Charles Chaney
Sports Editor
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference’s football season began and you might as well drop “Kansas” from the name.
With the new conference ruling eliminating scholarship and roster restrictions, in the matter of one season, the rosters are drastically different.
There are only 104 student-athletes from the state of Kansas, compared to 317 last season. Only 16.4 percent of the rosters in the KJCCC are from Kansas, compared to last season’s 66.2 percent.
“The best kids will play,” Garden City Head Coach Jeff Sims said at KJCCC Media Day. “If a Kansas kid is good enough, he’ll be seen.”
Coaches throughout Kansas voiced their concerns on eliminating roster restrictions. Previously, schools were limited to have only 30 out-of-state roster spots. Rosters were limited to 64 players as well. The average roster size this season is 74.3, compared to last season’s 59.9.
It is an unprecedented move from in contrast to those around the NJCAA. The Mississippi Athletic Conference (MACJC) are only allowed eight out-of-state student-athletes in football. Then, in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), the adjoining conference the Jayhawk pairs up with football scheduling, they are allowed only 35 out-of-state players.
The landscape in the conference is changing. While in other sports, it may not be as dramatic, it is still noticeable.
“We’re playing against more international students,” Butler Women’s Soccer Head Coach Adam Hunter said.
Hunter and other coaches feel once the full scholarships in 2018-19 season, ability to pay for housing on top of books and tuition, it will affect rosters more.
That in turn puts a strain on the athletic department. Butler, who relies on the Grizzly Backers to pay for their out-of-state scholarships, are more inclined to stay in state, as they are leading the conference with 34 in-state recruits. Coffeyville is second with 20.
“Sure, we want in-state kids,” Butler Head Coach Tim Schaffner said. “You have to make a decision, which is best for your program.”
This all started out west. Garden City and other schools pushing for the restrictions to be lifted, claiming it gives them a level playing field with the Butler and Hutch’s of the world.
“You’re going to see a shift in a few years,” Sims said. “You’ll see D-2 players come to the JUCO ranks in hopes of getting that D-1 look. It’ll have a trickle-down effect.”
For now, Butler is riding the Sunflower wave, relying on Kansas kids to make the dream work. How will the roster look in two years, let alone one? Only time will tell.
