DESTIN — SEC football coaches and administrators spent the last two days discussing the possibility of smaller NCAA rosters and, perhaps, the elimination of walk-ons.
At least one powerbroker doesn’t understand it.
“Killing Rudy solves nothing,” University of Florida president Ben Sasse said. “Don’t rob athletes of joy, and don’t rob fans of drama.”
The issue stems from the impending settlement in the House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit. Though it has not been finalized, all parties and their attorneys have agreed on a framework with a few relevant points.
The first would eliminate caps on scholarships in certain sports. Baseball would no longer have to split 11.7 scholarships across 32 players; every player could get one.
But instead of a cap on scholarships, the settlement might put a cap on roster sizes. Though football teams are limited to 85 scholarships, walk-ons swell rosters closer to 110 or 120 players. In the new scenario, rosters might be stuck at 85 — and, Sasse fears, without the possibility of walk-on successes like Florida State coach Mike Norvell (Central Arkansas) and Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield (Texas Tech/Oklahoma).
“It’s just, like, a bunch of jackwagon lawyers who have never seen ‘Rudy,’” Sasse said of the decision-makers. “We have a lot of folks reshaping the future of college football who have no problem writing walk-ons out of the picture.
“Some of the best unscripted moments come from future insurance agents who put everything on the line for a shot to compete alongside their brothers at a game they’ve loved since they were in third grade.”
Coaches spent their two days at the SEC’s spring meetings sharing valid, practical concerns that extend beyond those Hollywood endings. Gators coach Billy Napier pointed out that most backup punters and kickers aren’t on…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-president-ending-walk-ons-121900985.html
Author : Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Publish date : 2024-05-30 12:19:00
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