On its own, having a standard 5 years to play 5 seasons of NCAA sports makes sense, but how do you implement this change without causing chaos? Or lawsuits?

If it feels like the transfer portal season has been wild, it’s been actually far calmer than previous years… but one thing that could throw it all into the wood chipper and that’s letting players with expiring eligibility play another season…

Mark Mitchell? Shawn Phillips? How about Jakobie Gillespie, Xaivian Lee, Tyler Nickel, Otega Oweh, or Keyshawn Hall? It could all be possible if the NCAA makes a bad decision.

I’m for a more uniform rule on eligibility. Right now it’s a mess. We have people applying for waivers to play 6, 7, 8, or even yes… 9 years of college basketball. Injuries suck, but they’re a fact of life for athletes. Losing a college season to an injury sucks, but it’s just part of it. I don’t think it’s fair to grant waiver after waiver for guys because they were injured.

Maybe one… but that’s it.

At some point you’ve just got to go do something else.

I think with the 5 in 5 rule they really should set an age restriction. Maybe it’s 25, I don’t know. Others can make that call, but they’ve got to get to a very uniform approach. There’s just too much money going around, and the players who are just on the outside of eligibility (and their agents) are doing everything they can to keep in the game.

But the problem is there are 15 roster spots on every D1 team, and of those D1 teams there are only so many who are paying big time money. And there are a LOT of high floor low ceiling players who are sticking around as long as they can, while younger players with more upside are kept out.

Part of the appeal of college is the turnover, and seeing young talented players blossom. If you’ve been in college and played four full seasons, why don’t you move on no matter what dumb thing the NCAA does here in a few days.

Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+

Welp, no Mizzou players were drafted into the first round for the first time in a few years. It was a mild surprise as Zion Young was getting some 1st round buzz, but Matthew Gustafson prepped an NFL Draft primer for Mizzou fans:

But something both the movie and the real NFL Draft share is emphasizing the importance of those three days each year to both the young men fulfilling their dreams to play professional football and the teams whose future largely depend on their ability to select the right players for the future. And for a few Missouri Tigers, those three days will also be when they make the official transition from collegiate athletes to the NFL.

I’m no longer a big NFL guy, and especially the NFL Draft. But I do root for Mizzou players to get drafted high and have long careers. I loved watching Zion play, I loved watching Josiah play. I hope both get picked first and second in the next round.

Dear Gymnastics

This was a terrific idea and execution by Elise Tisler and Karen Steger:

When I started looking for my next step, I knew exactly what mattered. I wanted culture — not just a close team, but a group where every person was bought in. I wanted collective goals. I wanted to be part of a program chasing something bigger than any one individual. I wanted the full collegiate athletic experience — resources, support, and people invested in me not just as a gymnast, but as a person.

And then I found Missouri.

This reads like a recruiting pitch Coach Welker should link to in every letter he sends out. It’s excellent read it if you haven’t already.

• Mizzou Baseball is looking to recover from a recent stretch of 8 straight losses, the road gets tough with top 25 Arkansas coming to Columbia:

The Tigers host the No. 24-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks for a 3-game series lasting from Thursday to Saturday. Missouri fans will be greeted with a Missouri-style, Masters golf hat giveaway, followed up by a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on the SEC Network in the opening game. Friday’s matchup will also air nationally at the same time, and this series finale on SEC Network+ will feature a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.

Mizzou (20–21, 3–15 SEC) is looking to bounce back after its 11–5 loss to SIUE on Tuesday on home turf. The Tigers’ one-run lead evaporated after an eight‑run Cougar rally in the eighth flipped the game on its head. Now, onto the theme of the day, interrogating the next incoming visitor to the windy confines of Taylor Stadium.

Well at least the season started well?

PORTAL MADNESS

Honestly, not much is happening but we are still talking through it. Plus Matt Harris has a Jaylen Carey scout working, should be out soon.

Rock M Radio: We’re still talkin’ portal

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