Earlier today, West Virginia interim head coach Josh Eilert had one main question and concern about the status of playing RaeQuan Battle and Noah Farrakhan. Would they lose eligibility if the decision is reversed in 14 days.
The NCAA just answered Eilert — and many other head coaches — question.
The NCAA released an eight question memo to its member schools on Thursday, giving supplemental information to yesterday’s ruling.
The biggest piece of this was question four, asking “does the season of competition apply if a student-athlete competes during the 14-day TRO?” — also meaning do they lose eligibility if they compete during this period.
The answer provided was: “Yes. The 14-day TRO only enjoined Bylaw 14.5.5.1 and does not change the season of competition legislation.”
What this means for West Virginia is that it’s somewhat unlikely the Mountianeers play either RaeQuan Battle or Noah Farrakhan during this two-week period. There are three games they would be eligible to play in, and earlier today, Eilert said WVU is going to do what’s in the best interest of the student-athlete.
“Just need some more clarity more than anything. Selfishly we could think both of them could really help us but we got to think about the student-athlete and how it affects their overall eligibility,” Eilert said. “RaeQuan (Battle) has got one year of eligibility left and Noah (Farrakhan) has got two. Those conversations have to be had with those student-athletes, their families, our department to figure out what’s best for them and us as a whole as a program.”
Battle could play in these three games, the decision gets reversed, and then his college career is over. Farrakhan could play and then instead of having two more seasons of eligibility, he then only has one.
There is no clear route WVU will take or the route either player might want to take but we will have an answer soon enough when either or both of them are on or off the court this Saturday against UMass.
