NCAA ruling: Hawaii’s spring-sport seniors allowed to compete next season
UH’s spring-sport senior athletes will get a do-over thanks to an NCAA ruling.
The Division I Council today approved a measure that will provide spring-sport players an “additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility,” the NCAA announced today on its website.
The ruling was made in response to spring-sport athletes whose seasons were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision essentially freezes each athlete’s current class standing, meaning a senior this year will be a senior next year, a sophomore will be a sophomore.
To accommodate seniors wishing to return and incoming recruits, the financial aid rules will be adjusted. Returning seniors whose eligiblity would have expired this season will be allowed to receive up to the amount of financial aid they are receiving this year. Returning seniors’ aid also will add to a team’s scholarship limit proportionately.
Statement from AD @DavidAKMatlin regarding NCAA eligibility ruling. pic.twitter.com/DXB3iUMmIW
— Hawaii Athletics (@HawaiiAthletics) March 31, 2020
UH fields 10 teams that are considered spring sports: baseball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, outdoor track and field, men’s volleyball and water polo.
This could be potentiallly good news for UH. Seniors Rado Parapunov, Colton Cowell, Patrick Gasman and James Anastassiades will be eligible to return to the second-ranked men’s volleyball team. The sport previously was limited to dividing the equivalent of 4.5 scholarships.
It also possibly extends the eligibility for four UH baseball players, including pitching ace Logan Pouelsen. Baseball had been limited to the value of 11.7 scholarships split among 27 players. The roster limit had been set at 35. It now can go up to 39 players if all seniors return.
Beach volleyball has five seniors, and softball has two.
A UH meeting is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon for the coaches to discuss the impact of the ruling.
This is a good thing, but from where is the cash for the scholarships coming?
2nd!
These seniors that want to play next year probably have to go back to school, so a 6 year senior like Pat Gasman will almost certainly have to go to graduate school. Not sure a lot of 6 year seniors want to go to grad school.
I assume the seniors might not want to prolong their athletic careers and some might want to move on.
Baseball might be more difficult. They may not be first 10 round material but who knows.
NCAA should be paying for this. After all, they keep most of the TV and national championship money.
I think in hindsight, yes, financial issues could loom large, but here, money is kind of tight because of the amount of games played during the 2020 season that was obtained from the sports that went on during the time the coronavirus thing surfaced on here.
I think this should be an “option” choice, for Matlin’s sake. It’s not like you can FORCE a player to wanting to come back. It is a decision that they (The players) and the coach have to subside on. Of course, if they were to come back, it’s not like they’re going to come back just to take classes when they have already finished. You’re only going to be there just to play, that’s all. And at the same token, if the coaches have an incoming class for next year coming abound, this is where you have to be creative with how you’re going to share the scholarships, not only that, but also figure out who you plan which players will leave and which ones could come back.
Whatever Matlin decides on, let’s just hope he’s made the right decision. This could make or break for the programs in the long run. Let’s just wait and find out…
frm MWC news
QB Kai Milner was offered by Hawaii
QB Mikey Keene was offered by Hawaii
OL Logan Nobles was offered by Hawaii
OL Austyn Kauhi was offered by Hawaii
DL Brayden Wood was offered by Hawaii
DB Charlotin Charles was offered by Hawaii
LB DJ Herman was offered by Hawaii
WR Dre Spriggs was offered by Hawaii
OL/DL William Reed was offered by Hawaii
ATH Owen Ostroski was offered by Hawaii
#7.
RB/DB Shoes Brinkley was offered by Colorado State, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico
# 7
OL Noah Pulealii was offered by Boise State, Colorado State and Hawaii
don’t believe that there will be too many seniors wanting to come back and play another year especially volleyball since they would have to be in school for both the fall and spring semesters to play the full schedule. Especially those who have aspirations to play at a higher level.
all the spring sports are equivalency sports, meaning coaches have to split up the scholarships (11.7 for baseball) among their entire roster. My guess would be most players only get 50% of a full ride scholarship if they get that much. Most would have to pay out of pocket to cover the balance of their expenses. Say an athlete gets full tuition, they would still need to pay for books, housing and food out of pocket. Not sure if seniors that graduate in May would be willing to shell out more $$$ to “pursure an advanced degree” just to play another year.
If it was a fall sport, plenty will come back. Play in the fall and then leave in the spring.
Yes, I agree. Being in school for another whole year would be a deal breaker for me. I read that softball player Callie Heen wants to come back but for her it no big deal because she never redshirted so for her it’s only one extra year. Both Colton Cowell and Pat Gasman redshirted so it would mean a sixth season if either chose to come back.
ST, what are you hearing the impact on D2 schools in Hawaii. Hawaii-Hilo, Chaminade and HPU. Can’t imagine they have huge budgets to cover additional scholarship burden.
A lot of big name programs are interested in Drew Buggs.
Good to hear that….He wanted to play a a higher level…what ever that means…
7
Herman looks like he’s getting warmer to Arizona State.
William Reed has 5 colleges getting warmer that’s not Hawaii on one of them.
At this point, with the signing under check due to not being able to make a move without getting caught in the coronavirus crossfire. Recruiting is affecting schools in a certain way.
15.
I like Drew Buggs, but I didn’t realize he was that good. Buggs reminded me of a talented Deonte Tatum. When Logan Lee ruined Riley Wallace’s career, Hawaii signed Tatum late in the recruiting season.