The man who was supposed to be Syracuse’s starting quarterback went down five minutes into the season and was ruled out for the year. Now, a little more than three months later, he has been denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Hunt is now reaching out to anyone and everyone who can possibly help him reverse the NCAA’s decision.
Let’s start by saying that Hunt has every right to get the sixth year. He has his undergraduate degree and has been devastated by a pair of season-ending injuries over the last two seasons. The NCAA ruled that Hunt played in too many games in his junior year (five) and therefore is not eligible for a sixth year of eligibility.
Hunt is doing everything in his power to change the NCAA’s mind, including reaching out to the man who has come to aid of Syracuse against the NCAA in recent weeks, Jay Bilas. Bilas has used twitter to criticize the NCAA over their sanctions against Syracuse basketball, the suspension of Jim Boeheim and now the ineligibility of Terrel Hunt.
Unfortunately for Hunt, there is little reason to think that the NCAA will change its mind as the decision comes right of its rule book. Hunt certainly deserves the chance to play football again, but it is hard to see where he would even fit in at Syracuse.
Hunt claims, according the ESPN, that he has already spoken to the newly-christened Syracuse Head Coach, Dino Babers, and that Babers said there is a spot in the team for Hunt next season, if he can get the eligibility.
Syracuse fans are very much behind Hunt in his fight against the NCAA, but as much as I hate to say it, it is really difficult to see what role Hunt would have on this team. One would certainly think that he would be behind Eric Dungey on the depth chart at the very least.
With that said, here’s to hoping that Hunt can find a way to play in college next year. It is hard to see how Hunt will find a way to play, despite the attention that his desperate plea has begun to get in the past 24 hours.
