Duke Asks NCAA For Extra Year Of Eligibility For Players

[BigheadTodd]

From http://www.goduke.com

Duke Asks NCAA For Extra Year Of Eligibility For Players
Courtesy: Duke Sports Information
Release: 05/23/2007

Courtesy: Duke Sports Information
http://www.goduke.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke hopes the NCAA will give back the year its men's lacrosse players lost last season.

The school is asking the NCAA to grant an extra year of eligibility for team members, who played just eight games in 2006 before the university canceled the rest of the season amid rape allegations against three players.

Still - as his team prepares for this weekend's Final Four - coach John Danowski figures the proposal is "a long shot."

"It's unprecedented, so to think that it could happen is probably unrealistic," Danowski said after practice Wednesday. "It's a long shot. I don't gamble, but I wouldn't put money on it. That's for sure."

Danowski said his Blue Devils (16-2) - the top seed in the NCAA tournament - are more focused on facing fourth-seeded Cornell (15-0) in Saturday's semifinals. Still, he said the proposal was about doing everything possible for "the kids who have been through so much."

"And if there's something else that can be done for them, I think that's a good thing," he said.

"Obviously most of the guys would be pretty interested in it," senior defenseman Nick O'Hara said. "But for right now, that's something that's not even really thought about - maybe in the back of your heads a little bit."

It is Duke's second appearance in the national semifinals in three seasons. In 2005, the Blue Devils lost to Johns Hopkins in the championship game by one goal.

Duke was one of the favorites to get back to the finals last year before the season was cancelled eight games in. Rape charges were dropped against the players in December and the state attorney general dropped all remaining charges in April while declaring the accused players "innocent" victims of a "tragic rush to accuse" by the local district attorney.

Duke athletics director Joe Alleva said the university sought the approval of other Atlantic Coast Conference schools before going forward with the proposal. If approved, seniors on this year's team would be eligible in 2007 by pursuing graduate-level course work, team spokesman Art Chase said.

"The extraordinary circumstances that happened last spring ... were a real unique situation," Alleva said. "We felt it was only fair to try to get a year of eligibility for those kids who lost last season.

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25937&SPID=2027&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=899499

[LaxRef]

From http://www.goduke.com

"It's unprecedented, so to think that it could happen is probably unrealistic," Danowski said after practice Wednesday. "It's a long shot. I don't gamble, but I wouldn't put money on it. That's for sure."

That's because the NCAA would suspend him a la Rick Neuheisel.

[Hi-Line Lax]

I don't think that the kids will get another year... but they should.

I'd settle for a day of target practice on Nifong.

[laxfan25]

Under the principle of Doing the Right Thing - it would be nice to see the NCAA step up and show a positive side and grant the request. The Duke team has been through hell (although the trip to Purgatory was self-inflicted) and it would be a display of common sense justice that is sadly lacking in most NCAA decisions, rules and policies.
As Danowski says, it's a long shot, but that doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do.
Meantime, the team continues its ride this season. Final Four this weekend - yes! And I have my new 50" HD plasma - sweet! I haven't seen lacrosse in HD, and I can't wait.

[BigheadTodd]

The way I see it there is a very short opening for this. Players have to sign up for the draft. When they do, they lose all remaining elligibility. The draft is the end of the month. Do you not enter the draft and hope you get the extra year? This could be pretty big, seeing as IL has danowski and Mcdevitt going 1-2. And I would imagine there will be more than them drafted.

[BigheadTodd]

and what of last year's seniors?

[LaxRef]

The way I see it there is a very short opening for this. Players have to sign up for the draft. When they do, they lose all remaining elligibility.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but why? In the NBA, you can enter the draft and withdraw your name later if you don't sign with an agent. In addition, there was one player this year who'd stayed in the draft, not gotten drafted, played NCAA this year, and then signed with the Knicks right after the NCAA Tournament because of some loophole in the NBA rules.

Is the problem just the proximity of the end of the season to the draft?

[cjwilhelmi]

All I know was that when I tried out for the Machine and Coach Stevens can probably answer this better was that there was a line on the waiver that said "NCAA players by signing below you forfeit any remaining eligibility" or something close to that. Just FYI is said that for MCLA players that making the team would forfeit eligibility, not just trying out.

[BigheadTodd]

From the pdf:

2007 MLL Collegiate Draft Eligibility
National Collegiate Athletic Association:
If you currently have eligibility remaining in the NCAA after the completion of the 2007 season,
you are not eligible to apply for this draft. Upon submitting this registration form you will forfeit
any remaining NCAA eligibility. This draft is only open to players who have just completed
their final collegiate season. Only fill out this form once your season is completely finished.
Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association:
If you currently have eligibility remaining in the MCLA you are eligible to submit an
application. Upon appearing on your first MLL Active Roster you will lose all MCLA
eligibility. If you remain unsigned, and in the Player Pool, your MCLA eligibility remains
intact.

http://majorleaguelacrosse.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2007%20Collegiate%20Draft%20Registration%20Form.pdf

[wheatonlax20]

From http://www.goduke.com

before the university canceled the rest of the season

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25937&SPID=2027&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=899499

I think this is the biggest weakness in the appeal, Duke are the ones that cancelled the season, not the NCAA, as far as I understand it, the NCAA didn't even mess with the situation. The Duke AD is the one who fired their coach and cancelled their season. Although sad (especially in hindsight), that's the path they chose and they are, in my opinion, trying to make it up to their players...

[laxfan25]

From http://www.goduke.com

before the university canceled the rest of the season

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25937&SPID=2027&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=899499

I think this is the biggest weakness in the appeal, Duke are the ones that cancelled the season, not the NCAA, as far as I understand it, the NCAA didn't even mess with the situation. The Duke AD is the one who fired their coach and cancelled their season. Although sad (especially in hindsight), that's the path they chose and they are, in my opinion, trying to make it up to their players...

Good point - it was Duke that cancelled the season, not the NCAA.

[Has No Left]

Additionally, they played 8 games; this far exceeds the NCAA 20% rule for those of you who are familiar with it. There's no way, but I think the appeal, on principle, sends the right message.

[BigheadTodd]

I read in a story on elax or IL that there is a provision for a University shutting down a program. Also, there is some chance, because it was already approved by a majority of the ACC members before it was sent on to the NCAA.

[Sonny]

Good point - it was Duke that cancelled the season, not the NCAA.

Quint K. spoke to this very issue on the ESPN2 broadcast earlier today. It's a good point.

[Hugh Nunn]

Additionally, they played 8 games; this far exceeds the NCAA 20% rule for those of you who are familiar with it. There's no way, but I think the appeal, on principle, sends the right message.

I think that the right message would be for the administration to at the very least, refund the tuition and expenses of each player. The way the administration, faculty, and many members of the student body treated those gentlemen is deplorable (forget the media).

Obviously these points have been made over and over by more eloquent people than I...This just seems like too little, too late IMHO.