The issue of BYU opposite hitter Joe Hillman’s status
seemed to be moot when the NCAA declared him eligible to play for
the remainder of the season on April 16.
Yet, for the second time in two weeks, a member of the UCLA
men’s volleyball coaching staff has cast doubt on the
fairness of that decision.
This time it was assistant coach Brian Rofer, who released a
statement Wednesday questioning the validity of an obscure NCAA
rule that allowed Hillman to compete.
“To actually find and use an interpretation from an
unrelated case to bend and manipulate the eligibility rule is a
violation of fair play and sportsmanship,” said Rofer, whose
comments come on the eve of UCLA’s MPSF semifinal match with
Long Beach State in Provo, Utah ““ home of BYU.
The rule Rofer was referring to states that an athlete enrolled
full time at an institution that does not sponsor a varsity program
can compete yearly on an organized team without being charged with
a year of competition.
Based on that rule, BYU, in conjunction with the NCAA, found
that Hillman, who was over the age of 21 when he enrolled full time
at Utah Valley State College in 2000, 2001 and 2002, would be
charged with only one year of eligibility because UVSC did not
sponsor a varsity volleyball program.
Under those guidelines, Hillman had two years of eligibility
remaining when he enrolled at BYU in 2003 because he had already
competed in three of the five years allotted to him after the age
of 21.
Although Rofer did apologize for any perceived insensitive
remarks he has made, he did not back down from his stance on the
issue.
“With two years left on his five-year clock and ample
eligibility left, the NCAA found no violation,” Rofer said.
“Confusing? Yes. Fair? Who knows? Still, most NCAA
men’s volleyball coaches would have considered Hillman to
have used his eligibility.”
BYU has defended its actions, saying that they have done
everything within the rules.
“It’s a non-issue,” BYU spokesman Jeff
Reynolds said after UCLA coach Al Scates first questioned the
NCAA’s decision earlier this month.
Rofer, who had said that this sort of conduct was disappointing
“especially for a religious school,” was contrite about
that particular statement.
“I do apologize,” he said. “It was wrong for
me to insinuate that a religious school should be held to any
higher standard than any other institution.”
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