Men's Basketball's Crawford Ineligible Pending NCAA Ruling
2/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Crawford Ineligible Pending NCAA Committee Ruling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan and the NCAA have been discussing freshman men's basketball player Jamal Crawford's (Renton, Wash./Rainier Beach HS) living arrangements prior to enrollment at the University of Michigan to determine whether NCAA rules were violated.
Based on NCAA policy the Michigan Athletic Department must declare any student-athlete ineligible when there is a question of potential NCAA rules violation.
Tonight (Tuesday, Feb. 1), the NCAA reinstatement committee called to inform the Michigan Athletic Department that they were not going to reach a decision in regards to this question.
The case is still under review by the NCAA. With that in mind Athletic Director Tom Goss had Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe informed that Crawford must sit out tonight's game against Michigan State.
Comments from Press Conference
Percy Bates, Faculty Representative
On Jamal Crawford not playing against Michigan State ... "We started talking to [the NCAA] during the middle of last week. We were informed at approximately noon last Friday (Jan. 28) that they had some questions. At that time there was enough question that they felt that we should at least consider making him ineligible and that we simply had to work towards getting him reinstated. We worked very hard most of yesterday and today thinking we would probably get the issue settled. But again, at 5:45 [p.m.] today, we heard that there were still issues that they still wanted to talk about and they would not reinstate him in time for tonight's game."
On the living situation in question ... "In order to perhaps alleviate what appeared to be a difficult living situation, Jamal's mother asked a friend of theirs, someone that they knew, if Jamal could perhaps live with him and he would provide the necessary support for him. When we became aware of this, because this person was in no way related to the University of Michigan, was not a booster and it appeared to us that perhaps this was an okay arrangement.
"We still felt that we wanted to have it tested out. When we talked to [the NCAA] it was clear at that time that they said he's not a booster and that's not a violation, but there was perhaps one other bylaw that deals with amateurism and that one is what they brought into question. I want to say at this point -- and I want to make it clear so we all get this straight -- this has nothing to do with Jamal Crawford. This has to do with bylaws with the NCAA and a quirk in relationship to the bylaws."
On the amateurism question concerning Jamal Crawford ... "Essentially what they're saying is that this would be similar to an athlete having a sponsor. Of course, in terms of amateurism, you can't do that. So that is really why it evokes the amateurism bylaws. In terms of the paperwork we saw, the mother clearly intended for [guardianship] to be legal, but it did not go to the courts and therefore was simply not legalized. But the intent was there and just recently reiterated that this was in fact her intent."
On the NCAA statement ... "The statement was that 'It is late in the day, we still have a question or two and therefore we can not give you an answer on it today and therefore he is still deemed to be ineligible and should not participate in tonight's game.' The final comment was 'Give me a call tomorrow and we'll continue to talk about it.' That's why I think we're very close to getting it resolved."
Tom Goss, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
On how aware Michigan was about Crawford's arrangements ... "As we began to find out about the living arrangement, we sent people to Seattle to interview the guardian as well as the mother. We felt that it was a condition that had lasted a couple of years where he had been living with the guardian. We felt we should take it one step further and ask the NCAA their position on it. We believe that we will hear tomorrow. This was clearly a precaution on our part -- so that we would not have any violations or anything, we held him out of tonight's game. It's our hope that he will be made eligible to play in the next game."
Contact: Bruce Madej, Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
