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On this date in 1972, the NCAA grants freshmen eligibility

in football and basketball.

On January 8, 1972, the NCAA grants freshmen eligibility in its two biggest team sports, basketball and football. An overwhelming majority of representatives at the annual NCAA convention vote for freshmen participation in basketball; a closer majority vote in favor of freshmen participation in football.

Before freshmen were eligible to play on varsity, they played on junior varsity teams, no matter how dominant they might be in their sport. The consensus for decades was that freshmen were not ready to compete at the varsity level, especially in football.

It was no coincidence that this vote came shortly after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s legendary collegiate career and during Bill Walton’s equally impressive college tenure.

Posted: 01/08/2022 at 07:09AM

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Current Thread:

On this date in 1972, the NCAA grants freshmen eligibility -- PhotoHokieNC 01/08/2022 07:09AM

Great history, thanks -- VTCC 65 01/08/2022 1:40PM

Mike Vick ** -- UEMcGill 01/08/2022 1:51PM

Kareem was on the JV team that beat the defending NCAA champ varsity team -- turkeywinghokie 01/08/2022 09:29AM

My dad says he did't work hard enough on defense. And he says that -- B777Fr8Dog 01/08/2022 10:22AM

Has UR Dad ever been wrong? -- VTCC 65 01/08/2022 1:47PM

Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court. ** -- SDHokie 01/08/2022 11:14AM

Can you imagine having Lew Alcindor and not being able to play him? ** -- Happy Dog 01/08/2022 09:32AM

Almost like having Michael Vick and not playing him. ** -- RoswellGAHokie 01/08/2022 09:41AM

My dad has some stories about those JV games in the 50s/60s -- Happy Dog 01/08/2022 08:22AM

I supervised a construction crew of convicts on a work release program.... -- BusLoadaBozos 01/08/2022 11:46AM

Didja ever get mugged, slugged or hugged? ** -- VTCC 65 01/08/2022 1:49PM

Wow, had a roommate who played industrial league softball -- `lag 01/08/2022 09:03AM

Yowee zowee. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 01/08/2022 08:41AM