HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
It also keeps schools from yo-yoing up and down and forces them to make a commitment to D1.
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West Florida joining the UAC in 2026 - just a brief stopover on the way to the FBS?
- Thread starter Griz in Texas
- Start date
I get that you are just explaining, not telling me that it is a perfect system, but that makes even less sense to me. If they are academically ineligible, thereby creating a competitive advantage for the team moving up from D2, then they also shouldn't be able to play in the regular season where that advantage could theoretically damage the chances of another team from making the playoffs. It just seems entirely illogical to me.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
They aren't academically ineligible. They are ineligible because D1 and D2 have different requirements to determine playing eligibility. GPA is one item, but it even differs on how many credits to remain eligible throughout your playing time to what types of classes are required. And these aren't the only items, there are items that are institution based.
If they are ineligible to play DI, what are they doing playing in DI games? That’s some bullshit, yo.
So, in my NCAA voice: “Y’all ineligible players can play in all the regular season games you want because who really gives a fuck. But I’ll be goddamned if you sully the FCS Playoffs with your ineligibility. And for those of you programs who get any ideas about poppin’ back down to DII for a cup of coffee every so often, you have to prove you belong in DI by not playing in the FCS Playoffs for a while. Finally, while we’re making rules to prevent behavior that nobody would ever engage in, cornerbacks have to try to run in coverage. Prevents that intentional crabwalking we’re all worried about.”
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HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
I guess these schools that are transitioning can just cut all the young men that wouldn't be eligible under D1 rules. That will show them. You do realize that this isn't just football...
Or, or! Check this out: All players competing in DI competitions have to be eligible to compete in DI competitions.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
So you want teams that transition from D2 to D1 to purge their roster. Also, player eligibility isn't the only requirement that D2 schools fall short of D1 standards. This isn't like a dozen items that need to be compliant.
Oh, I didn’t realize a significant portion of transitional teams’ rosters are ineligible but still allowed to play in DI games that directly affect the FCS Playoffs they aren’t allowed to play in. That’s dumb.
If the second part of your post is correct, it seems like a, “Call us when you’re actually ready” policy might be the way?
We’re not doing very well so far to provide a logical reason new FCS teams aren’t immediately postseason eligible. Arguably, the system seems less logical than before.
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alabamagrizzly
Well-known member
McKinnell: The “Transition Rule” Is Another Example Of The NCAA’s Archaic Nature
One of the big shortcomings of the NCAA is the “transition rule,” which states a program must endure a four-year reclassification process.
herosports.com
"One of the most obvious shortcomings of the NCAA can be found in the “transition rule,” which states that a program must endure a four-year reclassification process before being eligible for NCAA and NIT tournaments across all sports.
The justification from the NCAA is that programs that reclassify must uphold the athletic and academic standards of a Division I program. The rule is another example of the blatant incompetence of the NCAA to promote growth within college athletics.
Rather than promoting the growth of programs within the subdivisions of the NCAA … The organization would rather handicap programs willing to invest the time, money, and effort that is required to facilitate a transition to the next subdivision.
One of the most unique stories in college athletics is the growth and explosion of the St. Thomas athletic program from a Division III powerhouse to Division I champions. St. Thomas won 33 Men’s MIAC All-Sports championships and 28 Women’s MIAC All-Sports championships, including winning 13 consecutive from 2008-17.
The Tommies were removed from the MIAC and were exploring opportunities at the Division II level. The Summit League pressured the NCAA to allow St. Thomas to make the transition to Division I from the Division III level.
The move was approved on July 15, 2020. St. Thomas became only the third program to make a two-level jump in NCAA history. Dayton and Buffalo both made the same transition, but the Flyers were already participating at the Division I level in basketball.
The NCAA ruled that the Tommies must serve a five-year transition process, which makes St. Thomas ineligible for postseason play until the 2025-26 season. This mandatory NCAA rule negatively impacts recruiting, opportunities for current student-athletes, and revenue for those five seasons for the Tommies.
A program that has won 15 NCAA Championships since 1982 can no longer pursue the ultimate goal of a national championship because the NCAA would rather punish programs that are making the proper investment in their student-athletes … An exact reason why many, including myself, have promoted the idea of dissolving the archaic structure of the NCAA.
The Tommies won the Pioneer Football Leaguechampionship in their second season at the FCSlevel, including an 8-0 record against conference opponents. Rather than making an appearance in the FCS Playoffs … The Tommies had to watch Davidson, a team the Tommies defeated 27-16, take their place and proceed to lose 41-0 to Richmond in the first round.
Over the first two seasons at the FCS level, St. Thomas holds a 18-4 record and is 14-2 against Pioneer competition. I think it’s clear that the Tommies do not need four years to establish a standard within the program at the Division I level."
In a sense this article predicts St Thomas's future due to this handicapping rule. The article was wrote after the '23 season. The bolded part above mentions recruiting. In the following two seasons St Thomas has gone 13-11. This is with the same coach that is about to enter his 18th season with a 164-39 record at St Thomas. 2024's 6-6 was his worst season record in 17 years.
McKinnell: The “Transition Rule” Is Another Example Of The NCAA’s Archaic Nature
One of the big shortcomings of the NCAA is the “transition rule,” which states a program must endure a four-year reclassification process.
"One of the most obvious shortcomings of the NCAA can be found in the “transition rule,” which states that a program must endure a four-year reclassification process before being eligible for NCAA and NIT tournaments across all sports.
The justification from the NCAA is that programs that reclassify must uphold the athletic and academic standards of a Division I program. The rule is another example of the blatant incompetence of the NCAA to promote growth within college athletics.
Rather than promoting the growth of programs within the subdivisions of the NCAA … The organization would rather handicap programs willing to invest the time, money, and effort that is required to facilitate a transition to the next subdivision.
One of the most unique stories in college athletics is the growth and explosion of the St. Thomas athletic program from a Division III powerhouse to Division I champions. St. Thomas won 33 Men’s MIAC All-Sports championships and 28 Women’s MIAC All-Sports championships, including winning 13 consecutive from 2008-17.
The Tommies were removed from the MIAC and were exploring opportunities at the Division II level. The Summit League pressured the NCAA to allow St. Thomas to make the transition to Division I from the Division III level.
The move was approved on July 15, 2020. St. Thomas became only the third program to make a two-level jump in NCAA history. Dayton and Buffalo both made the same transition, but the Flyers were already participating at the Division I level in basketball.
The NCAA ruled that the Tommies must serve a five-year transition process, which makes St. Thomas ineligible for postseason play until the 2025-26 season. This mandatory NCAA rule negatively impacts recruiting, opportunities for current student-athletes, and revenue for those five seasons for the Tommies.
A program that has won 15 NCAA Championships since 1982 can no longer pursue the ultimate goal of a national championship because the NCAA would rather punish programs that are making the proper investment in their student-athletes … An exact reason why many, including myself, have promoted the idea of dissolving the archaic structure of the NCAA.
The Tommies won the Pioneer Football Leaguechampionship in their second season at the FCSlevel, including an 8-0 record against conference opponents. Rather than making an appearance in the FCS Playoffs … The Tommies had to watch Davidson, a team the Tommies defeated 27-16, take their place and proceed to lose 41-0 to Richmond in the first round.
Over the first two seasons at the FCS level, St. Thomas holds a 18-4 record and is 14-2 against Pioneer competition. I think it’s clear that the Tommies do not need four years to establish a standard within the program at the Division I level."
In a sense this article predicts St Thomas's future due to this handicapping rule. The article was wrote after the '23 season. The bolded part above mentions recruiting. In the following two seasons St Thomas has gone 13-11. This is with the same coach that is about to enter his 18th season with a 164-39 record at St Thomas. 2024's 6-6 was his worst season record in 17 years.
But the rule makes logical sense because the Tommies were ineligible for the postseason because of the rule, which makes sense because they were ineligible because of the rule…
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
FBS probably can't wait to get this team. Ha.
But WHY is that a reason to not have them in the playoffs?! I understand there are different requirements. You keep making that statement, but you are not connecting those requirements and any logical reasoning to keeping them out of the playoffs. The answer you are giving is missing the actual meat of my question, of WHY they should not be in the playoffs if they are able to play in the regular season?
alabamagrizzly
Well-known member
Helenas probably not the best poster to have this discussion with. He obviously doesn't want to agree with the majority that the rule is stupid and he just keeps regurgitating the same google searched answer as to why teams must wait w/out putting any actual thought into it.
That's fair. I'll quit asking, lol
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
Because that is how the rule was set. Schools must comply with D1 requirements to be eligible for post season. Post season is the carrot to get transitioning schools to comply, and each of these schools make the move knowing.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
I have never stated whether the rule is stupid or not, just that it is the rule and every school transitioning knows.
I am asking WHY a rule makes sense. Saying "because that is the rule" is really not very enlightening.
If their school isn't eligible, why would they get to play in the regular season where they are affecting the playoff chances of teams they play? It makes zero sense to me to allow them in to the FCS while simultaneously saying "you aren't eligible to play in the FCS, but we will let you play in the regular season, lol." I don't see any logic.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
You realize that every conference that brings in a D2 school knows the consequences of them competing during transition. They assume the risk, but this would only come into play for a fringe at-large selection so in reality it would only affect another teams playoff chances at a low percentage.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
I would probably label it as a typical barrier to entry.
