much time had passed and people were still talking about it.
Many consider this to be the start of the “modern era” of college football, as this rule change and the implementation of scholarship limits changed college football profoundly going forward.
On January 8, 1972, the NCAA grants freshmen eligibility in its two biggest team sports, basketball and football. An overwhelming majority of representatives at the annual NCAA convention vote for freshmen participation in basketball; a closer majority vote in favor of freshmen participation in...
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ncaa-freshmen-eligibility