Judge Denies Roster Limit

[OrediggerPoke]

The judge denied the House settlement agreement as it relates to immediate roster limit reductions. The judge reasoned that such limits could cause harm to members of the plaintiff class and thus could not be approved as part of a settlement. The judge noted that phased reductions may be acceptable.

What this means - teams won’t face the roster limits they were expecting next year and probably over the next couple of years. Probably not good for Wyoming in retaining talented players as all teams now will have more roster spots than they anticipated.

 

[Vapoke]

At least it does not kill the walk-on program now.

 

[LawPoke]

Again, a smart and proactive athletic department could take advantage - even at little old UW. We won't. But there is an angle to be exploited - but it would require us to be realistic. We won't be.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

At least it does not kill the walk-on program now.

I agree. I hope there is a split and I hope the new division that Wyoming is in will eventually have reasonable restriction on transfer/compensation/etc…but I hope no limits on roster sizes. Walk ons are one of the best things about college athletics and the House settlement seeks to destroy that avenue for overlooked athletes.

 

[TheRealUW]

I agree. I hope there is a split and I hope the new division that Wyoming is in will eventually have reasonable restriction on transfer/compensation/etc…but I hope no limits on roster sizes. Walk ons are one of the best things about college athletics and the House settlement seeks to destroy that avenue for overlooked athletes.

I don't know very much about the House settlement. Does it limit the number of players that can practice with the team or just the number of players that can play for/travel with/dress on games days?

If it doesn't limit practice rosters, then I could envision something akin to practice player rosters like the NFL uses.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

I don't know very much about the House settlement. Does it limit the number of players that can practice with the team or just the number of players that can play for/travel with/dress on games days?

If it doesn't limit practice rosters, then I could envision something akin to practice player rosters like the NFL uses.

The House settlement (as currently drafted) limits the number of players that can be on rosters for pretty much every NCAA sport. This includes players that can practice with a team. For football, the settlement (as currently drafted) provides for a hard limit of 105. Under the House settlement (as drafted) as it applies to FBS, every player on a roster is eligible for a scholarship and there is really no such thing as a walk-on.

 

[TheRealUW]

The House settlement (as currently drafted) limits the number of players that can be on rosters for pretty much every NCAA sport. This includes players that can practice with a team. For football, the settlement (as currently drafted) provides for a hard limit of 105. Under the House settlement (as drafted) as it applies to FBS, every player on a roster is eligible for a scholarship and there is really no such thing as a walk-on.

Thanks for the response.

Seems like the most logical solution is to mirror how the NFL handles the issue:

1) Place limits on active roster sizes to thwart talent hoarding while promoting competitive balance.
2) Allow for an additional "practice player" roster which addresses any legal arguments aimed at limitations on further development/earning potential.

College football seems hell bent on trying to create their own set of rules despite 100+ years of history in the NFL basically telling them how to structure it. I do wonder how many court dates and hundreds of millions of dollars will be lost on silly NIL/profit sharing deals before they eventually settle on a system very similar to the NFL.

 

[ZapPoke]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The only real winners in most litigation are the lawyers. It’s like one of those class action lawsuits where you get $5 and the lawyers get $200million.

 

[McPeachy]

There are only 22 starters. With solid back ups, 44. With another back up to the back ups 66. Where are these "athletes" going to find playing time? If you want to play, better not be in the last 50 or so ranked players on your team, you will never see the field.

One thing Wyoming will always have in their "back-pocket" is playing time. If you want playing time, don't get lost on a roster, come and play. If you don't want to play, and just collect your NIL - then have at it.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I'm still not clear if this and a few other nuances completely derail the house settlement or ??

 

[OrediggerPoke]

I'm still not clear if this and a few other nuances completely derail the house settlement or ??

It will force the lawyers to renegotiate the settlement or otherwise go to trial. The renegotiated settlement is almost certain to occur (no one wants to risk trial) and will include a lifting of roster limits and perhaps a slow reduction in roster limits over the next few years to ‘grandfather’ in current athletes.

 

[laxwyo]

I agree. I hope there is a split and I hope the new division that Wyoming is in will eventually have reasonable restriction on transfer/compensation/etc…but I hope no limits on roster sizes. Walk ons are one of the best things about college athletics and the House settlement seeks to destroy that avenue for overlooked athletes.

Would it be reasonable to assume that a walk on would actually be illegal? Considering all the legal stuff, I’d guess that if players are employees, then walkons would be violating some kind of labor laws and OT rules . We’ve discussed how the floodgates are open and could see how eligibility is being attacked.

 

[Lost Poke]

I've seen first hand how the roster limits are changing recruiting in "non-revenue' sports (D1 swimming) already. Before the settlement is even agreed.

Lower level D1's are getting recruits they had no chance on before, because they got bumped down from mid-level D1's, who in turn are getting top tier D1 recruits that would have walked on in the SEC, Big 10, etc.

Walkons at places like Tennessee were given their walking papers, and are landing at mid and low level D1 teams. These are swimmers who weren't on the their SEC conference meet scoring team, but who have times that could win events in their new conference.

This all seems to be moving swimmers into DII / DIII who will then be cutting or changing their recruiting to make room. Those teams don't ever have official roster limits, but they do have budgets

And the silent USA Swimming killer in this, is that the top level rosters are now even more dominated by international swimmers, usually grad students, who will end up swimming for England, France, Turkey etc.