Ohio State Won’t Petition NCAA to Restore Carter’s Eligibility

Cris Carter can stay at Ohio State if he wants to, but he can’t play football.

University President Edward Jennings, standing firm against pressure from Buckeye Coach Earle Bruce, announced Monday that the school would not petition the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. to restore the eligibility of the All-American receiver, who was thrown off the team July 15 for accepting a $6,800 loan from New York sports agent Norby Walters.

Jennings said, however, that Carter’s scholarship would remain in effect and he would still be eligible for financial aid, should he wish to finish his education. That seemed doubtful.

Carter will now go back into the pool for the supplemental draft by the National Football League Friday. Several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, have said they will not draft him. Only one team, the St. Louis Cardinals, sent a scout to a workout by Carter in Indianapolis last week.

“Now I’ve got to go back and think about the NFL supplemental draft,” Carter said. “That won’t be easy, since I thought I would regain my eligibility. But it has to be done and it looks like I have no other choice than to go into the draft.”

Carter asked the school last week to reinstate his eligibility, after a similar decision by the NCAA for Pittsburgh defensive back Teryl Austin. Pitt appealed to have Austin reinstated because he eventually helped with an investigation of Walters, after having been dropped because he refused to cooperate in the investigation.

“I wanted to play football for Ohio State this fall and I thought I was going to get that chance,” Carter said. “I still don’t understand why they didn’t appeal.”