NCAA rules against Austin

By By Danny Smith / special to The Star
Nov. 21, 2002
STARKVILLE Mississippi State is not giving up hope that standout basketball player Mario Austin can play at some point during this season.
It just may take a while longer to accomplish that task.
The Bulldogs were notified that the NCAA's Division I Initial Eligibility Waivers Committee and Subcommittee on Transcript Change has determined that Austin was erroneously certified as an initial eligibility "qualifier" for his freshman season in 2000-2001.
The initial eligibility certification in question was made by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, not by Mississippi State University, and the high school core course content issues now raised by the NCAA were reviewed by the SEC in the fall of 2000.
At the time, it was deemed to be within the high school's appropriate scope of authority. Since enrolling and becoming a Bulldog, Austin has fulfilled all NCAA and SEC continuing eligibility requirements.
In a statement released by Mississippi State Wednesday afternoon, the university has determined that both substantive and procedural issues remain unresolved and university representatives are working with the NCAA, and legal counsel for Austin, to determine the appropriate means of review and resolution.
According to Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton, the dialogue between the parties began Tuesday afternoon before reaching Wednesday's status.
Until the situation has been
completely cleared up, Austin will be held out of action which will more than likely include Saturday's season-opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Austin was held out of both exhibition games with BWB of California and the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Bulldogs believe it is in the best interest of all parties concerned that no further statements are made until the procedural issues are resolved.
Templeton has delivered the same message to members of his staff, including head basketball coach Rick Stansbury.
Templeton doesn't want anything said that may keep this episode from ending in a positive manner for Austin.