@NinerWupAss called it. It’s inevitable.
I feel sorry for any parents of children currently dreaming of attending college on an athletic scholarship. Those days are going to be over soon for all but a much smaller number of players.
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My question would be how many fewer scholarships? Athletes already have the five to complete four, which football programs have long taken advantage of by redshirting freshmen. And then there’s the increase in roster + scholarship limits as part of House that goes into effect with the 2025-26 academic year - football from 85 to 105 and basketball from 13 to 15.
It’s just been a Slow process of chipping away everything about traditional college athletics. As soon as they made the argument well regular students can X it was just a matter of time. Regular students can transfer anytime with out sitting out. Regular students can make money. Regular students can get paid by the school.
Well regular students can get paid and work on campus as long as they want. In fact the school can employ people who aren’t students.
It’s clear where this is going to land.
I do t think this ultimately ends well but since there isn’t a unified voice managing the sport like team owners or a commissioner no one is looking out for the good of the game.
Definitely a slow process as Dellenger points out - the 5 year eligibility idea goes back to the early 1990s and gets brought up on a fairly regular basis. Might actually act on it now these 30+ years later. Of course, would need to enact something that will pass judicial review.
The courts are more likely to strike down all eligibility rules than uphold new restrictions IMO. That’s been the common theme thru all of this.
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True that the vast majority of athletes who would lose a roster spot under House are walk-ons and, in turn, are football players. Of course, with football going from 85 to 105 scholarships, would think some of the walk-ons find a spot.
clt says this system is doomed. maybe “coach prime” should take care of his walk ons
As soon as they went away from being students playing a sport and made it a job you are getting paid for this was clearly going to happen.
Once it’s a job it’s going to be hard to enforce any type of eligibility rules.
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I’m very skeptical of this one since we’re not talking about separate organizations as with the JUCO argument of NCAA vs the Charlotte-based NJCAA. But who knows.
As far as the employment thing, the NCAA - at the behest of its college presidents - looks like it’s going to fight that to the bitter end. Certainly the vibe Sankey gave off just the other day while continuing the call for Congressional intervention. After all, nothing else important is happening in the world.
FYI - the USF in this story is the University of San Francisco.
Once there is a clear tie between contracts and pay to play from the schools any rules around it will be under the discriminatory practices and denial of the right to make a living.
This will be like everything else. Instead of the NCAA getting ahead of it they are going to fight it and have it chipped away at until it falls completely. When NIL was starting many people could see where it was eventually going to land and it’s taken its time but it’s happening. Same here.
The courts have sided with the players every time. I expect they will here too. It might not be this case they does it, but it’s going to happen.
The only way to get all this under control is collective bargaining and making players employees and ironically doing they will pave the way to eliminate academic requirements and eligibility rules.
Yes, in this case the judge did NOT rule in favor of the athlete.
And looks like there are likely to be some setbacks in the House settlement as well, though definitely leaning more pro athlete than not - at least for football and men’s basketball players.
It’s not college sports then. I’m not sure what it would be. But I want no part of it.
Also if there are no restrictions on eligibility then how do freshmen ever see the field or court?
At what point would it become a safety issue in football?
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It’s going to happen….
https://x.com/wintersportslaw/status/1913277151542943885?s=46
This is why there are so many kids in the portal who appear to have exhausted their eligibility. They are counting on this.
Eligibility is going to be just like everything else with this. Its chipping away at eligibility. JUCO doesn’t count, then do 5 in 6, then allow additional waivers, etc.
There isn’t going to be one case that breaks it its going to be little by little.
The final straw is once the athletes become actual employees. At that point all remaining academic eligibility rules will fall.
The basis of NIL and portal was reg students can do those things, so why not athletes. Well regular students can be in school and work for as long as they want.
Been funny reading reactions of some so-called hoops experts who didn’t bother to read the entire thread by Winter and, as such, are making assumptions about this particular case.