina to be fifth sting QB depth. Usually grad recruits are stepping up a program and are perceived as immediate help. 

thus playing in the Spring of 2021?  Can he try to walk-on at a D1 and attend an open tryout?  I assume he has to be enrolled with minimum hours and maybe consider trying to get Masters as a plan.

The above says it all. I've seen it done 3 times.  In all 3 cases the player graduated from D1 school but they still had 1 year elig left.  2 guys left their D1 and went to a more competitive program.  Another stuck with current D1 school.  In all cases they enrolled in graduate school at that school thus they were full time students.  Not sure how scholarship if any was given or possible.  To play college ball you have to be a student, thus the bail out term NCAA uses all the time is "student athlete", student first and athlete as a side thing.

Son attended a high academic D1.  Many redshirted players graduated on time and played a 5th year by doing a masters degree.  Some degrees were a one year program.  Not privy to the financial arrangements, but the college has a history of keeping financial promises.  I am pretty sure you have to be enrolled somewhere in the fall and have eligibility in the spring.  Minimum 12 hours to be considered full time.   You can't just show up in the spring.  Walk on try outs and cuts are in the fall.   

^^^^^As I remember, I do know of a fellow who graduated in 2.5 years.  Applied to start a masters degree in the spring at a different college, called the coach for a tryout, and there was an opening for him.   He was an exceptional player (and brilliant student) and was drafted that June.  

I'm not clear on the timeline. Are you saying he left the D1 before (or during) sophomore year? That would make him a RS sophomore (not RS junior) next season (2019). 

Is the goal just to play 4 years while spending the least amount of money? He could probably take less classes over the next 3 years and graduate in 2021. I'm pretty sure you can play in your final season while only taking one class if you're going to graduate during that semester.

MidAtlanticDad posted:

I'm not clear on the timeline. Are you saying he left the D1 before (or during) sophomore year? That would make him a RS sophomore (not RS junior) next season (2019). 

Is the goal just to play 4 years while spending the least amount of money? He could probably take less classes over the next 3 years and graduate in 2021. I'm pretty sure you can play in your final season while only taking one class if you're going to graduate during that semester.

Yes, to play 4 yrs cheapest way possible.  He played Fr and So yr at D1 the previous 2 seasons. Transferred to D2 this past Fall but had to have surgery so is RS this year. Will likely be able to start back up this Fall and play a year from now.  He is to show me this weekend what his academic advisor has planned for him so I will be able to see if he is still projected to graduate on time Spring of 2019 (He is a 2015 HS grad). If he is, then need to decide whats best option for getting that 4th season in.  Not really affordable to go to same D2 at 45k/yr and degree IMO doesnt warrant seeking a Masters.

If he isnt going to graduate on time, can he transfer to a public D1 university (much more affordable ) and try to walk on.

As far as I am aware, and I am not sure, he cant go from D2 to D1 regardless. I am not 100% sure on that.

Even if he could, why would any coach want to give up a roster spot to a walk on transfer? Or maybe they would because it would cost them nothing.

I am in agreement with RJM, at one point his degree should be more important than playing baseball, under the current circumstances.

TPM posted:

As far as I am aware, and I am not sure, he cant go from D2 to D1 regardless. I am not 100% sure on that.

Even if he could, why would any coach want to give up a roster spot to a walk on transfer? Or maybe they would because it would cost them nothing.

I am in agreement with RJM, at one point his degree should be more important than playing baseball, under the current circumstances.

 

A kid from his current D2 did transfer to D1 and plays so I know its possible somehow. Agree degree is vital, just seeking the most feasible way to do both, play and graduate. If it were football where he could start and finish in the fall to complete his degree and play a final season it would be an easier decision.

Thanks for your insight in any regard.

owlswin posted:

MidAtlanticDad posted:

I'm not clear on the timeline. Are you saying he left the D1 before (or during) sophomore year? That would make him a RS sophomore (not RS junior) next season (2019). 

Is the goal just to play 4 years while spending the least amount of money? He could probably take less classes over the next 3 years and graduate in 2021. I'm pretty sure you can play in your final season while only taking one class if you're going to graduate during that semester.

Yes, to play 4 yrs cheapest way possible.  He played Fr and So yr at D1 the previous 2 seasons. Transferred to D2 this past Fall but had to have surgery so is RS this year. Will likely be able to start back up this Fall and play a year from now.  He is to show me this weekend what his academic advisor has planned for him so I will be able to see if he is still projected to graduate on time Spring of 2019 (He is a 2015 HS grad). If he is, then need to decide whats best option for getting that 4th season in.  Not really affordable to go to same D2 at 45k/yr and degree IMO doesnt warrant seeking a Masters.

If he isnt going to graduate on time, can he transfer to a public D1 university (much more affordable ) and try to walk on.

I think I understand now, but you're original post said "ON TIME in Spring of 2020", and "playing in the Spring of 2021", which doesn't jive with your reply post.

If he slowed down his progress in order to graduate in 5 years at his current D2, with that last year being his 4th year of eligibility, is there any chance that the school would keep him on scholarship for years 4 and 5?

owlswin posted:

TPM posted:

As far as I am aware, and I am not sure, he cant go from D2 to D1 regardless. I am not 100% sure on that.

Even if he could, why would any coach want to give up a roster spot to a walk on transfer? Or maybe they would because it would cost them nothing.

I am in agreement with RJM, at one point his degree should be more important than playing baseball, under the current circumstances.

 

A kid from his current D2 did transfer to D1 and plays so I know its possible somehow. Agree degree is vital, just seeking the most feasible way to do both, play and graduate. If it were football where he could start and finish in the fall to complete his degree and play a final season it would be an easier decision.

Thanks for your insight in any regard.

Interestingly enough, there is a GS on the D1 roster where son is p coach who came from another D1 and not on last years roster, unless I missed his name. They are away this weekend, I will try to find out the circumstances and send you a pm next week..But keep in mind a D1 to D1 transfer can be different than a D2 to D1. I will find out if graduation made a difference in the situation.

Are you saying that if your son hadn't gotten hurt, he could have played this year while transferring from D1 to D2 without sitting out a year?

MrMac posted:

Are you saying that if your son hadn't gotten hurt, he could have played this year while transferring from D1 to D2 without sitting out a year?

You don't have to sit out a year unless you are transferring to a D1. He transferred to a D2.

I have a friend considering transferring from D1 but we thought he had to play at a JC to avoid sitting out a year. Didn't know transferring to a D2 was an option.

 One can play right away at D1 when transfering from a Juco. Some players leave D1 play juco then back to D1, known as a 4-2-4 transfer. 

The only time one must sit out a year is from another 4 year NCAA program to D1.  There are exceptions.

This rule went into place a few years back because players were transferring and losing too many credit hours and not graduating on time, giving D1 programs bad graduation numbers. I know some people feel it unfair, but I never had a problem with it.  You can't build a program when there is a revolving door year to year.

That's why I am curious about a grad student transferring. The exception would be that he has graduated. Maybe Rick could help us out.

MrMac posted:

Are you saying that if your son hadn't gotten hurt, he could have played this year while transferring from D1 to D2 without sitting out a year?

Yes, he transferred after he was done after last season was over at the D1

owlswin,

You have a PM.