Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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6 NOV. 7, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICK ENGEL A llow an out-of-context quote from former Chicago Bears head coach John Fox to illustrate the growing co- nundrum for college football coaches that will heighten in the next couple years. "I was a math major. I wasn't, actu- ally," Fox once said, out of nowhere, during his doomed Bears tenure. Most college head coaches weren't math majors either, but they'll have to fake it to handle an upcoming ros- ter management wrinkle put in mo- tion this summer when the NCAA approved a blanket waiver that gave all football players on 2020 rosters an extra year of eligibility. Instead of the normal five years to play four seasons, it's six to play five — or four, if a player opted out of this season. Seniors who were on their final year of eligibility can return if they choose — and if their program chooses — and not count against the 85-man scholar- ship cap. The school and coaching staff are not obligated to invite them back or extend the same amount of scholarship money they previously received, but in essence it's a free year and a one-year waiver of the scholarship limit. It's a well-intentioned ruling, and the right move when considering the players' best interest. But the specif- ics of it are set up to create a numbers crunch after the 2021 season that will involve difficult decisions and perhaps smaller 2022 signing classes. Coaches aren't worried about it now amid the season, but 2022 recruiting classes are already being shaped. Notre Dame has three commitments from 2022 recruits and has 103 offers out in the class. "The NCAA is giving you only a one-year moratorium," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "The 85 can be stretched in 2021 for this COVID year, but it can't be stretched past that. You're influenced by your 2022 class. "Whoever you take into your class in 2022, you have to make it right in your program." In principle, there will be zero count- able players who exhaust their eligibil- ity after the 2021 season. Anyone origi- nally slated to come off the scholarship books after the 2021 season would count against the 85 if they return by using the extra year of eligibility. There's the framework for the fork in the road that will emerge when shap- ing 2022 classes. It's hard to imagine teams slashing their projected 2022 re- cruiting classes in half. It could also prove difficult to turn away double- digit players who want to return for that fifth or sixth year and the experi- ence they bring. Kelly seemed to hint the latter is the likelier course of action. "A lot of our work is internal," Kelly said. "You're not going to be able to figure out what that looks like from the outside in," Kelly said. "A lot of that has to do with conversations internally about how we manage this. "It's really about conversations that have to be had within these walls about what 2022 looks like with guys who are currently on the roster. I think you know what I mean." One may wonder if the NCAA will take additional steps to prevent a po- tential glut of available players with eligibility left but limited space to use it because of a numbers crunch. One solution would be to kick back the timeline for getting down to 85, which would lessen the number of necessary tough decisions but create potential financial strain on the uni- versities to fund more scholarships. A source familiar with the NCAA's thinking, though, does not foresee any further tweaks to the blanket waiver. Per the source, the NCAA's reason- ing for waiving the 85-man limit for one year rather than multiple years is rooted in the desire to prevent further financial burdens and to have COVID- related ramifications on programs be as short-lived as possible. Concern over a surge in players with eligibility left but without a spot to use it is also low. The 2021 class will not be subject to such a numbers crunch, because any senior previously scheduled to open up a spot who returns won't be counted as a scholarship player. Notre Dame has 13 seniors who could come back if interested and in- vited. It has 19 committed players for 2021. The only players not allowed to count toward the 85 next season are seniors who use the extra year, so Notre Dame will still have to make room for its newcomers next year in the form of transfers, retirements or pro departures. Notre Dame can go as high as 98 scholarship players next year if each of the 13 returns. Thus far, only kicker Jonathan Doerer has publicly stated he plans to come back. "I had a dream the other night that all the guys used the COVID eligibil- ity and decided to come back," Kelly said. "Of course, that was a dream. I don't think it's reality." ✦ UNDER THE DOME NUMBERS CRUNCH The extra year of eligibility ruling is great for the players, but for coaches it sets up future difficult roster decisions Brian Kelly and his staff may need to make some difficult roster decisions after next season due to the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA. PHOTO BY CHARLES LECLAIRE, USA TODAY SPORTS/COURTESY ACC