Mind you the 5 years still hurts an awful lot of kids in non-revenue sports, many of whom are already facing a squeeze because of program cuts. But it's some semblance of sanity at least. The rigid HS graduation start date for your clock, is asinine.
Has anyone asked the NCAA why it can't just be 5 years max, with max age of 24? No carve out for hockey needed. NCAA gets the consistency it wants. What football player is going to do nothing for his 18 year old season? If they do, god bless em. Everyone wins.