Tennessee wants Stallworth reinstated

Posted 6:56AM on Friday 25th January 2002 ( 23 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Receiver Donte Stallworth should have his eligibility reinstated, despite violating two NCAA rules after declaring himself available for the NFL draft for one day, Tennessee officials told the NCAA. In a letter dated Jan. 16 and obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, the university disclosed Stallworth received nearly $1,300 in benefits from an agent after declaring himself available for the draft. The NCAA has not yet responded to Tennessee's appeal. Stallworth, a junior, sent the NFL on Jan. 10 a petition to enter the draft early. He changed his mind the next day, and the NFL withdrew his name from the underclassmen draft list before the Jan. 11 deadline. By declaring for the draft, Stallworth's eligibility was immediately revoked under NCAA bylaws even though his name was withdrawn. During those hours his petition remained in effect at the NFL office, Memphis agent Jimmy Sexton bought Stallworth $13.60 in FedEx postage, a $48.60 dinner for two, a $6 ride to the airport, a one-day rental car for $151.92 and a $980 one-way airfare from California to Tennessee for his brother, the letter said. The university's letter states Sexton has been repaid but doesn't detail how or when. Stallworth and the university maintained the player didn't sign a deal to make Sexton his agent and received all the benefits before the Jan. 11 draft deadline. Sexton did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Stallworth has not spoken to reporters since his draft announcement. His mother, Donna, a nurse in Sacramento, Calif., declined comment when reached by The Associated Press on Wednesday night. Because Stallworth was technically no longer an amateur when he received the benefits, no NCAA rule was intentionally violated, Malcolm C. McInnis, the university's associate athletic director for compliance, wrote to the NCAA. ``I was trying to make a distinction between a typical case involving a student with eligibility remaining who for some reason receives a benefit from an agent,'' McInnis said Thursday. ``If they do that knowingly that is a deliberate violation of that rule because they intend to continue as an amateur athlete.'' As for the draft, McInnis said he understood the meaning of the rule but believed the penalty shouldn't be the same for someone who changes his mind one day after declaring and someone who changes his mind weeks or months later. ``If you intend to become a professional, it's over. I think that kind of draconian penalty seems harsh just because one forms an intent to be a pro,'' McInnis said. ``Conversely, if you allow people to go in and out of the thing up to the draft, that places a tremendous burden on institutions because you have spring practice and recruiting. It's just not fair.'' McInnis wrote to the NCAA that an ``appropriate penalty would insure that the precedent would not be abused,'' but he wouldn't say Thursday what kind of penalty would be appropriate. ``An inappropriate penalty would be, to make a gross example, if you have an 11-game football season and you sit out the first 10,'' he said. McInnis said he could find no NCAA case similar to Stallworth's that involved benefits from agents and the NFL draft. In cases involving players changing their minds like Stallworth, one player in 1988 was suspended for three games. More recently, Miami linebacker Nate Webster was declared ineligible for all of the 2000 season. The NCAA would not comment on the specifics of the case, but spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said a staff member would review the case and make a ruling. If his eligibility is denied, the university can appeal to the eligibility reinstatement committee. If Stallworth does not win back his eligibility, he could still enter the draft this season if the case is decided promptly, said Joel Bussert, senior director of player personnel at the NFL. The NFL combine is held in February and the draft is in April.

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