He only got the 6th year of eligibilty if he transferred to a school offering his grad degree program. He wouldn't have gotten a 6th year staying at USF. He couldn't have stayed and played. He was a SR for USF according to their 2008 roster.
I don't think that's how it works. I don't believe they give you an extra year of eligibility for transferring, they just don't make you sit out a year if you transfer to another school that offers a graduate program your current school does not.
The new rule (proposal 2005-54) states: A student-athlete who earns an undergraduate degree in four years but still has one year of eligibility remaining can transfer into another college's graduate school and finish his or her playing career there immediately without having to sit out a year.
The purpose of this rule is, according to the NCAA Legislative Review Committee, "A student-athlete who earned his or her undergraduate degree has achieved the primary goal of graduation and should be permitted to choose a graduate school that meets both his or her academic and athletic interests, regardless of his or her previous transfer history.I'm assuming that Gregory could have still played at USF one more year, because he must have had one more year of eligibility remaining. He chose to transfer because he didn't want to sit behind Grothe another year. I really doubt the new rule would reward someone with extra eligibility simply for transferring. Seems like a ton of kids could simply play 4-5 years somewhere and then transfer to another school and enjoy another free year of school. Would be a nice way to get your Master's paid for though. At least that's the way I understand it. I could certainly be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=tb-transfertrouble060606
