Thursday, September 1, 2005

MSU appeals Stanton ruling

Defensive tackle transferred from junior college, but NCAA said he was short on credits.

By Dave Dye / The Detroit News

Dale G. Young / The Detroit News David Stanton was expected to help the Spartans this season, but the NCAA declared him academically ineligible. Related links Big Ten Talk Big Ten Weblog MSU schedule MSU roster Big Ten schedule Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

EAST LANSING -- Maisie Stanton feels helpless.

Her son, David, a top-rated junior-college transfer, was declared academically ineligible by Michigan State late last week.

Stanton made a strong impression as a defensive tackle during preseason training camp, but now he won't be able to play in Saturday's opener against Kent State. He's also not allowed to practice.

The late ruling came as a shock to the Stantons.

"Michigan State waited until the last minute," Maisie Stanton said Wednesday in a telephone interview from her home in Los Angeles. "I brought David up there in May. They said everything was OK. This is what angers me."

Maisie Stanton said Michigan State is appealing the situation with the NCAA, and a university official said the school is doing what it can to help.

"The office of the registrar is reviewing and assessing the process in this case, and also the communication issues with a junior college," said Terry Denbow, MSU's vice-president of university relations. "We've committed ourselves to being an advocate for the student-athlete in terms of financial aid and eligibility."

Denbow said the NCAA is expected to rule next week on the eligibility appeal.

Federal law prohibits Michigan State from releasing any information regarding a student's academic record, said John Lewandowski, an associate athletic director for media relations.

This comes seven months after Grover Stanton, David's father, died from lung failure. Stanton considered staying closer to home, but decided in the end to come to Michigan State.

"Now I'm regretting it," Maisie Stanton said. "He had a lot of offers (including Oregon State, Iowa State and Nevada-Las Vegas)."

The eligibility issue centers on the number of credits taken by Stanton while attending College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Part of that controversy involves Stanton being "gray-shirted," meaning he enrolled in school but didn't play football in the fall of 2002. He took fewer credits that semester so he would be considered a part-time student.

You can reach Dave Dye at dave.dye@detnews.com.