NCAA’s Non-Decision

The Board of Directors have descended from the mountain top with their 3…whoops…2 tablets and have decreed that rope shall be giveth to each Division for them to decide how to hang themselves.

I mean there was a lot more to it, but that’s basically it. Politically, I think they actually did the right thing here but if we eliminate power, politics and money then they really should have just cancelled the fall championships and moved on.

In summary, in case you don’t want to read the tablets, the NCAA said that the schools and conferences must meet specific guidelines it they want to conduct fall sports, including a championship. In addition, each Division is directed to determine its ability to meet certain commandments…uh…requirements. As briefly as I can, here they are:

1. Sports must follow the “return-to-sports” guidelines.

2. The NCAA will establish a narc phone number.j

3. Schools must adhere to all federal, state and local guidelines.

4. Students can opt out but keep their scholarships.

5. Divisions must decide by August 14th what the eligibility status of athletes if they have to drop out due to Covid.

6. Can’t force student-athletes to waive their legal rights.

7. Must cover Covid-19 medial expenses.

8. Championships will have enhanced safety protocols in place.

9. Championships may use reduced teams and bracketing.

10. If 50% or more teams cancel their fall season then no championship.

11. If fall sports championships are cancelled then a decision to conduct one later will be based on a number of different factors.

Yes, I guess only God can get requirements down to just 10 despite what the NCAA thinks of itself.

What was on that third tablet, you may wonder? Well, the Divisions have until August 21st to decide on the fall season and championships. There was also a lot of good words about health and safety, but in the end this is about cancelling the seasons without annoying Division I too much.

Ricky Nelson has a post up on this and he makes the point that the DIII representatives on the President’s Council have all voted to cancel the season when it comes to their conferences.

Bottom line, the guidelines cost too much to implement at a DIII level. To top it off, the institutions are legally responsible in case anything happens to the student-athlete. If you want more, then by virtue of almost all of the conferences having cancelled their seasons, we don’t have 50% of the teams still in the game at this point. Unofficially, there is still hope until at least the 21st, but I expect DIII to quickly come out and cancel this before that date. The longer they wait just means they are trying to protect enrollment.