The NCAA Division 1 Council on Monday voted to allow schools to provide an added season of eligibility and competition for its spring sports athletes who saw their seasons end prematurely due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
While largely applauded as a fair decision, this “blanket waiver” also presents challenges and tough financial decisions for the individual athletes, programs and schools.
“You talk about a Pandora’s box and the hundreds of scenarios this creates,” said Ed Stephenson, the men’s lacrosse coach at UMass Lowell. “There’s going to be shock waves for the next four years.”