NCAA rules Crawford ineligible for 8 games

By David Den Herder

Daily Sports Editor

The NCAA yesterday suspended Jamal Crawford for eight games because he tried to declare himself eligible for the 1999 NBA Draft.

"I do not agree at all with what the NCAA has decided here," University president Lee Bollinger said. "I do, based upon what I know, think it is an injustice."

The ruling comes on the heels of a six-game suspension Crawford just finished serving for violating an NCAA amateurism bylaw.

Michigan officials and local media have known for months that Crawford sent the letter to the NBA last spring, but the NCAA only recently discovered this development while investigating Crawford's relationship with his non-legal guardian Barry Henthorn in Seattle.

Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said neither he nor University administrators viewed the letter as a problem.

"It was null and void because it got there a day late," Ellerbe said. "There was no reason to really worry or investigate, so we thought."

The eight-game suspension, which was handed down before last night's game against Purdue, resulted from an appeal of the NCAA's original decision Wednesday, University General Counsel Marvin Krislov said.

University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the NCAA's preliminary findings Wednesday called for Crawford to be permanently ineligible.

But after the ruling yesterday, Bollinger said the University has "exhausted the appeal process."

"We do not have any rights of appeal - at least not as of yet," Bollinger said.

The eight-game suspension will likely reach into next season, for which Crawford unequivocally claimed he will return.

"No question," he said. "I'll be back."

Crawford has been facing punishment from the NCAA since Feb. 1, when he was scratched from the Michigan State game lineup only minutes before tipoff.

"The last two weeks have been unbelievable. I can't sleep sometimes," Crawford said. He also spoke of the uncertainty surrounding the past 48 hours, when his entire college career was in jeopardy.

"It was very scary," Crawford said. "I was down on my hands and knees."

According to NCAA bylaws, high school athletes who declare themselves eligible for a professional sport thereby forgo their NCAA eligibility.

But college basketball players are allowed to put their names on the NBA Draft list once during their NCAA career and remove it within a week if they do not like their projected draft number.

When Crawford sent his letter to the NBA, the NCAA still considered him a high school athlete although he had signed a letter of intent to attend Michigan in the fall.

Further, Crawford sent the letter to the NBA after the draft deadline and was therefore never eligible to be drafted.

Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations Bruce Madej said it was unclear whether Crawford's letter will constitute his single collegiate opportunity to examine the NBA Draft.

Crawford calmly said his mother's comments yesterday in Seattle, which implied he would turn pro at the end of the season, were erroneous.

"That's my mom talking," he said. "That's not coming from me."

Madej said after the game last night that all investigation into Crawford's situation, both by the NCAA and the University, is finished.

"The matter is now closed on both ends," Madej said.

Krislov confirmed yesterday that there will be no further legal inquiry.

"The University has no reason to believe the NCAA will be investigating Jamal Crawford any further," Krislov said.

- Daily Staff Reporter Jen Fish contributed to this report.

their names on the NBA Draft list once during their NCAA career and remove it within a week if they do not like their projected draft number.

When Crawford sent his letter to the NBA, the NCAA still considered him a high school athlete although he had signed a letter of intent to attend Michigan in the fall.

Further, Crawford sent the letter to the NBA after the draft deadline and was therefore never eligible to be drafted.

Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations Bruce Madej said it was unclear whether Crawford's letter will constitute his single collegiate opportunity to examine the NBA Draft.

Crawford calmly said his mother's comments yesterday in Seattle, which implied he would turn pro at the end of the season, were erroneous.

"That's my mom talking," he said. "That's not coming from me."

Madej said after the game last night that all investigation into Crawford's situation, both by the NCAA and the University, is finished.

"The matter is now closed on both ends," Madej said.

Krislov confirmed yesterday that there will be no further legal inquiry.

"The University has no reason to believe the NCAA will be investigating Jamal Crawford any further," Krislov said.

DAVID KATZ/Daily

Michigan guard Jamal Crawford, Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations Bruce Madej and Michigan men's basketball coach Brian Ellerbe discuss

Crawford's eligibility during halftime of last night's basketball game.