Alabama Crimson Tide: NCAA decision could create roster mayhem in ’21 season
Building the Alabama Crimson Tide, 2021 roster will be no easy task. On Friday the NCAA approved giving fall sports athletes “an extra year of eligibility” and it is not contingent on the student-athletes competing this fall. Part of the COVID-impacted change is the student-athletes will also be allowed an additional year in their NCAA career window.
A quick concern is the 85 scholarship rule cannot coexist with the new rule. Nicole Auerbach stated there will be no roster limit impact. Players who exhaust their eligibility limit in 2020 may return for the 2021 season and not be counted against the 85-player limit.
The complete statement by the NCAA can be read here. While the change will make roster decisions harder for coaches, it is clearly the right thing to do for student-athletes.
Assuming there is no additional fine print, the Alabama Crimson Tide could have a seven-year player next fall. Being neither critical of, nor presuming a future player decision, Josh McMillon could return to the Alabama Crimson Tide for a seventh season next fall. McMillon was a member of the Crimson Tide 2015 class. He redshirted in 2015. Josh lost a season of eligibility in 2016, despite not seeing any game action. He got some snaps in most games in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Last year, Josh injured a knee before the season began. The NCAA gave him a medical waiver allowing his return to the Alabama Crimson Tide for the 2020 season.
Whatever happens in 2020, it may be enough for Josh as a college football player. Alabama football insiders have said he wants a career in coaching. A 2021 season with the Crimson Tide as a graduate assistant would likely better further his career than playing another season.
The NCAA issued another mandate on Friday. It prohibits any attempt to force a student-athlete to waive his or her rights.
"Schools are prohibited from requiring student-athletes to waive legal rights regarding COVID-19 as a condition of athletics participation."
There has been informed speculation any such waivers would not withstand a legal challenge. This was another good move by the NCAA, by shielding tudent-athletes from being coerced into signing a waiver.
The new NCCA mandates are effective immediately.
One downside to the NCAA changes is the added coast for smaller programs. Scholarship budgets will have to be increased for ’21 season. Most Power five programs can easily fund the additional costs. That is not true for every FBS program.