newsgazette
Finally shouted most college coaches and administrators as the NCAA approved a fifth year of eligibility for all sports.
Too late grumbled all the four-year athletes who just saw their college careers come to an unnecessary end.
Like Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty, who would have benefited greatly from another season of seasoning.
Instead, he is a rookie trying to earn a spot on the Tennessee Titans roster.
The best part for everyone: no more redshirts or waivers.
No more counting how many games a player has participated in during the football season.
Or deciding when to pull the redshirt off a valuable basketball player.
Once the clock has started ticking with each season, might as well put the player on the field or court or diamond.
Takes some of the pressure off the coaches who had to make difficult decisions in the old days.
You can look this up: In 1981, then-Kansas State football coach Jim Dickey redshirted most of his seniors.
Why? Because Kansas State was the worst program in Division I.
It had never been invited to a bowl game.
By holding his best players back for one year, Dickey reasoned it would give the Wildcats a chance to reach the postseason.
And he was right.
The 1982 team went 6-4-1 during the regular season, earning an Independence Bowl bid against Wisconsin.
Which, of course, it lost 14-3.
Later, Bill Snyder came to Manhattan, Kan., and changed everything, turning the Wildcats into a consistent winner.
He never redshirted the entire senior class.
Sorry, went off on a tangent there for a moment.
It happens.
Just listen to me on the radio.
Back to the topic at hand Dont be surprised if ..
The new rules are tested in court.
They already have been with a lawsuit filed in Ohio.
The fourth-year athletes who wanted another season like Beatty have a legitimate beef.
Perhaps, the NCAA could have issued a blanket waiver for all of the four-year seniors from 2025-26: You get one more year but you have to make a decision in a month.
Of course, that would bring more lawsuits.
The whole thing feels a bit random.
And unfortunate for athletes who would have found a better path to success with another year of competition.
Makes me think the folks in the charge of the NCAA dont always consider the ramifications.
Just plow ahead and hope for the best.
Like always.
The current transfer portal/name, image and likeness quagmire facing college sport was always coming.
But the NCAA seemed to be determined to make it as nonsensical and painful as possible.
Now this, a rule that seems pointed at older athletes, with an eligibility clock that starts ticking when the athletes begin their full-time enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first.
Why not 18? Or 20? Because the NCAA doesnt want 25-year-olds playing college sports.
There are exceptions for pregnant athletes, those in the military or part of religious missions.
Medical redshirts which were never administered well, are now gone.
Im guessing that one will get tested in court, too.
Another weird part For athletes currently enrolled and with remaining eligibility, schools will have the option to use the old rules or the new rules.
Whichever benefits the athlete more.
What? Pick a lane NCAA.
Either you like this idea or you dont.
Dont go getting all warm and fuzzy and pretend like you are on the side of the athletes.
If you were, NIL would have been around in time for Red Grange to take advantage of it.
Sorry to the class of 2026-27, but you are subject to the new rules.
With no exceptions.
Until a smart lawyer finds some and a judge signs off.
The good news about all of this is I know someone with answers Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman and will see him Thursday at his annual media roundtable.
Great timing.
Almost like they knew what was coming.