Other 2020s getting screwed?

Yes, may kids are losing out. Time to make the inevitable "adjustment" by looking at other levels...Maybe a JUCO that feeds into that D-1, making sure credit hours transfer. Best of luck!

When the NCAA made the ruling to grant another year of eligibility to spring sport athletes there was a lot of discussion about the potential for this to happen. Look in the threads about NCAA giving another year....  Paula is right about the need to change your plan and she is also right that JuCo is the most sensible option for continuing to play baseball (given the circumstances). Just do your homework and pick the right one. 

I guess I'm not feeling quite as willing to roll over as that. The school essentially restricted my son from looking at other schools, pursuing other options for 9 months (longer if you count the verbal commitment), and now they are telling him to break his own contract because they actually can't legally break it. That seems like fraud to me or at least restraint of trade. Student athletes should have some recourse in situations like this, but the school and NCAA has all the power. It's bullshit.

@Jam24 posted:

I guess I'm not feeling quite as willing to roll over as that. The school essentially restricted my son from looking at other schools, pursuing other options for 9 months (longer if you count the verbal commitment), and now they are telling him to break his own contract because they actually can't legally break it. That seems like fraud to me or at least restraint of trade. Student athletes should have some recourse in situations like this, but the school and NCAA has all the power. It's bullshit.

No doubt about that! As Absorber has advocated on this site, you have the right to hold your ground and force the school to honor their agreement. But if you do that your son will most likely be outcast and won’t be a part of the baseball program in any way. So it comes down to a decision about continuing baseball or not. If the decision is made to continue playing that means finding a new school. About the only way you can fight back is to make known the name of the school. Bad publicity isn’t good for any college baseball program and karma is a bitch. It will catch up with them eventually. 

Exactly - it's a lose/lose situation for him. Before making the school public, I'm trying to understand if this is a widespread issue or if other schools have managed some way around this. If 50% of D1 schools are doing this, it's a little bit different than if they are the only one who is dealing with the problem this particular way. I hear that it is widespread but I don't see anyone else talking about it, so it makes me think other programs have found a way to keep seniors/juniors and honor the NLIs of freshmen. I don't see how that is economically feasible but I'm curious to know more before I vilify the school directly.

It is happening to some extent a lot of places. But this is the first I have heard of it happening to 7 kids in one recruiting class. Although it doesn’t surprise me. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now but from a baseball perspective things could actually turn out better - especially if your son is a position player. It’s really not a good situation to be the next to last guy on the roster. 

Some Jucos are holding scholarships back in anticipation of what you are talking about. It wasn’t hard to see this coming. I would suggest that you get in touch with any Jucos that showed interest during the recruiting process and see where they stand. It’s going to be next to impossible to find another 4 year school that’s not in the same situation as the school that’s asking you to leave. 

It hasn't happened at our school, or at least it hasn't happened yet. 7 from one class is pretty surprising, I would expect one or two guys getting a good chunk of money. 

As for your son - what was the conversation? Was it a we don't have the money conversation or was it a we don't think you'll get playing time situation? If it was a we can't afford it conversation then you could try your luck and stay, especially if it's at a P5 where that money is locked up for four years. But if it's a mid major or lower tiered D1 where it's renewed annually I'd say he's SOL. 

Staying is a gamble, but if it was made clear that this was a financial issue and not an ability issue that is the only time I would suggest possibly going that route. The other reason you may want to consider that is because it is so late in the game and with rosters already downsizing it's unlikely he'd be able to find another D1 home. Juco is always an option but there are reasons why that may not work for some families. 

I know of two families this happened to in the past. One was a P who had a shaky freshman year in a P5. He was on a large scholarship and they sat him down and told him he wouldn't play. They had a hunch it was about the money. He said thanks, but the school is too cheap, this is why I chose _______,  I'm going to stay and fight for playing time. He stayed and was drafted as a weekend starter a few years later. Another player was cut to free up money a few days later. 

In the other situation, the player was told he'd never play at that school and they recommended a transfer. He wore shorts and a t-shirt the rest of his career while he charted pitches and held the radar gun during their super regional run. 

It's really up to your son. It's BS but you have to be able to read the room and gauge the coaches. If he calls and says I want to stay - do they say ok great are you sure or do they get loud and start telling him off? I don't think this was as much on the NCAA as it was on the MLBPA who agreed to an 80% shortened draft. 

Jam24,

What has happened to your son is morally and ethically wrong, but it happens quite often. It's because, IMO some coaches don't belong being coaches.

The coach should have had this figured out back in March. Most have a program that helps coaches manage their budget.  He knew what could have been the scenario.  How he handled this situation probably is a warning and maybe a sign that your son should move on. What I am wondering is why any coach would give a senior who graduated or just had a few credits to take, any money. 

And I agree that these guys should be called out. I always believed the opposite, but when you see things from the other side you know it's wrong.  Before your son decides to move on, you could contact the AD.

I see that you are from the Seattle area. I am going to assume that your son was headed to either one of the D1 programs. SMH

What's wild is that the returning seniors do not count against the 11.7 and aren't required to receive any money. Unless the HC planned to have 5 or 6 guys drafted in rounds 6-40 this really should not have been an issue. 

I'd expose once your son finds a new home. There are a lot of people who come on here looking for answers about programs, I think putting that information out there is extremely helpful. Especially when it isn't a talent issue. If you can't play there you can't play there. But if there is 7 players worth of inability to budget properly that reflects poorly on a program. 

Does it benefit you - not likely. Would it be nice to see somebody else avoid the same situation - probably. 

@TPM posted:

I see that you are from the Seattle area. I am going to assume that your son was headed to either one of the D1 programs. SMH

There are 4 D1 programs in Washington state. Over the years I have heard a lot of negative comments about one of them in particular. 

@PABaseball posted:

What's wild is that the returning seniors do not count against the 11.7 and aren't required to receive any money. Unless the HC planned to have 5 or 6 guys drafted in rounds 6-40 this really should not have been an issue. 

I'd expose once your son finds a new home. There are a lot of people who come on here looking for answers about programs, I think putting that information out there is extremely helpful. Especially when it isn't a talent issue. If you can't play there you can't play there. But if there is 7 players worth of inability to budget properly that reflects poorly on a program. 

Does it benefit you - not likely. Would it be nice to see somebody else avoid the same situation - probably. 

Good post. Unlimited roster next year and 11.7 for 32.  Poor planning.

I'm sorry that your son is in this situation. The ripple effects of the rushed NCAA decision and smaller draft are so infuriating. Several of my son's friends (incoming 2020 players) have been "asked" to de-commit from D1 schools and encouraged to go to JuCo for a year and try again as transfers... unfortunately, the JuCos in our area will likely scrap athletics for the upcoming year so they are then left with literally no in-state options :-( It seems the NLI is not worth the paper it's printed on...

Thanks for all the responses. I agree that the school should have seen this coming in March and at least put out a warning. @PABaseball - I didn't realize the seniors don't count against the 11.7. So how does that work? They keep their money but there is stil 11.7 to go around to the remaining 4 years of kids? If so, this really is a draft issue, and it also means they totally over-subscribed their class and saw this coming a mile away.

Also - @TPM it's not a Washington school, but we have heard the same about one of them.

That's is so terrible to hear. I completely agree that this is an unethical move on the part of the school. I wish your son best of luck and hope for a good outcome. 

Sorry about your situation, that sucks. My 2020 goes to a weaker D1. This hasn't happened there. The coach told the incoming class on a Zoom call a few weeks back that the roster will likely be 37 this year though.

@BBMomAZ posted:

I'm sorry that your son is in this situation. The ripple effects of the rushed NCAA decision and smaller draft are so infuriating. Several of my son's friends (incoming 2020 players) have been "asked" to de-commit from D1 schools and encouraged to go to JuCo for a year and try again as transfers... unfortunately, the JuCos in our area will likely scrap athletics for the upcoming year so they are then left with literally no in-state options :-( It seems the NLI is not worth the paper it's printed on...

Any contract is only as strong as the least committed party. 

Someone help me out. I am under the impression that ANY money given out counts against the 32. Originally the seniors didn't count against the 35 man roster but not there is no roster limit?