NCAA grants extra year of eligibility to spring athletes

[Eight Legger]

The NCAA just granted another year of eligibility to all spring athletes and is deciding what to do about winter athletes who didn't get a chance to finish their seasons. This will be a tricky one.

Do they grant another full year of eligibility to senior basketball players whose seasons weren't yet finished? Do they grant it to everyone – even players on teams who had losing records and were done with their seasons? How many would take them up on that offer? If a team had 5 seniors, does it now get to have 18 scholarship athletes next year? What about other teams like us who had no seniors? Will we now be penalized having to play against teams with fifth- or sixth-year seniors?

I feel bad for kids who didn't get a chance to play in these tourneys as seniors, but I don't really know how the NCAA can make it up to them without simultaneously screwing teams like ours.

 

[VT4700]

If they want to stay in school, and go to class, and their team makes the dance, let them play in the dance. Or, maybe conference tourneys also if their team was still alive this year.

 

[I-M-UR]

I don’t really understand why they didn’t let them play without fans, they are low risk if anybody is. As in a lot of cases I guess it’s money. Paying for the facility’s etc. However they would get a ton of tv viewings (maybe pay per view). There is some piece of this I’m not getting

could it be the average $250,000 (total 1.5 mil over years) per team they would need to pay.

This is a once in a life time event for a whole lot of these kids.

I don’t normally do pay per view but I’d do it for this tourney

 

[Eight Legger]

The problem is that if one kid on one team tested positive for it, then that team would have to go into quarantine and couldn't play. Then what? And odds are someone on the opposing team would come down with it, and then that team would be quarantined too. It's just not a realistic outcome to think they could have played the whole tournament in multiple cities without any players catching it. We saw the NBA shut down its entire season as soon as one player got it, and those guys get paid to play. At that point, the NCAA tourney was unfortunately dead.

 

[ur2K]

I don’t really understand why they didn’t let them play without fans, they are low risk if anybody is. As in a lot of cases I guess it’s money. Paying for the facility’s etc. However they would get a ton of tv viewings (maybe pay per view). There is some piece of this I’m not getting

could it be the average $250,000 (total 1.5 mil over years) per team they would need to pay.

This is a once in a life time event for a whole lot of these kids.

I don’t normally do pay per view but I’d do it for this tourney

Probably not ideal to have groups of individuals traveling to different regions if that can be avoided.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

This is tricky; they were talking about this issue (the seniors) a lot on ESPN this morning, while running footage of Obi Toppin dunking.

I'm glad they're doing it. The winter athletes, especially basketball players, present a quandary. Not only does it screw teams like ours, as EL said, but it screws the seniors' underclassmen teammates! (h/t ESPN) If you're a sophomore role player and next year you're the presumptive starter, how are you going to feel about being blocked until your senior year? They may have to grant all the athletes an extra year; but even then some of these guys aren't going to want to be 5-and-6-year students.

If they do go forward with it, they'd probably need to have some kind of selection show, or at least a "de-selection" show. There are 200-plus teams in MBB whose seasons were over after a conference tourney loss. They'd need to affirm that a team like W&M was done. But teams still alive in their conference tourneys, how do you handle that? Fordham and GM could correctly say they still had a shot. Wouldn't they have to grant eligibility to their seniors, too?

 

[RichmondNative]

I can't believe the NCAA is even considering this for winter programs like basketball. Maybe ESPN is paying them to say they are considering it, so ESPN has something to talk about.

The basketball players had a season. I am as disappointed as anyone about the tournaments being cancelled, but that isn't a reason to grant additional eligibility in my opinion. You can't relive the past.

 

[gospidersgo]

It stinks but I think the right thing to do would just be to let the winter seasons count and eligibility be done for seniors. That is the cleanest way to do it, there are just too many other problems caused by trying to do otherwise.

 

[I-M-UR]

Probably not ideal to have groups of individuals traveling to different regions if that can be avoided.

I hope business travelers etc are still traveling, right. Plus I’d assume a lot of these teams travel in private jets. I’d bet you ask the players and most coaches they’d say play. A lot of these kids will never get this opportunity again

 

[SFspidur]

How many NCAA career records would be broken if these guys get essentially an entire extra season?

*cough* Gilly steals *cough*

 

[I-M-UR]

The problem is that if one kid on one team tested positive for it, then that team would have to go into quarantine and couldn't play. Then what? And odds are someone on the opposing team would come down with it, and then that team would be quarantined too. It's just not a realistic outcome to think they could have played the whole tournament in multiple cities without any players catching it. We saw the NBA shut down its entire season as soon as one player got it, and those guys get paid to play. At that point, the NCAA tourney was unfortunately dead.

Guys if nobody goes anywhere not only is the economy going to come to a stop but we’re talking shortages of everything including food, medical supplies, etc. so is every truck driver going to stay home?

Pro players for the most part will have next season or have had plenty of them. And are they giving up income not to play, don’t know but I doubt it.

we’re talking at most what 100 people per game, traveling at the most 3 times. I just think for some of these guys the NCAA tourney would crown of a lifetime of work.

bundesliga soccer is playing with no fans

 

[Spider B]

I would love for our guys to get an extra year. I would also love for the senior class at vcu to get an extra year of dysfunction!

 

[Eight Legger]

Delta just cut its flight schedule by 40%, so yeah, a lot fewer people are going to be going anywhere. I hear what you are saying, but when the NBA shuts down because one player has the thing, it's pretty tough for the NCAA to say "We're going to go ahead with this tournament."

 

[I-M-UR]

Delta just cut its flight schedule by 40%, so yeah, a lot fewer people are going to be going anywhere. I hear what you are saying, but when the NBA shuts down because one player has the thing, it's pretty tough for the NCAA to say "We're going to go ahead with this tournament."

Then just ask the players and coaches

 

[VT4700]

You can't do that. All players would play. Think of it like football players with a concussion. How many would go back in the game if they were not required to sit out? All of them.

If this year's seniors want to go to class next year and keep getting an education, let them play in their conference tourneys if they were still alive this year, and the NCAA tourney if they make it next year. If you really wanted to keep things fair, you could not have this year's seniors be on the floor at the same time with the incoming freshman. Whether some played a little, or a lot, at least some would get to enjoy postseason play. Especially the ones that have never experienced it.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

It is a near certainty that a player or coach will test positive in the next few weeks. An official that worked the CAA tournament already has.

I think a lot of parties involved would have preferred a postponement. Heck, let them play it out (remaining conference tourneys and NCAA) during the summer doldrums. The NBA and NHL seasons would be over and it's just mid-season baseball at that point. The arenas would be empty. You know these guys are still working out and shooting hoops all the time. Let the schools sort out the remaining academic year, anyone drafted by the NBA would be offered a waiver (it would be a PR nightmare for the NBA or NCAA to deny it). The kids could opt out if they wanted to but I bet a lot would be up for it.

The actions taken the last few days will hopefully move up the inflection point date.

 

[97spiderfan]

I would have loved for them to play, but as the Jazz situation illustrates, if just one player, coach, athletic trainer, or official as in the CAA tournament comes down with the virus, how many teams are going to have to be quarantined and then your whole tournament is broken.

 

[urmite]

I don’t really understand why they didn’t let them play without fans, they are low risk if anybody is. As in a lot of cases I guess it’s money. Paying for the facility’s etc. However they would get a ton of tv viewings (maybe pay per view). There is some piece of this I’m not getting

could it be the average $250,000 (total 1.5 mil over years) per team they would need to pay.

This is a once in a life time event for a whole lot of these kids.

I don’t normally do pay per view but I’d do it for this tourney

I'm not sure why they didn't delay it 5 weeks and revisit it then.
Besides I would have a much less busy schedule at work by then so less stress to see all the games.

 

[urmite]

Guys if nobody goes anywhere not only is the economy going to come to a stop but we’re talking shortages of everything including food, medical supplies, etc. so is every truck driver going to stay home?

Pro players for the most part will have next season or have had plenty of them. And are they giving up income not to play, don’t know but I doubt it.

we’re talking at most what 100 people per game, traveling at the most 3 times. I just think for some of these guys the NCAA tourney would crown of a lifetime of work.

bundesliga soccer is playing with no fans

The child of a co worker just left NYC because she was asked to telecommute. There were 10 passengers on the standard commercial plane...

 

[urmite]

It stinks but I think the right thing to do would just be to let the winter seasons count and eligibility be done for seniors. That is the cleanest way to do it, there are just too many other problems caused by trying to do otherwise.

I think we would be fine if all the players got an added year of eligibility...
3 years of this team would be ok...

 

[URWilk110]

I hope business travelers etc are still traveling, right. Plus I’d assume a lot of these teams travel in private jets. I’d bet you ask the players and most coaches they’d say play. A lot of these kids will never get this opportunity again

Business travelers are no longer traveling. I work in NYC and everyone in my office is now working from home - even if you live in NYC. That is everyone in a 23 story building. This is now standard across most if not all firms in NYC. Only essential travel is allowed and that has to be approved. And there is no end date on this, until further notice.

I agree with you that I wish they found a way to try to make it work and I am depressed about the situation, but the rest of the country is shutting down so the NCAA is doing the same.

 

[SpiderRick]

Maybe they could play a midsummer tournament?

By the way I'm getting ready to board a JetBlue flight, the terminal is packed with travelers.

 

[KWeaver]

Maybe they could play a midsummer tournament?

By the way I'm getting ready to board a JetBlue flight, the terminal is packed with travelers.

that’s concerning.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

If they give basketball seniors an extra year of eligibility I’m okay with it provided they allow us to have TJ back for a season. It’s only fair.

 

[urmite]

that’s concerning.

Why? They are allowed to take off...just not allowed to land...

 

[SpiderRick]

Still circling.....

 

[AnnapSpider]

It is a near certainty that a player or coach will test positive in the next few weeks. An official that worked the CAA tournament already has.

I think a lot of parties involved would have preferred a postponement. Heck, let them play it out (remaining conference tourneys and NCAA) during the summer doldrums. The NBA and NHL seasons would be over and it's just mid-season baseball at that point. The arenas would be empty. You know these guys are still working out and shooting hoops all the time. Let the schools sort out the remaining academic year, anyone drafted by the NBA would be offered a waiver (it would be a PR nightmare for the NBA or NCAA to deny it). The kids could opt out if they wanted to but I bet a lot would be up for it.

The actions taken the last few days will hopefully move up the inflection point date.

Choppin, that’s the most depressing icon I have ever seen on this site.

 

[AnnapSpider]

Let’s have May Madness. All the teams will be equally out of game shape, but at least we’d have a tournament. Could be interesting.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Let’s have May Madness. All the teams will be equally out of game shape, but at least we’d have a tournament. Could be interesting.

If medical safe, that would be great. Have no fans in the arenas and I wouldn't mind being quarantined at home watching b'ball. Wifey won't like it for sure. Annap, no doubt CBS behind the scenes probably begging for it.

 

[Eight Legger]

I'm afraid that by May we'll probably be in the peak of this outbreak, the way things are going. When you have thousands of people crammed into airports in their way back from europe and tons more or celebrating St. Patty's Day like nothing is happening, it doesn't bode well for flattening the curve. Gonna be awhile before we see live sports again, and I hate that.