In response to COVID-19, the NCAA is considering reducing the number of sports a college has to support in order to be considered D1.
The current rules say that FBS schools must field at least 16 teams and D1 schools at least 14 teams. A minimum of eight of the FBS list of 16 must be women's teams.
In a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert dated April 10, the commissioners of the Group of Five conferences – the American Athletic, Conference USA, the Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt – said: "In order to provide NCAA Division I institutions flexibility in addressing the challenges for the foreseeable future, we request temporary relief from several regulatory requirements for a period of up to four years. A blanket waiver for relief will provide institutions the ability to make prudent and necessary decisions for the financial well-being of the institution.”
This has serious ramifications for less well-known sports, including rugby, which has at least 16 teams in the NCAA conferences (NIRA).
Given the freedom toi summarily drop sports, colleges could do just that, leaving student-athletes and coaches out in the cold.
There is a movement afoot to stop this plan.
There's a website, http://www.savecollegesports.com/, and a social media campaign (#SaveOurSports), as well an online petition.
The petition can be seen and signed here>>
This is a small way rugby fans can help support and maintain a crucial initiative in college rugby.
