The NCAA should give most senior collegiate athletes one more year of eligibility

As the coronavirus spread across our nation, the NCAA played things safely with the cancellation of all remaining winter and spring sports. This included regular and postseason play across all three NCAA divisions. 

Although it was a difficult decision, it was the correct one during this time. With a huge decision like this, certain consequences must follow it. The NCAA was presented with a big decision as to what to do with the seniors that weren’t able to finish their final collegiate season. On Monday, they announced seniors in spring sports only would get an extra year of eligibility.

By the time the NCAA had reached a decision on how to react to this crisis that took the nation by storm, their cards had already been dealt. Due to the NBA reaching its conclusion to postpone their season, it was only time before the NCAA followed suit. Immediately after the decision was made to cut the winter sports seasons short, and to cancel all spring championships, many wondered what this could mean for seniors. 

Had they really just played their final game without knowing so? Many had. This decision crushed a lot of dreams whether it was accomplishing goals as a team or personally as some were depending on one final season to prove they were ready to make a career out of their sport.

Unfortunately, the NCAA decided not to extend the eligibility of athletes in winter sports. The magnitude of this decision can’t be understated. Granting one more year of eligibility to seniors would cause all kinds of scholarship problems for programs that will be bringing in freshmen who they promised money too. 

On top of that issue, there’s the issue of what the seniors do for school. Do they apply to get their graduate degree? What if that wasn’t originally in their plans? Do they just move on as previously scheduled? So many questions need to be answered still. Just like everyone else, seniors are quarantined with sports on their mind hoping that one day they will be able to get back out there with coaches and teammates alike. Unfortunately, this is only true for those in spring sports.

What has swept over the U.S. in the last month isn’t normal, therefore it shouldn’t be dealt with in a normal manner. And, there surely will be plenty of seniors who have played their last game or match, but for those that were counting on one final season, they deserve that final chance. To prove to themselves and scouts what they truly are made of after a full year off. 

I feel bad for winter sports athletes because they were unable to compete for championships, and that’s truly the goal of college athletics. But, winter sports athletes did have the chance to play all of their regular-season games which given the predicament, seems to me like it is enough to suffice their future endeavors. 

While not all may agree with the NCAA’s decision, it gave thousands of athletes another chance.