The Last Blow

OXFORD, Miss. -- The NCAA reaffirmed its earlier ruling that Jerrell Powe failed to meet academic requirements and may not play football for the University of Mississippi at this time, university officials announced Thursday. Because university admissions standards track NCAA eligibility requirements, the NCAA’s ruling also means Powe does not meet university admissions standards.Initially declared ineligible by the NCAA on August 25, the university appealed the NCAA staff’s decision. In the meantime, Powe was temporarily admitted as a part-time student after he filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and the university.In his suit, Powe has asked the court to order the university to admit him as a full-time student and to allow him to join the football team. A hearing had been scheduled for Sept. 18 in Lafayette County Chancery Court. On Wednesday, Sept. 13, however, the NCAA removed the case to federal court. The hearing has not been rescheduled.Although the university supported Powe’s eligibility before the NCAA, University Attorney Lee Tyner said the university hopes Powe will drop his lawsuit.“Academic decisions should be left to the university,” said Tyner. “For a court to tell the university whom to admit would be extraordinary.”“Ole Miss did its best to put as much information as possible in front of the NCAA in hopes of a positive ruling,” said Athletics Director Pete Boone. “We wish the best for Jerrell Powe. But now that the NCAA has ruled, we all need to move on.”