The NCAA is currently in the works to allow all student athletes to have a fifth year of eligibility.

This new rule change would not only affect all sports for both men and women, but also Presidents’ Athletic Conference. According to PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko, the NCAA has a federated government structure, which essentially means whatever changes happen to one division, it happens to all.

“This is something that has been discussed greatly in division I,” Commissioner of the PAC Joe Onderko said. “All of us who have been at this for a while realize that anything that happens in division I trickles its way down to division III.” 

Onderko believes that this all stems from COVID-19, when a lot of athletes were granted a fifth and even sixth year of eligibility. 

A prime example of this is University of Miami tight end Cam McCormick, who started his ninth season of his collegiate football career. McCormick redshirted his first two years, then in 2018 had a season ending injury, followed by the COVID year, and since has been playing off of his senior year and two years of eligibility. 

While this is something definitely in motion, Onderko says it is not something that will be in effect anytime soon. 

“I don’t think this is something imminente in division III, we’re keeping an eye on it certainly, and we’ll have discussions about it at the national level,” Onderko said. “But for something like this to happen, there would have to be some serious guardrails put up.” 

Above all, Onderko’s primary focus is academics. 

“I am about academics ahead of athletics,” he said. “It doesn’t mean athletics aren’t important or a part of the educational mission…if this was to come to division III, the educational component has to come first and has to be protected.”  

Waynesburg University Athletic Director and Men’s basketball Head Coach,Tim Fusina spoke about how it all ties back to COVID and allows students to get two degrees in five years. 

“We have a unique situation here where we offer a fifth year MBA and we offer grad classes,” Fusina said. “You could theoretically walk out of here just like some of these athletes now with their COVID waiver are walking out of here in five years with two degrees. They could be doing the same thing as long as this rule is in place.” 

Fusina continued to say that especially for Waynesburg, there is an advantage compared to other PAC schools when facing this new opportunity. 

“It’s an advantage for us compared to some schools when some schools in our conference do not have a graduate program,” he said. “That would be a point for them almost not to do or to worry about.” 

While this idea does offer a lot of potential to student athletes, some, despite the opportunity, have elected not to take it. 

“I think that having a fifth year for athletes is a very beneficial thing to have, however, I wouldn’t take my fifth year because of several injuries I’ve had, and my major not being a five year program,” senior volleyball athlete Paige Cousley said. “I just don’t think going for five years would be beneficial for me, but good for all athletes to have.” 

The idea is still in consideration, and this will not affect this year’s senior class, however in the near future, we could be seeing student athletes from all sports be taking this fifth year option. 

As Fusina said, this also gives Waynesburg a new opportunity to bring in new recruits and allow them to expand their academic experience.