"According to Fox Sports’ Stewart Mandel, a new rule is being proposed to the NCAA by the American Football Coaches Association that, if passed, would allow players to play in up to four games during a season without burning their redshirt year. So technically speaking, head coaches could save their four-star signees and beak them out just in time for bowl games, and the player could still redshirt that season."
Link: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/5/8/15583306/rule-proposal-true-freshman-four-games-bowls-redshirt
I have always favored the idea of giving players 5 years of eligibility. No more of this 5 years to play 4 nonsense.
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I think there should be a season ending provision where you have a player you intend to play in all games and they get hurt in week 1 or week 2 and it's for the season.
My thought was one game during the regular season + the bowl game if the coaches choose.
25% of the regular season is too much.
Also, bowl practices are mostly for the next season (unless in playoff) so might as well let redshirt freshmen play in that game. 2 regular season and 1 bowl game is what I'd propose.
In general I think this rule is good for the players as more players will get a 5th year option, which will increase grad rates (at schools that don't require players to graduate in 4 like ND), and will give more kids the opportunity to get a some graduate school paid for.
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Current rules allow the following which is used by most schools.
A special case involves the eligibility of a player who loses the majority of a season to injury. Popularly known as a medical redshirt, a hardship waiver may be granted to athletes who appear in fewer than 30% of team competitions (none after the midpoint of the season) then suffers a season-ending injury. Players granted such a waiver are treated for the purposes of eligibility as though they did not compete in that season.
Most schools use this out even if the player is not truly injured. You can always make up some injury and withhold him from practice. Notice, however, none can play after the mid-season. Forget who it was, but ND had a WR run in for a play without the coach realizing who it was he was sending in. Player lost whole year for one play after mid-season. In the last few years, more teams have gone to 12 game schedules. 30% is now 4, not 3, so increasing the eligibility rules make sense. But nothing is being said about playing after mid-season. Unless that changes, bowls are out.
Personally, don't care if it is 3 or 4 games. Don't want an extension past mid-season. Make teams play with who they have or pay for using an RS. No use helping the talent rich guys who can sub a 5* RB in the last game and not have him lose a year. They will make up an injury excuse for the 3rd string back and use him. Who wouldn't. Doesn't cost them anything.
I agree!
Terrible rule if it passes. Makes a mockery of eligibility rules.