IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon may need a path to enjoying school soccer once more in spite of everything.
The NCAA’s Division I Committee on Scholar-Athlete Reinstatement and Legislative Committee will “reexamine” its sports activities wagering reinstatement pointers, the collegiate sports activities governing physique introduced Wednesday.
If the proposed insurance policies are permitted later this month, first-time offenses for athletes who didn’t wager on their very own crew — which would come with Shannon’s state of affairs — would not lead to a suspension.
“This is a crucial step towards modernizing the NCAA’s method to sports activities wagering,” NCAA President Charlie Baker mentioned in a information launch Wednesday.
The NCAA committee is anticipated to “full its overview and finalize suggestions” by mid-October, and a closing vote might be on the finish of the month, in accordance with the information launch. The brand new coverage may very well be applied retroactively, leaving the door open for a doable return for Shannon.
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned his first response to the NCAA’s announcement was “happiness.”
“I simply hope it does undergo, and I hope Noah will get to get on the sector this yr as a result of it could be so well-deserved,” Ferentz mentioned on his weekly radio present.
Ferentz, who has been a frequent critic of the NCAA throughout and after the sports activities wagering investigation, additionally expressed a need for an expedited approval course of.
“You’ll suppose, since we had this breakthrough revelation, that possibly we may act on it within the subsequent couple of days,” Ferentz mentioned. “Have an emergency assembly. … You’d suppose it may be one thing they may tackle within the very close to future, however I notice we’re all busy too.”
If the NCAA certainly approves the modifications and applies it retroactively to Shannon — albeit an enormous “if” — it may theoretically open the door for Shannon to play within the final 4 common season video games. The previous all-Massive Ten honorable point out doesn’t have any remaining eligibility after this season.
“Might this possibly have taken place someplace in Could, June, July?” Ferentz mentioned. “Any time earlier than this season truly began and someone’s life was impacted.”
The NCAA’s proposed modifications wouldn’t apply to athletes who allegedly wager on their very own groups, together with former Iowa soccer gamers Aaron Blom, Jack Johnson, Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy.
Ferentz beforehand mentioned Shannon wager on a special College of Iowa sports activities crew on campus. The NCAA handed him a one-year suspension, which appeared to successfully finish Shannon’s school soccer profession.
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