A Career Cut Short

By Erin Chambers

Any college basketball star knows that his junior year is crucial. Just as senior forward Steve Ross prepared for the end of an outstanding junior season, he was forced to prepare for the end of his career. Could 18 minutes in an exhibition game three years ago have cost him his final year in the NCAA?

According to NCAA regulation, an athlete has four years of eligibility. A year of eligibility is used if the athlete plays in any regulation games during a season, however seasons where the athlete is injured or red-shirted do not count.

Ross played his freshman year at San Diego. One year of eligibility gone.

At the start of his sophomore season, Ross played 18 minutes in a pre-season exhibition game and injured his ankle. He stayed off the court for a period of 3-4 weeks, but claimed he was still injured and unable to play, causing some tension with the San Diego coaches.

"There was a little bit of a struggle between his thinking and their thinking," said Santa Clara Head Coach Dick Davey.

Ross left San Diego and transferred to Santa Clara his junior year with the intention of playing out his remaining three years of eligibility.

"We thought, based on past situations, that he'd be given another year, so we played him," Davey said.

Ross played in 24 games his junior year at Santa Clara and was 10th in the West Coast Conference in scoring by the end of the season. Another year of eligibility gone.

The start of his senior year, the current 2001-2002 season, was when doubt arose that Ross would be granted another year of eligibility due to the fact that he was injured his sophomore year and unable to play.

"We really had as many as five appeals though the appropriate legislative processes to try and get [Ross'] year back," said Associate Athletic Director Richard Kilwien.

Because the NCAA mandates that all eligbility cases be handled within the league, Ross' case was heard by a committee of WCC executive representative of all schools in the league, including San Diego.

The league first voted against an additional year for Ross, citing lack of sufficient evidence that proved his injury was real and severe. A subsequent appeal to the NCAA was also dismissed as the NCAA supported that it was a league issue. After introducing new evidence from a San Francisco doctor, an executive committee voted against a final appeal, again citing lack of sufficient new evidence.

"He's been awful productive for our program," Davey said. "As a coach, I'd like to have him around another year. Kids are always granted another year."

The final appeal was denied just two weeks ago, making this weekend's tournament in San Diego Ross' final games as an NCAA athlete.

"I have a pretty good sense of right and wrong in the world, and this is wrong," Ross said. "The former school shouldn't have been involved. San Diego will be there forever, yet I lose a year for 18 minutes in one exhibition game."

San Diego denied comment on the issue.

"I feel bad for [Ross]," sophomore teammate Kyle Bailey said. "He's done a good job though, and is still playing good for us through the end of the season."

From a university perspective, Ross is one of 360 student athletes, all of whom must meet the many and constantly changing eligibility rules.

"We do have one of the best compliance guys around," Kilwien said. "But with 360 student athletes, we would like to have more staff and resources to deal with these issues."

Losing the year to play basketball also means losing that year academically for Ross, and should he fail to graduate by next fall, it will affect the crucial graduation rate of the athletic program.

"The ruling is deflating for [Ross] and our program," Davey said. "I feel bad for him, yet I don't make the rules."

Because of the long, drawn out and very much public nature of the appeal process, some question how this issue of elgibility has affected Ross' play this season.

"One of the biggest blessings an athlete can have is to play with a clear head. Something in your head takes away from your focus," Ross said.

As a team, the Broncos maintain a 7-5 conference record going into the WCC Tournament this weekend, where they look to secure a share of third place in the league. Ross does plan to stay in the game after graduation.

"It's twice as hard for me to get noticed now. I am just going to have to take a different path," Ross said.