Why does the NCAA have to make things so complicated? Why not just eliminate redshirting and give kids 5 years of eligibility? Couple that with a hard 25 scholarships a year (no backups to previous years) and keep the 85 limit. Allow a coach to cut a current scholarship player whenever they want (allowing the kid to keep his scholarship and stay in school for up to 5 years or graduation, whichever comes first, assuming that the kid is maintaining academic progress) and not have that scholarship count against the 85.
The very best kids will leave for the NFL in 3-4 years anyway and many will leave on their own to transfer or because they just don't like school. The ones who stay but are not NFL caliber will probably stay 5 years anyway. It would eliminate the need to apply for a medical scholarship because a chronically injured player could simply be cut and keep his scholarship automatically. A new coach can cut players now and let them keep their scholarship, why not expand it to all teams?
Every year, several players come into college football with good HS resumes but lack the upside or work ethic or are just a miss by the coaching staffs talent wise. Up to now, these kids keep themselves on as dummy holders because of conference rules or because coaches fear the recruiting backlash of cutting players. If you just let the coaches cut players but let them keep their scholarship, then the backlash issue goes away and it makes room for new HS players or kids who went to JUCO because they didn't develop until later, but are ready to play now.
For example, it's possible that a kid like Brokop would still be on the team right now just to keep his scholarship if they didn't have the rule for new coaches. Just expand that for all players who the staff feels won't contribute.
PS, if a kid gets kicked off for cause (drugs, legal issues, etc.) he could still lose his scholarship. But the reality is that under this plan, most coaches would just cut one of these players and let him keep the scholarship to avoid the hassle, unless of course that the problem with the player caused a University rap.
The very best kids will leave for the NFL in 3-4 years anyway and many will leave on their own to transfer or because they just don't like school. The ones who stay but are not NFL caliber will probably stay 5 years anyway. It would eliminate the need to apply for a medical scholarship because a chronically injured player could simply be cut and keep his scholarship automatically. A new coach can cut players now and let them keep their scholarship, why not expand it to all teams?
Every year, several players come into college football with good HS resumes but lack the upside or work ethic or are just a miss by the coaching staffs talent wise. Up to now, these kids keep themselves on as dummy holders because of conference rules or because coaches fear the recruiting backlash of cutting players. If you just let the coaches cut players but let them keep their scholarship, then the backlash issue goes away and it makes room for new HS players or kids who went to JUCO because they didn't develop until later, but are ready to play now.
For example, it's possible that a kid like Brokop would still be on the team right now just to keep his scholarship if they didn't have the rule for new coaches. Just expand that for all players who the staff feels won't contribute.
PS, if a kid gets kicked off for cause (drugs, legal issues, etc.) he could still lose his scholarship. But the reality is that under this plan, most coaches would just cut one of these players and let him keep the scholarship to avoid the hassle, unless of course that the problem with the player caused a University rap.
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