FSU still is fighting to get recruit's eligibility restored
By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published December 11, 2003
Florida State compliance director Bob Minnix said Wednesday the school has not exhausted all its appeals to restore the eligibility of center/forward Diego Romero, a member of coach Leonard Hamilton's top-ranked recruiting class.
"We have gone through an appeals process and we feel other appeals processes are out there within the NCAA," Minnix said. "We want one and frankly think we deserve one."
Until recently, the NCAA would have suspended Romero eight games - FSU has played seven - for playing on a professional team in his native Argentina, then likely reinstated him. He received living expenses only and did not intend to be a professional, as evidenced by his move to the United States and Lon Morris College shortly after his club season ended in the spring of 2001.
But in October 2002, the NCAA made its amateurism guidelines simpler and harsher, though not in writing, Minnix said. The NCAA also didn't grandfather in any student-athletes such as Romero, who already were in junior college and headed for an NCAA institution.
FSU is seeking help from the administrative review subcommittee, which hears unusual cases. If that fails, it could go to the Division I Management Council.
Minnix said he is looking for "fairness" and "common sense" to prevail, or else Romero's major college career is over before it had the chance to begin.
"What did he do wrong?" Minnix said. "That's the bottom line. Why are we punishing a kid who was an innocent bystander?"
