NCAA announces rule changes on transfers and redshirts, Moos and Frost weigh in

The NCAA’s Division I council approved a proposal Wednesday that allows student-athletes to transfer without permission from their university or coach.

Plus, the school will be obligated to enter that athlete’s name into a national transfer database within two business days.

In addition, college football players who take a redshirt year will be allowed to play in four games without losing that redshirt. This new rule allows players to preserve a season of competition if, for example, injuries or other factors result in them playing in a few games.

Nebraska head football coach Scott Frost voiced his support for the redshirt rule change several times in the spring.

“I think it’d be great to be able to play four games and save the redshirt,” Frost said. “You get into situations as a coach. (For example), you got two games left, you’re trying to win the conference, and two running backs get hurt. You’ve got a decision whether to pull a guy’s redshirt like that. In a situation like that, it’d be nice to be able to put a kid in and not burn his redshirt. I think it really protects the players.”

While Frost is hesitant to open up transfer rules entirely, he had stated a couple times that he’s in favor of athletes having a few more rights when it comes to choosing the right school.

“I’m all for players having more freedom and more rights,” Frost said in an April teleconference. “I do think there’s an argument to be made that players should have an opportunity to go and pursue academics and athletics wherever they want to.”

 NU athletic director Bill Moos said Wednesday afternoon that more transfer rule changes are likely on the way.

“It is the first step,” he said on today’s decision.

Moos also weighed in on the redshirt rule, and like Frost, sees benefits for both coaches and student-athletes.

“Now you’re getting to midseason or close to the end and you’re making a run to get into a bowl game or what have you,” Moos said, “and you have some injuries and such and that player (who redshirts) is ready, because he’s had a couple months of scrimmage, he’s been in the weight room and he’s acclimated.”

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