College golf coaches and players worried that a blanket waiver from the NCAA might allow Division I programs to suspend non-revenue sports for up to a four-year period and still maintain their status can breathe a small sigh of relief after the Division I Council said it will not consider that provision.
At present, FBS schools must field at least 16 teams, with a minimum of six men’s teams and a minimum of eight women’s teams. Division I schools must field at least 14 teams.
According to a release from the NCAA:
The Council discussed the issue in response to a request from the majority of Division I conferences to consider providing a blanket waiver for all Division I members of several legislative requirements. The letter asked for the blanket waiver for a period of at least two years to allow schools to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While several legislative changes will be considered for blanket waivers, the Council indicated that sport sponsorship minimums should be removed from that list. Schools still can request sport sponsorship requirement waivers on an individual basis.
That means the schools that have been the hardest hit financially during the coronavirus pandemic are not out of the woods, but a formalized process for being granted a waiver has yet to be determined.
“Higher education is facing unique challenges, and the Division I leadership believes it’s appropriate to examine areas in which rules can be relaxed or amended to provide flexibility for schools and conferences,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. “We will prioritize student-athlete well-being and opportunities balanced with reducing costs associated with administering college sports, but a blanket waiver of sport sponsorship requirements is not in keeping with our values and will not be considered.”
This surfaced after a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert dated April 10, in which the commissioners of the Group of Five conferences – the American Athletic, Conference USA, the Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt – said: “In order to provide NCAA Division I institutions flexibility in addressing the challenges for the foreseeable future, we request temporary relief from several regulatory requirements for a period of up to four years. A blanket waiver for relief will provide institutions the ability to make prudent and necessary decisions for the financial well-being of the institution.”
Representatives of 17 coaches’ associations, including the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association, responded to Emmert.
Golfweek received a copy of the letter GCAA CEO Gregg Grost sent out to members, detailing the concern the group has over the potential waiver.
“If this waiver passes, it would mean the potential for fewer teams, fewer scholarships and fewer opportunities for student-athletes competing in Olympic and non-revenue producing sports,” the letter said. “The GCAA strongly opposes this drastic measure and has signed off on a letter with other coaches associations that was sent to NCAA President Mark Emmert.”
Although the blanket minimum was removed for the waiver, the Council still intends to work through a number of issues in upcoming weeks, including transfers and scheduling concerns.
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