The Corona Virus effect continues. The illness has taken its toll on a human level and it has dealt a crushing economic blow across the world.
One of the many victims of the virus spread were college spring sports — they were completely wiped out. Campuses are closed and the all-important, revenue-driving college football season is in jeopardy.
Now college golf, with its season canceled, could be facing bigger problems.
League commissioners from the Group Of Five schools and 22 other schools outside the Power Five conferences, have written to NCAA President Mark Emmert, asking for emergency action to reduce some of the requirements for Division I membership — including the minimum number of sports a college must field.
This is bad news for non-revenue sports like men’s and women’s golf programs.
In part, the letter read:
“In order to provide NCAA Division I institutions flexibility in addressing the challenges for the foreseeable future, we request temporary relief from several regulatory requirements for a period of up to four years. A blanket waiver for relief will provide institutions the ability to make prudent and necessary decisions for the financial well-being of the institution.”
The first big blow came when the NCAA was forced to cancel March Madness and then came the spring sports eliminations.
The NCAA requires Division I schools to field at least 16 varsity sports. The Group of Five, which consists of the American Athletic Conference, Mountain West Conference, Mid-American Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA, is asking for a four-year waiver from these requirements. The other 22 conferences agree that a two-year exemption with an option up to four years is a better route.
Big programs like Oklahoma State, Texas, Stanford and SEC teams have self-funding power. As for the little guys, not so much.
The Golf Coaches Association of America has joined other non-revenue coaches’ organizations jumped into action — their jobs are on the line. They fired off correspondence to the NCAA that read in part:
“If this waiver passes, it would mean the potential for fewer teams, fewer scholarships and fewer opportunities for student athletes competing in Olympic and non-revenue producing sports. The GCAA strongly opposes this drastic measure and has signed off on a letter with other coaches associations that was sent to NCAA President Mark Emmert today.”
It added:
“The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic places a lasting burden on both higher education and intercollegiate athletics alike, but slashing opportunities for students is not the solution.”
As for the number of teams — there are currently 292 men’s and 261 women’s golf programs in Division I.
Stay tuned on this one.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
This really is scary for college golf hopefuls, especially boys which seems to be very competitive.
It’s not football or basketball but college golf does generate more revenue than other sports, especially with GC coverage growing.
The problem is even within each sport there are too few haves and way too many have not in the ncaa.
The ncaa is such a wierd amateur system; dominated by the most money generating programs.
The money from the haves in college sports, even after losing a season of big time revenue, must be what a saves the college sports landscape as we know it.
Because Everything matters. Ever sport. Every scholarship. Every opportunity.
Tom Edrington
The “haves” typically have wealthy alumni bases that support them, like Oklahoma State; They can raise whatever it is they need; Even coaches at these big programs are wearing Rolex watches…..imagine that.