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Lacrosse Star Fights for Extra College Season
30 Jul
Summary
- Spallina and four classmates seek an extra year of eligibility.
- A lawsuit aims to secure a fifth season for the athletes.
- NCAA's new rules don't retroactively grant fifth-year eligibility.
Joey Spallina, a celebrated lacrosse player at Syracuse University, along with four classmates, is seeking to extend their college careers. A lawsuit filed this week aims to grant Spallina, Finn Thomson, Billy Dwan III, Michael Leo, and Luke Rhoa a fifth season of eligibility.
The legal challenge centers on the NCAA's updated eligibility rules, which typically allow five years of play if athletes enroll on time. However, these new regulations do not retroactively apply to athletes who have recently exhausted their previous eligibility.
Head coach Gary Gait has expressed his intention to include all five players on the roster for the upcoming season, according to reports. Spallina, who wore the iconic No. 22 and set scoring records for Syracuse, has stated his genuine desire to return to the university.
If the lawsuit is successful, it would represent a significant development in the lacrosse community, allowing these prominent players another year of collegiate competition before potentially transitioning to professional leagues.
