NCAA grants blanker waiver to ex-JUCO athletes

[sWiley]

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors on Monday approved a blanket waiver granting an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers in similar positions to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, opening the door for a wave of college athletes across all sports to spend one more year in college athletics.

According to an NCAA memo, the waiver extends an extra year of eligibility in 2025-26 to athletes who previously "competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years" and otherwise would have exhausted their NCAA eligibility following the 2024-25 season.

The decision from the NCAA comes five days after a federal judge in Tennessee granted an injunction to allow Pavia, a former junior college transfer who played his first season at Vanderbilt in 2024, to pursue an additional year of college eligibility next fall.

In its memo announcing the waiver, the NCAA also announced that it has filed a notice of appeal to the ruling in Pavia's case.

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...juco-players-appealing-diego-pavia-injunction

 

[sWiley]

Lawsuits based on roster limits, grade/class requirements, and additional eligibility limitations probably up next.

College athletics is literally a clown show. I don't know how anyone takes this circus serious anymore.

 

[sWiley]

Trying to figure out who could get an extra year with us (or another team if they transfer):

Judging by looking at our 2024 roster, so far:

Ethan Ellis (OL)
Possibly Mitchell Howell (WR) ? "Played at Siena Heights" prior to signing with MT
Possibly Daniel Gonzalez (OL) ? "Played at Mount San Antonio" and "Utah Tech"
Jayce Gardner (RB)

The big one is Ethan Ellis. Getting him for another year (if he still wants to play) would be huge.

 

[altshauf]

Think about our basketball roster too. Remember, McDevitt loaded up on seniors this year. Of the guys in the rotation here is who we had eligible to come back next year.
Green
Loofe
Lands
Alston
Now it has doubled with
Westin
Buford
Porter
Counter
Let me just say, the ruling was an absolute JOKE, but if everyone else plays with it, we have to as well. There is serious reason for optimism next year if this season rolls on like it has and we bring essentially all the starters back minus Mustafa.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

Give him another 3 years and a rollover provision.

 

[MTLynn]

 

[MTFAN61]

Think about our basketball roster too. Remember, McDevitt loaded up on seniors this year. Of the guys in the rotation here is who we had eligible to come back next year.
Green
Loofe
Lands
Alston
Now it has doubled with
Westin
Buford
Porter
Counter
Let me just say, the ruling was an absolute JOKE, but if everyone else plays with it, we have to as well. There is serious reason for optimism next year if this season rolls on like it has and we bring essentially all the starters back minus Mustafa.

If those players could return all we would need is a solid big at the 5 spot.

 

[Shayne_Pickering]

For what it's worth, a handful of players have announced they will be back or have been approved to enter the transfer portal so it's not just Pavia now. Could be encouraging for men's basketball team

 

[MTLynn]

 

[MT Glenn]

I almost expecting an announcement that Tebow is returning to play for the Gators, or Bama.

 

[sWiley]

I almost expecting an announcement that Tebow is returning to play for the Gators, or Bama.

He could honestly probably file a lawsuit and win.

"I wasn't able to capitalize on my fame while playing at UF. I could have made millions! I should be allowed to return there and play for 2 years to capitalize on my NIL!!!"

Judge: say less, APPROVED!

 

[mtfblue]

I didn't think this would make it to the summer.... https://www.nashvillepost.com/ncaa-...cle_e2c4ee3c-02b4-4f22-ae84-d96d78e03952.html

 

[MT01]

This might be the one case the NCAA wins.

 

[sWiley]

I didn't think this would make it to the summer.... https://www.nashvillepost.com/ncaa-...cle_e2c4ee3c-02b4-4f22-ae84-d96d78e03952.html

This is a massive development.

This puts half our men's basketball roster in limbo. How can we effectively recruit with this lawsuit in play ?

What if we only sign 2 players, assuming the NCAA loses the lawsuit and JUCO kids get one more year, but then the NCAA wins and half our roster is instantly out of eligibility.......

Sounds like it might not be a great idea putting together mercenary rosters with looming eligibility concerns.....

What an absolute mess...

 

[ewglenn]

This is a massive development.

This puts half our men's basketball roster in limbo. How can we effectively recruit with this lawsuit in play ?

What if we only sign 2 players, assuming the NCAA loses the lawsuit and JUCO kids get one more year, but then the NCAA wins and half our roster is instantly out of eligibility.......

Sounds like it might not be a great idea putting together mercenary rosters with looming eligibility concerns.....

What an absolute mess...

It would probably be a year before it goes back into effect to avoid issues like this I would guess.

 

[BigBlueBrad]

Think about our basketball roster too. Remember, McDevitt loaded up on seniors this year. Of the guys in the rotation here is who we had eligible to come back next year.
Green
Loofe
Lands
Alston
Now it has doubled with
Westin
Buford
Porter
Counter
Let me just say, the ruling was an absolute JOKE, but if everyone else plays with it, we have to as well. There is serious reason for optimism next year if this season rolls on like it has and we bring essentially all the starters back minus Mustafa.

Why not just sue the NCAA and claim any player who is from Egypt should get another year of eligibility. I’m sure it would win.

 

[scjohnny]

Give everyone 5 years. No more redshirts / med redshirts. That's it PERIOD.

We don't need 18/19 year olds coming in to college competing against 26 year old men.

 

[DisgruntledAlum]

It would probably be a year before it goes back into effect to avoid issues like this I would guess.

I do not believe the NCAA has that much forethought. They are as incompetent as our leadership here at MT.