The Ivy League Board of Presidents has approved the opportunity for current student-athletes to play an additional season as graduates next season, according to a statement sent to student-athletes on Thursday.
The statement, obtained by ESPN, clearly shows that changing the rule is a one-time waiver, as the Ivy League cancels its fall and winter seasons. It will not be a permanent change.
“This change is a direct result of the pandemic and will not be available in the coming years,” the note said. “The waiver gives current fourth-year students the opportunity to complete their athletics experience at their current institution in 2021-22, after remaining on the track to graduate in four years.”
It is a cruel change for the Ivy League, which in the past did not allow sports reds or graduate students to play athletics. About 20 Ivy League men’s basketball players graduated and transferred to another school in 2015, including several high-level ones. Former Columbia transfer Mike Smith could be the best recent example; he is the starting point for Michigan, team no. 3 of basketball.
There are also more than 20 Ivy League men’s basketball players on the NCAA transfer portal. Last season’s Co-Player of the Year, Yale striker Paul Atkinson signed to play for Notre Dame next season. Six of the top 25 players in the ESPN transfer rankings come from the Ivy League, including four players who won conference honors last season.
“Students-athletes who want to take advantage of this waiver must be admitted [and then enroll full-time] as graduates looking for graduate students through the usual channels of their university institution, “the ad reads.” They must receive the waiver approval from their institution’s 5th year counselor, and the waiver request must be processed and approved by the Ivy League office. The existing Ivy League financial aid rules will continue to apply. “
In November, the Ivy League became the first and only Division I conference to cancel all winter sports. Affected sports include men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, indoor track, swimming and fencing.
Ivy was also the first conference to cancel its men’s and women’s conference tournaments last March, and it was the first conference to announce that it will not be a fall sport due to the coronavirus pandemic.