Auburn Freshman swimmer Keaton Rice added a letter to the House v NCAA docket yesterday discussing the impact of roster limits as he implored the court to “grandfather” athletes into their programs.
Boise State Assistant Professor Sam Ehrlich posted the letter on X with the sensitive information removed
Another athlete letter has been posted to the House v. NCAA docket. This one is from Auburn freshman swimmer Keaton Rice, who says that half of his team would be cut under new roster limits. He joins others in calling for the limits to be grandfathered in. pic.twitter.com/mMPJBDbVcN
— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) January 11, 2025
Rice states that “these roster limits are unfair for the student athletes that are currently participating in college sports.” He goes on to discuss how half the team would be released, and he would lose roughly $30,000 a year due to the high out-of-state cost of attending Auburn.
He also listed the other “monetary perks” the athletes would lose once they were cut, including free dining, free healthcare, free tutoring, and free tickets to all sporting events.
Rice then goes into discussing his own personal situation, saying “I am a freshman and they would need to cut 20 men so I am sure to go,”. According to Rice, it would cost his parents an extra $40,000 a year for him to continue to attend Auburn after being released, and this is a cost they would not have committed to had they known he could be released. He also mentions that they already have a lease agreement for housing next year with his parents as co-signers which he would not be able to break.
He then explains how it is too late for him to enter the portal, but it is “cost prohibitive to remain without all the financial benefits of being an athlete.”
Rice ends his letter telling the court, “you must consider the thousands of us that will be in the same position and allow us to be “grandfathered in” since we made decisions for our future based on circumstances that were previously set in stone!”
Rice is previously from Texas, coming from Lakeside Aquatic Club in Flower Mound. He has only competed in one meet for Auburn this year, the Georgia Tech Invitational, where he placed 24th in the 100 free at 44.97 and 25th in the 200 free at 1:38.70.
These were both slight adds from his best times of 44.76 in the 100 and 1:38.57 in the 200. He also swam on Auburn’s ‘D’ 400 free relay, leading off in 44.88, their ‘D’ 400 medley relay, again leading off in 49.15 on the backstroke, and their ‘E’ 200 free relay where he went 20.55.
Auburn currently has 44 men on their roster. 11 of those swimmers are seniors or graduate students, but they have already signed 10 on for next year. The SEC roster cap has reportedly been finalized at 22 athletes, which means a significant number of men would need to be cut to reach this limit.
Schools do not need to meet the swimming roster limit by the start of the school year, they just need to be compliant by their first meet of the season. This year Auburn’s first meet was October 11th.
Sounds like a privileged kid crying about losing his perks.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Most of the swimmers in this situation (borderline for scoring at their conference meet) are going to be swimming College Club next season. The club teams will be the “bench” for the NCAA teams, assistant coaches will work with the elite club swimmers. With a 22 swimmer roster limit at the NCAA level, the SEC will dominate College Club Nationals in 2026.
I do not agree with the premise of the athlete’s complaint. To the extent that he contracted with auburn, it wasn’t for 4 years of free education. He didn’t even contract to compete for the team, considering his limited performances this year. The root of the problem with the House settlement was greed, people asking to be compensated for something that has limited value. If schools are forced to grandfather rosters and provide free rides to everyone, programs will be cut. Maybe even Auburn. Swim programs are under stress, now is not the time to seek a handout.
I feel bad for the kid and others, but carrying a squad of 44 is ridiculously excessive. Detractors of the House settlement, need to understand that competitive sports is a meritocracy and everyone can’t be on the team or get a roster spot for competitions like SEC and NCAA Championships, even if they have the time qualifications. Everyone can’t swim for a major DI program like Texas, Cal, Florida, etc., either. If one goes a 27.25 in the 50 yard free, they’re not going to swim in the men’s program at Texas. Their choice is to get faster or go find another school that offers them an opportunity to be on the team. These standards and limits will make the… Read more »
You failed to address the main point of the letter – detrimental reliance. Student athletes all throughout the Nation made decisions about their futures based on the NCAA rules, Conference rules, school rules, residency, finances etc etc etc at the time they accepted offers. Now in settlement of a suit they have nothing to do with, all those rules and policies change to their prejudice and detriment. I’ll tell you what is good for college sports, colleges and student athletes and that is consistency and certainty. Grandfathering in current student athletes is the only equitable solution, short of blowing the whole roster limit injustice up. Justice for all.
I think 44 is definitely excessive, but I also think 22 for guys isn’t right. I think 30 for both men and women would’ve been right but I don’t know how that would work out with Title IX
Incredibly written and well said by an already outspoken young man. While these circumstances are unfortunate the bravery shown whilst knowing the publicity and differentiated opinions this letter would bring, he was still, unafraid to make his voice heard.
Kudos to Mr. Rice and Auburns 2028 class.
When Keaton states that he was lose 30k if he was cut, is that because he would have a full ride is not release, or is this related to his current scholarship. To be honest, I would guess from his times at the mid-season that he is not on any or a very low percentage of a scholarship.
Probably not the point of the article, but it seems to be a little fast and loose with the impact. The impact should be based off of the current situation, IMO.
Again I am sure I will be downvoted massively here, but:
Am I the only one who doesn’t really feel bad. He could transfer to an in state public school and avoid most of the $30K premium for out of state schools. He will not get free meals, free healthcare, free tutor, free tickets. So he will be like any other college students who aren’t the privileged class of athletes, and would actually need to study hard to make the grades. So, he’s complaining that he won’t be special anymore and would just be one of the hundreds of thousands of college students who have to pay their way.
Boohoo 😭
Sorry, if regular college students have to go… Read more »
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