MM 8.13: NCAA recommends eligibility relief, extends recruiting dead period

The NCAA Division I Council met virtually on Wednesday and later released a statement regarding new changes and recommendations.

The recruiting dead period that was set to end on Aug. 31 has been pushed to Sept. 30, while an injunction was implemented in regard to the Supreme Court case regarding academic welfare and the value of scholarships for student athletes.

The council also recommended certain adaptations to allow athletes to retain eligibility due to conferences postponing or cancelling athletic seasons due to COVID-19. It suggested that athletes be provided with an extension of their five-year period of eligibility; and an extra season of eligibility if they compete in less than 50 percent of the maximum allowed games by the NCAA during their competitive season.

“In this time of uncertainty, the Council members are working to create additional flexibility for college athletes whose seasons have been negatively impacted by the pandemic,” said Council Chair M. Grace Calhoun, the athletics director at the University of Pennsylvania. “Every day things are changing in college sport, and we want to be as responsive as possible, with the best information, to help student-athletes and their families make important decisions for their future.”

The board is set to meet on August 21 to review these recommendations and the future outlook for its fall championships.

In other news

Maryland football players continued to react to the cancellation of the season.

The Big East canceled all sports through 2020 Wednesday, meaning Maryland men’s basketball likely won’t compete in the Gavitt Games this upcoming season.

Former Maryland men’s soccer player Eryk Williamson got the start Tuesday night and helped guide Portland Timbers to the MLS is Back Tournament title.

Several former Maryland men’s lacrosse players are up Premier Lacrosse League awards.

Maryland women’s lacrosse head coach Cathy Reese posted a webinar with US Lacrosse.