Syracuse Basketball: One-time transfer exception needs to happen ASAP

Syracuse basketball, its new commit Alan Griffin and the entire collegiate-sports world are awaiting the NCAA’s decision on transfers.

The ability of sophomore wing Alan Griffin, a transfer from Illinois who recently committed to Syracuse basketball, to compete on the court this fall hinges on a couple of factors.

Since he’s a traditional transfer, the 6-foot-5 Griffin normally would have to sit out a year before officially suiting up on the Hill. However, he could apply to the NCAA for a waiver, and, in these difficult times due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it’s certainly possible that Griffin may receive one.

Secondly, the NCAA is seriously considering legislation that would allow student-athletes a one-time transfer exception with immediate eligibility. Media reports have indicated that this legislation, if approved, could become effective with the 2020-21 campaign, and that would prove terrific for Griffin and other traditional transfers who are hoping to play right away.

But the pandemic, understandably, is creating all sorts of dilemmas for the NCAA, which in all fairness has a lot on its plate, and frankly for everyone else around the globe. Initially, it appeared that a vote on the legislation would occur in April.

In recent weeks, chatter has surfaced that a vote could get pushed back several months, putting 2020-21 as a start date for the new transfer rule into flux. Of course, some of this is pure speculation.

"On Thursday night, though, Kendall Rogers, co-managing editor of D1Baseball.com, shared this tweet: “SOURCES: The NCAA Division I Council will discuss the implementation of a one-time transfer waiver on April 24. The Council will not vote on it that day, but a vote IS expected to take place on May 20. Told the measure is expected to pass and would immediately apply. Stay tuned.”"

If what Rogers is reporting does transpire, then Griffin would get to compete in the upcoming stanza, and that’s encouraging for the Orange. He’s a versatile talent who could end up in the starting rotation, or in a key 6th-man role.

Still, because of the pandemic and the chaos that it has produced, there’s no guarantee the transfer change will get enacted prior to the 2020-21 term commencing.

"Griffin, for one, told Mike Waters of Syracuse.com a few days ago, “I can only control what I can control. I can’t worry about the stuff I can’t control.”"

The situation surrounding the transfer legislation is clearly fluid. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd spoke with the chair of the working group overseeing the issue, Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, with Dodd’s article saying, “Any recommendations on a one-time transfer rule for major-sport athletes will not come until at least May.”

Steinbrecher told Dodd that “concepts will be presented and shared” with the NCAA Division I Council during a meeting on April 23-24. “Action could be taken in May. It could be taken in June,” Steinbrecher said.

The working group is expected to recommend whether student-athletes in all sports will receive a one-time transfer exception. “Currently, athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and hockey must serve a year in residence before playing at their new school,” Dodd wrote.

Steinbrecher said in the piece that the objective has proven to have the transfer legislation in place for 2020-21, and that it’s merely speculation the change will ultimately get delayed until 2021-22.

“For anybody to peg a specific date right now is purely hypothetical,” he said. “We’re moving together in all deliberate speed, making a good faith effort to deliver something. It could be enacted shortly after it’s passed. It could be delayed.”

Personally, I’ve adamantly felt for a long time now that student-athletes, regardless of the sport that they play, should have the option to transfer once without having to sit out.

Coaches move around frequently, often without penalty or repercussions. Student-athletes deserve the same choice. Enabling players to transfer an unlimited number of instances is going too far, but the one-time waiver is more than reasonable.

This is particularly true, given the pandemic, as young women and men may want to play closer to home. Griffin, for example, attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y., which is about four hours from the ‘Cuse campus.

For his sake, and the many other student-athletes out there, the NCAA must do the correct thing and swiftly pass this appropriate measure.