Big picture, what's the problem with a 5th year? If done right, it could be a very good thing.
-Add 2 more years to the service obligation for anyone taking a 5th year (1 per semester)
-Football players (really all athletes) cannot play during their 5th year - that time is dedicated to catching up on academic requirements that they might not be able to meet as a result of their schedule or physical requirements (height/weight) from their sport.
-NARP's can take a 5th year too, same additional service obligation, if taking a double major, etc.
-Extra year has additional courses focusing on AF leadership development
I don't see the issue with one extra year - is it really that much different than an enlisted soldier/airman who serves for 5 years before commissioning via OCS?
I don't know what is going at USAFA- but this is a transparent scam and as a taxpayer and as a retired military officer- I am really outraged. Even at regular colleges the whole 5 year Red Shirt thing is a travesty to begin with- college as a support mechanism for the football program. If, in order to be competitive in D1 football, the Academies (or at least USAFA) are now truly adopting or at least advocating for this (along with the prep school scam in which sadly the prep schools have in large part become a Redshirt program in all but name), then there needs to be some serious review of the Academies mission because this is exactly what LITS is describing as "we're a college" mentality. This is transparent baloney - but e's not lying though with his prediction that it will "basically remain a 4 year institution"- but that will be because as a % of the Cadet population, the football and basketball teams are relatively small (and rest assured that these are the special needs he is trying to meet).I guess the issue for me is "what am I paying for?" An extra year isn't cheap. What's the benefit. Remember, the reason academies exist is to produce officers.
The side issue is, now that they have seven years obligation, if they're for some reason forced out, they have to be provided a severance package.... not the case for "5 and divers."
But again, why should the taxpayer fund this extra year when the military is heading toward downsizing anyway? This is beyond a "we're just a college, lets us be a college."
-Football players (really all athletes) cannot play during their 5th year - that time is dedicated to catching up on academic requirements that they might not be able to meet as a result of their schedule or physical requirements (height/weight) from their sport.
Such a plan, if adopted, could have a huge effect on the athletic program, thereby allowing an extra year of competition.
Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun has expressed frustration this season about the competitive disadvantage of not being allowed to have cadets play a fifth year.
How many athletes do SA lose for academic reasons?
When SAs recruit athletes to play sports, perhaps send them to prep schools, than lose them sophomore year or junior year for academic reasons they just wasted appointments that could have produced military officers.
The coach is asking for a 5th year of playing football.
Answer: Who cares?
Answer: Zero. There are more qualified, non-D1 athletes who would be fine officers. Get rid of the dumb 5-year students, you'll still have plenty of qualified folks (who don't need Prep) to graduate in four years and become officers (you know.... the very purpose of service academies).
The last year or so, with all of the issues out in Colorado Springs, has really knocked the school down a peg or two in my mind. It's a shame.
That would be against NCAA eligibility rules (only allowed to play for four years). What I'm saying is that if the purpose of the 5th year is academic, make it solely academic. You play during years 1-4, 5 is all school.
So the AFA coach is asking for NCAA rules to be broken? That doesn't sound honorable.
That would be against NCAA eligibility rules (only allowed to play for four years). What I'm saying is that if the purpose of the 5th year is academic, make it solely academic. You play during years 1-4, 5 is all school.
Having a 5 year program as you described would be useless to a Football Program.
The whole purpose of the 5 year Redshirt program is that the player does not play their first year. The player practices with the team their entire first year learning the program and system, adding strength and skill. The player then starts playing their second year while having the remaining 4 years of eligibility. This means the team will now have a player that has had 5 years with the program, one all practice and four playing.
To have a player get a 5th year that they can't play and only use for academics does the football program no good at all.
Personally I would not want any of the SA's to adopt this program, taxpayers should not have to pay for another year at an Academy just so the football team can win a few more games, Last I heard, that wasn't their mission.
according to the article, the purpose is academic, not athletic. The point I'm trying to make is that if the football team is truly concerned about academics, they'd take that deal. if not, I agree and call bs