Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Smith, Nesheiwat granted extra years of eligibility by NCAA
By Zach Schonbrun and Matt Gelb
Posted: 5/9/07, 4:40 PM EST Section: Sports
Already, May is looking a little bit brighter for the Syracuse football team.
On May 2, Syracuse announced wide receiver Taj Smith was granted a medical hardship and an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, meaning the rising senior now has two years left as a member of the SU football team.
Wednesday, the NCAA granted senior tight end Jawad Nesheiwat a sixth year of eligibility. Nesheiwat came to Syracuse in September 2005 and redshirted after playing at Western Carolina in 2004 and at Hudson Valley Community College in 2003.
Nesheiwat participated in spring practices under the assumption his waiver would be approved by the NCAA.
"I am really excited for Jawad," head coach Greg Robinson said in a press release Wednesday. "He has worked so hard. He made such a commitment by coming to Syracuse as a walk-on and then earning a scholarship, all while working on his studies in pre-med. The additional year gives him an opportunity to work that much harder in school and to reap the rewards of all of his hard work on the football field."
Smith and Syracuse filed a waiver with the Big East requesting an extra year of eligibility for Smith, who broke his collarbone during the fourth game of last season and missed the rest of the year.
According to a press release from Syracuse athletics, "The waiver was approved following the adoption of proposal 2006-64, which increased the maximum participation from 20 percent of a sport's season to 30 percent. Thus, 30 percent of Syracuse's 12-game schedule calculates to 3.6 games. Since the NCAA doesn't recognize fractions of games, the limit of games played was rounded up to four games, qualifying the Smith for the extra year of eligibility."
The rule change is welcome news for the Orange, which seemed to experience only bad luck throughout April. On April 14, starting running back Delone Carter dislocated his hip during practice and will subsequently miss the entire 2007 season. Less than a week later, backup running back Curtis Brinkley underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Smith is arguably SU's most dynamic playmaker and will most likely assume the role of the team's No. 1 wide receiver this fall. A transfer from Bakersfield (Calif.) College, Smith recorded 12 receptions for 227 yards and three touchdowns in his short stint last season. His 65-yard touchdown reception against Illinois on Sept. 16 was the longest play from scrimmage of the year.
Nesheiwat caught 11 passes for 56 yards last season. He caught SU's final touchdown at Rutgers on Nov. 26.
On May 2, Syracuse announced wide receiver Taj Smith was granted a medical hardship and an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, meaning the rising senior now has two years left as a member of the SU football team.
Wednesday, the NCAA granted senior tight end Jawad Nesheiwat a sixth year of eligibility. Nesheiwat came to Syracuse in September 2005 and redshirted after playing at Western Carolina in 2004 and at Hudson Valley Community College in 2003.
Nesheiwat participated in spring practices under the assumption his waiver would be approved by the NCAA.
"I am really excited for Jawad," head coach Greg Robinson said in a press release Wednesday. "He has worked so hard. He made such a commitment by coming to Syracuse as a walk-on and then earning a scholarship, all while working on his studies in pre-med. The additional year gives him an opportunity to work that much harder in school and to reap the rewards of all of his hard work on the football field."
Smith and Syracuse filed a waiver with the Big East requesting an extra year of eligibility for Smith, who broke his collarbone during the fourth game of last season and missed the rest of the year.
According to a press release from Syracuse athletics, "The waiver was approved following the adoption of proposal 2006-64, which increased the maximum participation from 20 percent of a sport's season to 30 percent. Thus, 30 percent of Syracuse's 12-game schedule calculates to 3.6 games. Since the NCAA doesn't recognize fractions of games, the limit of games played was rounded up to four games, qualifying the Smith for the extra year of eligibility."
The rule change is welcome news for the Orange, which seemed to experience only bad luck throughout April. On April 14, starting running back Delone Carter dislocated his hip during practice and will subsequently miss the entire 2007 season. Less than a week later, backup running back Curtis Brinkley underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Smith is arguably SU's most dynamic playmaker and will most likely assume the role of the team's No. 1 wide receiver this fall. A transfer from Bakersfield (Calif.) College, Smith recorded 12 receptions for 227 yards and three touchdowns in his short stint last season. His 65-yard touchdown reception against Illinois on Sept. 16 was the longest play from scrimmage of the year.
Nesheiwat caught 11 passes for 56 yards last season. He caught SU's final touchdown at Rutgers on Nov. 26.
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