Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh8ch
This medical hardship was making me crazy as well but I think I have found the answer in this link:
TD LEE :: Lee Suggs :: Virginia Tech
The problem is that there are two components. The hardship waiver is granted by the conference- not the NCAA - and can be granted at any time.
However, the hardship waiver does not extend the 5 year clock. That can only be granted by the NCAA and can't be requested until the clock is used up.
So Clifford may indeed have his medical waiver, but that does not guarantee the sixth year.
The only reason the medical waiver has value without the sixth year is that it allows a player to play some games before being injured and still use that season as their traditional RS year. |
You're mostly right. In Clifford's case, the sixth year (to play four) is not necessary at this point. The medical hardship waiver (redshirt) means he preserved a year of competition.
If he had not been granted the waiver by the conference, he would be down to four years left to play three seasons. Since he got the waiver though, he now has four years left to play four seasons.
The only time there is a need to appeal for a sixth year is when the number of seasons of remaining eligible competition is greater than the time left in which to complete them.
Because Clifford's injury happened as a true freshman (and the same holds for any player who has not used their "traditional" redshirt year), essentially what he got was a mulligan. The Buckeyes were able to retroactively apply a redshirt to him even though he had already played some games.