By Cierra Loomis on April 22nd, 2020
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Council came to a decision on March 30th to grant spring student-athletes an extra season of eligibility due to the coronavirus outbreak across America. Many students are lucky to receive the opportunity they are being given, but some will not have the same chance at another season.
While the NCAA was considerate in making the decision and the stamp of approval is what fans and student-athletes were hoping for, everything around the subject isn't as simple as it sounds. There are many questions and concerns surrounding what seems to be a good idea.
Money is a factor that some schools are still trying to handle in a decent manner.
The NCAA left it up to each individual institution to decide how much scholarship aid to give to athletes who would have been playing in their final season of eligibility. If some schools provide an identical amount to each senior who chooses to return next fall, they would be in well over $1 million. Some schools may give the same amount or less to their senior student-athletes, but it depends on how many of them elect to return. Alabama shortstop signee Caden Rose said:
He definitely is not wrong. College baseball across the United States has changed and it will this way for an undecided amount of time.
So far, the only conference to deny the extra year of eligibility to its student-athletes is the Ivy League. While it may seem that the decision is based on money, it is because of the longstanding policies that make sure athletic opportunities are granted and kept for only undergraduates. The question of whether or not more schools will follow in their footsteps is yet to be determined.
Another question being raised is what will happen to the incoming freshmen class that was scheduled to replace seniors who originally were supposed to leave the field?
A typical and standard Divison I program is only allowed 35 rostered players and 27 of them can be on athletic aid. The 11.7 scholarships each school receives will apply to the players that were projected and expected on the roster.
Any seniors who decide to return will not be part of the 11.7 scholarships handed out but at the same time, they can receive athlete aid up to the amount of the previous scholarship they were on before they graduated. A big question is, will players receive the amount they were previously given, or will they be given less and have to pay out more than they expected? Alabama baseball pitcher signee Logan Morris commented:
The fifth-year of playing time is going to have a lasting effect on college baseball for the next few years since the "super-class" consists of five classes on campus. It is something that coaches, and players will not see the end of until 2023-2024 when most of the athletes have finished their eligibility
Overflowing rosters of 40 or more players will be the new normal for a while due to the incoming class that is eager to play and any returning seniors wanting to complete their final season. At the same time, another Alabama shortstop signee Bryce Eblin believes:
There's no telling what the big conferences will choose to do, or how other universities will handle the challenge they have been given and will face during the fall season. While seniors who choose to make their way back to the diamond for one last season, one thing is certain, there are still many questions surrounding the NCAA's extra season decision.
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