By Andy Groebner, and Jacob Laux
The NCAA is considering applying roster limits to all Division 1 sports, including the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB).
Recently, the NCAA has been under close watch and scrutiny due to the House v. NCAA class action lawsuit for three reasons. First, previous Division I athletes who were not previously eligible for NIL payments and compensation would like their fair share. Second, in order to alleviate similar situations in the future, the NCAA has proposed roster limits between all sports, replacing percentage-based scholarships with full-team scholarships and sponsorship allowances. Lastly, Title lX questions have been invoked due to male-dominated sports receiving unequal amounts of funding, scholarships, and NIL backing. This class action lawsuit amounts to $2.8 billion to be paid out by all Division I athletic centers, including UWGB.
In the following months leading up to April 7, the final hearing date and last opportunity for universities to opt in for this change, NCAA representatives and schools will have to make the decision whether or not they feel this change will benefit them. Opting in will allow their institution to provide full scholarships to virtually all of their athletes.
UWGB athlete alum and current NCAA representative Betsey Walkowiak, who also serves as Detroit Mercy’s academic and compliance coordinator and works closely with NCAA representatives, is involved in these changes. “Several key factors should be taken into account. Raising college football roster limits from 85 to 105 and putting a limit of 60 swimmers and divers for athletic institutions who will be taking part in this change on April 7 seems like a significant change. However, I do not believe that this will be as detrimental as many think,” Walkowiak said.
Taking this information, sports like basketball, volleyball, football, and other mainstream sports may not see a noticeable difference. That being said, Olympic sports like swimming and diving, in particular, due to their large athlete bodies in nature (upwards of 70 athletes), may find a large difference in roster changes. Betsey gave her best estimation of transfer portal increase from an average of 200-300 D1 swimmers each year, jumping up to ~5000.
A UWGB swimmer, who requested anonymity, said, “I am nervous about my athletic future here at UWGB. I don’t know if I’ll be a part of the team or will have to enter the transfer portal next season.”
Even when entering the transfer portal, the chances of finding a new Division 1 program can be slim due to the roster reductions happening around the country. “Even though I’m nervous about the potential change, it makes me excited to see what athletes will go where; it gives myself and our team a chance to compete against people we’ve never competed against before,” a UWGB swimmer said.
This change could alter the power dynamics within the NCAA, potentially allowing new schools to emerge as powerhouses. Division II and III schools may rise to compete with high-level Division I programs.
In all, UWGB is uniquely affected by these proposed changes due to its lack of football, baseball, and other predominantly men’s sports, leaving more women’s sports unaffected. This means that all changes proposed would most likely only have changes for the men’s and women’s swim and dive teams, potentially creating more scholarship opportunities if UWGB emerges as a stronger contender in NCAA athletics. When all is said and done, UWGB has the opportunity to take on an influx of new talent from larger universities and grow the athletics department into a force to be reckoned with.