Quotes from the Rag:
"This is the first year the NCAA Amateurism Certification program, used to determine the amateur status of domestic and international freshmen, has been in existence."
"Staiger, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who was expected to fill an important role on this year's team, completed the online registration form required for certification on May 24. Snyder [ISU Assoc AD of Compliance] got involved in the process Aug. 21.
The NCAA didn't interview Junge [Staiger's AAU coach] until Sept. 4.
"The process has been excruciatingly slow," Snyder said.
Here's my beef: Just like the drinking age increase during the fall of 1986 was "grandfathered in," I believe that this rule should also be grandfathered in. There simply was not adequate time to do this fairly for those involved/affected. I could have seen them coming back with a ruling of keeping Lucca out for 5-6 games, but to penalize him that severely, this late in the game, is CRUEL and UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT!!:realmad: