While many of you are busy with your current junior hockey seasons, and though many of you have the age limit proposal in the backs of your minds, the debate will become a primary issue at the NCAA Convention that began yesterday in San Antonio Texas.
Proposal No. 2015-35 would create a system where student-athletes who do not enroll during the two-year period following their high school graduation date (or the date of their graduation class, whichever is earlier) would be lose a season of eligibility for NCAA Division One programs. Currently players are not penalized as it is common to compete in junior hockey until the age of 20 or 21.
The Death Pool – NCAA Rule Change Proposal Would Decimate Junior Hockey
The question is, “Will it pass?”
The answer? No one is sure if it will or not for a few simple reasons.
When the NCAA set new rules for allowing “Power Five” conferences — the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and the Pac-12, along with Notre Dame, to write there own rules it didn’t consider one thing.
The majority of these autonomous schools, do not have NCAA Hockey programs.
In theory the rule could pass. If the Big 10 and a few other schools from the east lobby those schools that do not have hockey, and probably never will, it could pass. Back room deals regarding scheduling with other sports that generate revenues for non hockey schools could be on the table.
Then again, the overwhelming majority of NCAA Hockey programs are against the rule change. Their lobbying began months ago when the story first broke.
Coupled with the discussion on age will be the continuing debate on “Actual cost Of Attendance” payments made to players. This is a rule that was passed last year by the same autonomous group of schools.
Why the continued debate? It is coming to light that some schools may be providing much more money to some students than was originally contemplated. This would, in many peoples eyes, provide a significant recruiting advantage for those schools with more money.
NCAA Rule Change Opens Door For Player Stipends
No matter what the outcome of the new proposal, one thing is guaranteed;
The Big Ten will either establish itself as the boss of NCAA hockey, or it will come away with enough egg on its face to supply a nice buffet for their players. Can someone pass me some toast?
*The Death Pool is a mix of comedy, and satire in connection with recent events. It is not an official report of current events although it may look as though the news is so accurate that it could one day happen or may be happening.
