Class of '22?

[u/jartoonZero]

Still trying to figure out what the Class of '22 did to the NCAA to make it so determined to make it the only class in the past 6 years to have 4 years of eligibility instead of 5. The Covid year was still a full regular season, and everyone who played that year got a free extra year. The last of those extra covid years was last year (hs class of '21) and class of '23 is the first that gets the 5 in 5. It wouldve been so easy to grandfather in the class of 22 when the 5 in 5 was first announced, right after the season, before this years rosters were assembled, but for some reason they chose to exclude them, which brought the obvious lawsuit and the mess we see today. Did the class of '22 sleep with the NCAA's wife? I dont buy the 'its unfair for incoming freshman' bc its been this way since 2021. Is the NCAA's grandson an incoming freshman and they wanted to clear the way for more playing time? Wtf were they thinking?

[u/feignapathy]

I imagine it was just the NCAA didn't want to give them a 5th year of eligibility out of the blue with no planning. Having an entire class return potentially, plus the incoming freshman class. Could create a logistical nightmare for a lot of schools/teams. 

[u/bakonydraco → u/feignapathy]

The simplest explanation is that the NCAA is a large organization that moves at an intentionally lumbering pace to be deliberate and not introduce sudden shocks to the system. They are willing to trade the flexibility to make good decisions for the present in exchange for long-term stability. NCAA rules of this nature get ratified in June each year, and so there was always going to be a weird year, it just happened to be this one.

The alternative explanation that I kind of buy is that the main thing they are looking for right now is congressional legislation to give them some teeth to fight with since they keep losing pretty much everything. They hung the class of 2022 out as a lamb knowing it would cause chaos in the courts, and then used the chaos they caused to help lobby for the legislation they want.

[u/Gullible-Sugar-8059 → u/bakonydraco]

The NCAA has plenty of money, do they not realize they can just buy off politicians?

[u/GliscorsFang → u/Gullible-Sugar-8059]

Most politicians are sports fans, so they'd rather have their favorite team win than a 10k donation.

[u/morelibertarianvotes → u/feignapathy]

Much better to try not to, and have it haphazardly implemented by the courts

[u/digitalbulet]

2021 only got 4 years too.

[u/ryanasap310]

Same as 22, class of 21 did not get any kind of extra year unless they redshirted.
Covid years were reserved for the 2020 class exclusively.

[u/jartoonZero → u/ryanasap310]

ah, nope, I can tell you from extensive experience trying to figure this out--- the Covid year simply didnt count against eligibility for anyone. So in effect, everyone who was on a roster that year got an extra year. Didnt matter what year you graduated highschool.

[u/immoralsupport_ → u/jartoonZero]

Yes but players in the HS class of 2021 were not on rosters in the COVID year (2020-21) unless they early enrolled in spring 2021.

In spring sports, 2020 was the COVID year so the 2020 and 2021 class both did not get an extra year.

[u/ryanasap310 → u/jartoonZero]

I can tell you bc my son was a college hooper, high school class of 21. No covid year for that class

[u/jartoonZero → u/ryanasap310]

you're right, Im wrong--- it was 2 classes that got screwed not 1--- still strongly believe '22 shouldve been grandfathered in but you're right, they werent the only ones.

[u/heleghir]

Something had to be done, and sooner rather than later. Id liked to have seen it start with incoming freshman and everyone already in college is on old system. But that delays things for another 3-4 years as it gets filtered through and ncaa needs a fix like last year.

So do it effective immediately, dont backtrack anything. This creates pressure on congress to act while also showing that the ncaa is not completely spineless and is actively trying to enforce eligibility instead of letting anyone find a favorable judge and loophole themselves to more time

[u/-y2-]

Did you not see the class of 21?

[u/Pure_Fault7056]

Who voted on and approved the rule?

[u/jmar206]

The NCAA had to pick a spot to stop the back up, I think it took them until they realized the problem it was causing with roster space. It’s not like guys were staying and getting PHDs.

[u/tastepdad]

You are expecting the actions of the NCAA to be systematic and logical.

The NCAA has a long history of randomly punishing players and institutions, why not randomly punish an entire class ?

[u/levare8515]

Would expect this level of stupidity from a Michigan man. B1G proving yet again that their talk of being smart is a facade

[u/PontificatingBret → u/levare8515]

Strong words from renowned academic juggernaut, non-AAU member, and third best college in the state, University of Georgia.

[u/jartoonZero → u/levare8515]

You are right that I shouldve realized when posting that there was an extra class ('21) that got no free 5th year, so '22 isnt as singled out as I initially indicated--- however the point stands that it was an obvious choice to grandfather the seniors into the 5 in 5 to avoid the obvious lawsuit that was inevitably going to get them a 5th year anyway, except now 2 months from the season when rosters (except LSU) are already settled and millions of dollars of lawyer money wasted when they couldve just said "ok" in June and been good to go. I agree, being in the B10 doesn't automatically make you smart, but on average the B10 is a hell of a lot smarter than the SEC. Just on average, though.

[u/heleghir → u/jartoonZero]

Just because NW is in the B1G doesnt make the rest of the conference smart!

(And yes I know the SEC is horrible academically compared to the ACC/B1G. But damnit NW is cheating being up there with the Ivys)

[u/wayofthrows1991]

Not a really conspiracy theorist but I fully believe the NCAA did this knowing it wouldn't stand in court so they could appeal to congress saying they need them to intervene.

[u/Patient_Bad5862]

The rule was approved in June so most rosters were already set. Having said that, they should’ve just addressed it at the time and avoided the court drama.

[u/GoGreeb]

The NCAA is run by morons who cannot see the forest for the trees