Volleyball Players Eligible to Compete

[Rocky]

Volleyball Players Eligible to Compete
by Jeff Reynolds, BYU Athletic Media Relations


PROVO, Utah (April 16, 2004) -- Following an internal investigation concerning the eligibility of student-athletes on the BYU men's volleyball team, the University--in cooperation with the NCAA--has determined all members of the team are currently eligible to compete.

"We have been communicating with the NCAA for the past week regarding a few of our volleyball student-athletes whose eligibility has been questioned," BYU compliance coordinator Jim Kimmel said. "After communicating at length with the NCAA, in a cooperative effort to exchange information, BYU has determined all of our student-athletes on the men's volleyball team are currently eligible to compete."

Last week concerns were raised over the eligibility of members of the top-ranked BYU men's volleyball team. As a result, one member of the team was withheld from competition until the matter could be resolved.

"I think our guys have handled this situation with a lot of class and maturity," BYU head coach Tom Peterson said. "It's not surprising that they've taken the high road on this matter and remained focused on our goals.

"It's my understanding that our compliance office and the NCAA have worked continually to resolve this matter. We're grateful for their efforts. We're glad to have this decision so we can move on without this as a distraction."

The Cougars, who have spent the past six weeks as the top-ranked men's volleyball program in the country, will close out the regular season on Saturday, April 17 against USC in the Smith Fieldhouse. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. (MT.)

As the regular-season Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champion, the Cougars (23-4, 19-2) will play host to either Stanford or UC Irvine in the first-round of the MPSF Tournament, beginning Saturday, April 24.

Should the Cougars advance past the first round of the tournament, the team will host the semi- and final-rounds of the league tournament in the Smith Fieldhouse. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, April 29, while the championship match is scheduled for Saturday, May 1.

[banthony2]

Hooray!

[midwestfan]

Seems like this should be a dead issue now!!

[vb]

NO NO NO

That is NOT what it says....

The question has always been, and continues to be the data supplied to the compliance office of BYU...thus the NCAA. Only this data has been cleared. The question still remains IF this data is accurate.

The NCAA has not issued an all-clear for BYU.

[PukaPants]

Exactly vb, I'm sure some A-HOLE out there is playing Fox Mulder, looking for that elusive evidence.

This issue will never be over, and if BYU wins the championship, there will always be some hating A-HOLE (most likely from a California school) bitching and moaning about BYU and their foreign/old fart/fill in the blank players...........

[beleza]

i guess i could say that i'm glad things worked out for byu..especially with the championship games coming up..

[lalalaluuuke]

vb said:

NO NO NO

That is NOT what it says....

The question has always been, and continues to be the data supplied to the compliance office of BYU...thus the NCAA. Only this data has been cleared. The question still remains IF this data is accurate.

The NCAA has not issued an all-clear for BYU.

Still in 1st grade learning how to read? They cleared them to play. Maybe you should give them a call and have them tell you OUT LOUD because you cannot read. Maybe while you have them on the phone you can let them know that they have failed to issue the all-clear.

[VBbeast]

Red I know you are defending your team and all that but have you ever actually tried calling the NCAA to ask them about a case they are investigating?

They don't talk. They don't give explanations other than possibly to confirm the case is under review. In short you are wasting your time.

People get frustrated when they don't understand something. I'm personally not frustrated, but I am curious.

[benwhipdrofn]

not only that Red, but how come the NCAA has cleared these players so quickly. Lewis gave them all the information that they had, contacted the different foreign teams too. Until the NCAA actually gets a photo or a video that is different from what they have, they will go ahead an give the all clear. I hate to say it, but VB is right, they look at what the school gave them and then said, looks good.

All's it takes is one person who hates a team, program or coach enough to either come up with something that falls in the "gray" areas or who is willing to distort information enough to take a team down.

The season is basically over, so it doesn't do anyone any good to be bitter about things anymore (I'm working on it )) But speaking as someone who had to "eat" some of my words. (which it still is all NCAA gray area violations) It does suck when it comes back to bite ya, so don't be too hard on VB (even though he sometimes comes across as a jerk) AND VB, I mean that in a nice way )