NCAA Responds to Recent Media Reports Regarding Initial Eligibility of Iowa State Freshman

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 -- Recent media reports from the Des Moines Register and other outlets regarding the initial eligibility of Iowa State freshman Lucca Staiger are inaccurate.

In these press reports, it has been stated that Iowa State has filed an appeal with the NCAA regarding this student-athlete. This is not accurate. In fact, the NCAA did not receive the facts of the case from the school until yesterday (Tuesday, November 6). The NCAA is now reviewing these facts and has not yet issued a decision. Thus, an appeal has not been filed.

The NCAA has a longstanding rule regarding what constitutes a professional team. A student-athlete cannot compete on a professional team without a potential impact to his or her athletic eligibility at the collegiate level. It is well known among our member colleges and universities that if one person on a team is paid for the athletic performance, the entire team is considered a professional team.

The NCAA will consider the individual circumstances of this case – as it does with all initial eligibility cases -- when considering if or how the student-athlete’s eligibility should be impacted.

-- Stacey Osburn, Associate Director for Public and Media Relations

Source: NCAA