Any Chance of Ojemudia 5th Year?
During the NW Broadcast, one of the commentators said Harbaugh told him Michigan was looking into the possibility for Mario getting a 5th year. I thought that was completely impossible since he played in 5 games this year, but I wonder why Harbaugh would even mention it if that's the case. Is there any precedent for someone getting a 5th year in this circumstance? It does look like Mario didn't play much his first year, so maybe that could be factored in?
October 12th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
He played in more than 30% of Michigan's games, so he's not eligible for a medical redshirt per the relevant NCAA rule. Michigan would have to argue for some sort of waiver.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
For some reason I thought the cutoff was exactly 1/3. If that is the case, then it would be possible if Michigan got to 15 games... if you know what I mean.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
It's not 1/3. It's 30%, but all fractions round up. 12 / 13 games -> 4. 14 / 15 games -> 5.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
That's strange because I remember Jim commented the next day after the Maryland game and mentioned how he couldn't get another year to his knowledge. Not sure if it would be possible but I would say it would be a slim/no chance.
October 12th, 2015 at 7:56 PM ^
He told Brandstatter on Inside Michigan that he was going to try to get a waiver from the NCAA so Mario could come back.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^
Ah the ol' "hey man, this was kinda shitty" waiver.
And oldy, but goody.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
NCAA Division I – An athlete must not have participated in more than three contests or 30 percent of their season schedule (whichever is greater) and not after the halfway point of the season (based on the number of contests rather than a particular date).
Maybe they're looking into if there's any precedent for getting another year. I'm sure they could appeal, but at least based on the rule it doesn't seem it is possible.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^
To add a bit to this, you can extend eligibility per 14.2.1.5.1 in the handbook:
A waiver of the five-year period of eligibility is designed to provide a studentathlete with the opportunity to participate in four seasons of intercollegiate competition within a five-year period. This waiver may be granted, based upon objective evidence, for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution, which deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in his/her sport within the five-year period.
It also mentions that a committee will review cases that do not meet the requirements and one of the reasons can be medical, but it basically would need to be an incapacitating (or at least long-term) injury, either to the player or someone on the player's family. It also details financial hardship and being the unwitting victim of academic fraud as other valid reasons, but these were just examples, not a comprehensive list.
October 12th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
Did he play more than 30% each year? Perhaps they are looking at prior years.
[Edit: (answers self) not seeing it: http://statsarchive.ath.umich.edu/VS-Football/cmaster.php ]
October 12th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
Even if Ojemudia played 100% of the the games with BYU and Maryland it seems like the NCAA shouldn't really count them since neither team scored any points.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
I'd probably shit my pants.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
There is a 30% rule that comes into play. However, I wonder if Minick & Co. will count the exact number of plays MO played and argue that he technically did not play in 30% of our total number of plays.
Just a complete guess, though.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
Yeah but if you are in for one play you have participated in the contest. Ojemudia particpated in 5 contests so I'm pretty sure the chances he has of getting a medical redshirt are -273.15 C.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
game? Then Utah through Maryland is still only 35%. Shoot. So Utah through HALF of Maryland is only 32%. Poop!
Just really sucks for that young man. I hope there's a way. I can't believe at his size coming in they burned his redshirt his freshman year.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
Here's the applicable text from the NCAA bylaw in question (12.8.4: Hardship Waiver, section (c)):
(c) In team sports, the injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not participated in more than three contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or 30 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution’s scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in his or her sport. Only scheduled or completed competition against outside participants during the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship, or, if so designated, during the official NCAA championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball, fall soccer), shall be countable under this limitation in calculating both the number of contests or dates of competition in which the student-athlete has participated and the number of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition during that season in the sport. Dates of competition that are exempted (e.g., alumni contests, foreign team in the United States) from the maximum permissible number of contests or dates of competition shall count toward the number of contests or dates in which the student-athlete has participated and the number of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in the season, except for scrimmages and exhibition contests that are specifically identified as such in the sport’s Bylaw 17 playing and practice season regulations. Scrimmages and exhibition contests that are not exempted from the maximum permissible number of contests or dates of competition may be excluded from the calculation only if they are identified as such in the sport’s Bylaw 17 playing and practice season regulations;
You then need to continue to read to find 12.8.4.3.6.1, Denominator in Perent Computation, subsection 1 (Team Sports), and subsection 1 of that, Conference Championships:
12.8.4.3.6.1 Denominator in Percent Computation.
12.8.4.3.6.1.1 Team Sports. The denominator in the institution’s percent calculation shall be based on the institution’s number of scheduled or completed varsity contests or dates of competition [see Bylaw 12.8.4-(c)] as computed for playing and practice season purposes in Bylaw 17 for the applicable sport. [Note: Exempted events in Bylaw 17 are included in the percent calculation, except as provided in Bylaw 12.8.4-(c).] An institution participating in a single-elimination event may only count the actual contests in which the institution participates (as opposed to the number of contests scheduled in the event) in determining the number of scheduled or completed contests in the denominator. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 2/11/98, 4/26/01 effective 8/1/01, 6/21/01, 8/4/05, 4/24/08, 7/31/14)
12.8.4.3.6.1.1.1 Conference Championships. A conference championship shall be counted as one contest or date of competition in determining the institution’s scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in that sport, regardless of the number of days or games involved in the championship. However, for purposes of this regulation, the calculation of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in a particular season does not include postseason competition conducted after the completion of the institution’s regular-season schedule and conference tournament. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 4/26/01 effec- tive 8/1/01, 8/4/05, 7/31/14)
The rounding up rule is 12.8.4.3.6.2.
Then, you'd want to move on to bylaw 17.10, which is the definition of the length of the football season, wherein it says 12, excluding the conference championship game, bowl game, and national championship game.
So, the way I read it, all of the games played during the season count, because it specifically says that exempt events count in the denominator. You could even make an argument that the championship game should count even if Michigan isn't in it, since it says "regardless of the number of days or games involved in the championship." Of course, this being the NCAA, who knows what they'll decide it means.
(By the way, the last page with content in the Division I guidebook is page 391. I think the fact that there are nearly 400 pages of rules for the NCAA sums up everything that's wrong with the NCAA).
October 12th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
12.8.4.3.6.1.1.1 seems to say that you can't count a playoff (per what I quote below). But then bylaw 17.10 does count a playoff a part of the season. I'm inclined to think 12.8.4.3.6.1.1.1 controls, but my knowledge of it is limited to what you posted.
...the calculation of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in a particular season does not include postseason competition conducted after the completion of the institution’s regular-season schedule and conference tournament.
October 12th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
In all fairness, CCGs, Playoffs, and Bowl games should not count. Some teams like Alabama would always get extra games, some like Purdue would never get any.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
If we make the National Champ game, he'll only have featured in 5 of 15 contests, which would be 33%. If you count his Maryland game as .5, that gives him 4.5/15 games, or /exactly/ 30%.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
The rule says scheduled contests, which I assume doesn't include the conference championship game nor the CFP, but I could be wrong.
In team sports, the injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not participated in more than three contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or 30 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution's scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in his or her sport.
But I say why not try for it? The worst they can say is no.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
As I recall, there was a kid from MSU back in the late 90s or early 2000s that got a SIXTH year due to outrageously bad injury luck.
Regardless, I'd bet my house that someone in this situation has gotten a 5th year before. The NCAA is nothing if not inconsistent.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
of Oklahoma get a 6th year?
October 12th, 2015 at 11:25 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 12th, 2015 at 3:02 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 12th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
MSU under Saban successfully applied for 6th years a couple of times. If you miss two seasons due to injury you can get that.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^
I know it's a different sport, but Brian Cardinal was allowed to play 13 years at Purdue.
October 12th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
Robbie Hummel as well, and that QB who had like 25 acl tears, and a couple of other guys that I can't think of right now. So basically, Michigan just needs to call Purdue and figure out what they have on the NCAA so Michigan can use it as well.
October 12th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^
Wait, so Brian Cardinal and Robbie Hummel are two different people?
October 12th, 2015 at 12:07 PM ^
to get a waiver. If there are, the NCAA can be a bit unpredictable. Lately, they've been more lenient in the athlete's favor.
But there has to something we could argue. I'm not seeing anything.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
You go to the NCAA and say "Why would a wookie, an 8 foot tall wookie want to live on Endor with a bunch of 2 foot tall ewoks? That does not make sense. But more important, you have to ask yourself what does this have to do with Mario Ojemudia? Nothing. It has nothing to do with Mario Ojemudia. It does not make sense. If Chewbacca lives on Endor you must give Mario Ojemudia a redshirt."
October 12th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
Wonderful call back - Matt Stone and Trey Parker also did that wonderful player introduction for their alma mater Colorado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_3Npq5owBE
October 12th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
Absolutely love the reference!
October 12th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
I would like to see that. Clark too, I think he has a shot as a NFL corner with another year of coaching and experience in the position.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 12th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
Actually, if Michigan were to make the Big Ten Championship game, and then a bowl / playoff game thereafter, that would be a minimum of 14 games. 30% of 14 is 4.2, which rounds up to 5. Mario Ojemduia would be eligible. I just don't know if the title game counts as a scheduled game; the linked source below doesn't say. I'd think that it would though.
Note that I would not be the least bit surprised if the National Championship game didn't count, because the NCAA considered it part of a tournament which counts as a single countable event -- the same way the basketball schedule gets abused.
Source: http://mgoblog.com/diaries/medical-redshirt-vs-medical-exemption-overvi… (there's more in the commments, including a link to VT's page which explains the rounding but still has the outdated 20% rule on it: http://www.athletics.vt.edu/compliance/competition/seasons.html )
October 12th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
It feels unlikely, but why the heck not at least investigate the option. I get why the rule exists, but it does feel like Mario got kind of screwed in the whole process.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
it doesn't do any harm to ask, does it? The worst that can happen is they just say no.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
Robbie Hummel played 12 seasons at Purdue.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
Perhaps the argument for a 5th year could be made on the severity of the injury. An achilles tendon injury recovery could take up to 9 months, which would prevent Ojemudia from showcasing his abilities in front of pro teams until after they have their summer rosters set. Will the NCAA consider what's best for an athlete on a case by case basis? Worth a try. They owe Michigan one for McGary.