NCAA grants Duke's request for fifth year of lacrosse eligibility

[ButlerGSU]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The NCAA has granted Duke's request for an extra year of eligibility for its men's lacrosse players following rape allegations that led to the cancellation of much of last season.

The decision affects 33 players who were not seniors during the 2006 season, and it grants them a fifth year of eligibility regardless of whether they play at Duke or another school. The announcement Wednesday came just two days after the Blue Devils lost to Johns Hopkins by a goal in the NCAA championship game for the second time in three seasons.

"These individuals were involved in an unusual circumstance that we believe warrants providing them the opportunity to complete their four years of competition," said Jennifer Strawley, NCAA director of student-athlete reinstatement and membership services.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6867668?MSNHPHMA&GT1=10035

[patssle]

thats good to hear. whatever happen to the biatch?

[BigApp]

as well they should.

[PantherRob82]

well deserved.

[th0m]

Indeed good to hear. Glad the NCAA, while enforcing some rules that have all of us wondering, makes exceptions in exceptional situations.

[umassfan]

I actully have a different opinion. It wasnt the NCAAs choice to cxl the lax season for Duke therefore there should be no extra year. Next time... if your a college athlete... do not have strippers over!

[BeauFoster]

I can see both sides to this story. On one hand, the players got railroaded by an over-zealous administration and DA. It wasn't fair for them to be treated the way they were by everyone. In that regard, I do believe that they deserve some retribution. On the other hand, it wasn't the NCAA's decision to cancel the remainder of the season, it was Duke's. And, the season was over halfway finished. If you break your leg 8 games into the football season, the NCAA isn't going to give you a medical redshirt. I am not comparing what these men went through to an injury, but they are similar in a way. In that regard, they don't deserve it.

I am glad that they got the waiver, but I kinda feel for the seniors who lost the final season of their college career to stupidity.

[AppGuy04]

I actully have a different opinion. It wasnt the NCAAs choice to cxl the lax season for Duke therefore there should be no extra year. Next time... if your a college athlete... do not have strippers over!

yeah, cause mr virtue has never made a mistake in his lifexrolleyesx

[GannonFan]

I actully have a different opinion. It wasnt the NCAAs choice to cxl the lax season for Duke therefore there should be no extra year. Next time... if your a college athlete... do not have strippers over!


They didn't have their season cancelled because they had a party with strippers - they had it cancelled because of a false accusation and a politically motivated DA. While they certainly used some bad judgement surrounding the party, and while some of them may be bad people, those things alone don't constitute the loss of an athletic season.

[Appstate29]

I want to know whats going to happen to the Admin and all those profs that crucified these kids right after the case came out. Good Lord, this was mishandled by the admin and duke faculty, the DA, the media, what a pathetic situation.

[GoldandBlack]

They didn't have their season cancelled because they had a party with strippers - they had it cancelled because of a false accusation and a politically motivated DA. While they certainly used some bad judgement surrounding the party, and while some of them may be bad people, those things alone don't constitute the loss of an athletic season.

Absolutely- if college sports seasons were cancelled for juvenile mistakes by 18-22 year olds, there would be very few games played.

Doesn't mean all mistakes are OK, but they're certainly to be expected at that age. Individual situations should be handled by the coaches.

[ButlerGSU]

I agree, a few players were actually removed from classes which doesn't happen in the event of injury either. These kids deserve four years worth of scholarship to give them the opportunity to complete their degree at the very least after what they went through.