Well, I'll just say it speaks volumes for UNH and for Engaras to stay and sit out a year! He must like Durham and UNH. What's not to like?
Because warm-platitudes aside there is a huge difference between the NCAA ruling Engaras is ineligible this year and ruling that he would become eligible next year...
Watching the press conference - Souza is right to harp on NCAA rulings in similar cases. I've mentioned many times the case of Melvin Karlsson at Lake State who is playing THIS season despite also playing SHL games in his past. That means that the NCAA views something as very serious and different in Engaras' case to rule him in eligible. Knowing the NCAA and its ridged precedence that would worry me unless they we're clear in his ability to regain eligibility and when...
If they have a confirmation that his penalty is THIS season and no (or not much) more than all is well. If they don't - and the NCAA has simply ruled on this season, leaving UNH hoping (even believing) they can (will) appeal and win a different ruling in a year than that is a HUGE risk for player and program...
I just CANNOT believe that wasn't asked as a follow up question and addressed specifically by the reporters. It almost sounded like Souza was about to answer that question before a reporter walked all over his answer asking if Engaras was attending classes. If they had just let him answer the question we might know...
UNH owes it to Engaras to seek and demand that answer (and get it - the NCAA owes him, too) and hopefully they have. Souza's directness in talking about asking Engaras to stay, about him coming back next year and his potential impact is a good indication they're at worst confident in his being able to play next year. Do they KNOW? Is it definite? That's all I'm asking - and I hope that clarification will eventually be sought by someone in the press or in the know...
The best sign is when Souza states that Engaras is being docked a year by the NCAA - the optimisitic interpretation is that how he states that means the NCAA has told them the punishment is a year of eligibility. That this is not a wait and appeal your case again next year type situation. Again, I hope that is a clear final decision expressed to all parties because that's what all deserve. But it's the NCAA, so one always wonders...
I'll leave it at that because I'm not trying to stir up trouble - just genuinely curious and have seen many vague rulings or optimistic assumptions bite both players and ADs before. Let's hope it works out the way they're presenting it will...
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