"We're confident that if anything comes out of it, the penalties will be very minimal," Bourne said.

The possible violations involve at least three freshmen, one of whom - wide receiver Rockeed McCarter - was expected to play in the Dukes' season-opening game Saturday against Bloomsburg at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Madison officials said two factors appear to have caused the problem: a misinterpretation of the rules by JMU's compliance department, and a backlog at the division that determines whether freshmen's academic transcripts meet NCAA standards.

Under NCAA bylaws, true freshmen must be certified by the Iowa-based division - called the Clearinghouse - before they can practice, play or receive financial aid, NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said Wednesday.

While the JMU coaching staff held the non-cleared freshmen out of practice after a two-week grace period expired, Bourne said the school's financial aid department released the athletes' room-and-board money prematurely. Bourne was checking to determine if the tuition funds had also been released.

"You can't give them any money," Bourne said early Wednesday afternoon. "It would have to be a secondary violation if in fact they've received it. We're going back now to verify if they have received aid."

Less than two hours later, Bourne said JMU had begun the process of self-reporting the apparent violations and would also pursue an appeal because of the nationwide delays in certification by the Clearinghouse.

Bourne first learned of the potential violations when questioned by the Daily News-Record on Wednesday.

Three JMU freshmen - McCarter, Sean Price and Jamal Sullivan - said Tuesday they had already received their full scholarships to JMU. At that point, none had yet been cleared. McCarter and Price were both given temporary clearance to practice Wednesday. Sullivan is still waiting to hear from the NCAA.

Price and Sullivan are expected to redshirt this year. McCarter, one of the Dukes' prized recruits, will play, JMU coach Mickey Matthews has said.

Matthews declined to comment on the potential violations early Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the afternoon, JMU director of compliance Kurt Johnson said it was his interpretation of the rules that as long as an athlete had not been deemed ineligible, he could be issued aid.

But about a half hour later, Bourne said that interpretation was wrong.

Atlantic 10 associate commissioner Jackie Campbell said schools cannot give athletes financial aid for tuition or books until they've been approved by the Clearinghouse.

"If the school gives them the money for their books before they're certified, that's a violation," she said.

The NCAA declined to comment on the specifics of JMU's case.

One reason the problem occurred was that the NCAA Clearinghouse is running behind in reviewing freshmen transcripts nationwide.

"It's across the country apparently. I've never heard that many complaints," said Campbell, who worked for the NCAA from 1991 to 1996 before joining the A-10.

Bourne said that the NCAA bylaws put athletes in a precarious position - it allows them on campus to practice, but does not give them the means to pay for their schooling.

"It's unfortunate the way the legislation works and the impact that it has on these young people who are on our campus to practice," Bourne said.

In an email response to the Daily News-Record, Osburn said: "This is one of the busiest times of the year for the Clearinghouse, so it is important for potential student-athletes to register with the Clearinghouse as quickly as possible to avoid a delay. Normally, incoming Division I student-athletes have 14 days to practice at the beginning of the academic term while awaiting certification from the NCAA Clearinghouse. But to continue to assist with the high number of Clearinghouse applications for the fall 2006 term only, the NCAA has extended the Division I practice provision to a maximum of 45 days while certification decisions are pending, identical to the practice provision for incoming Division II student-athletes. Only after a student is academically eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics and is accepted as a full-time student may he or she receive athletics-based financial aid from the school."
Copyright (c) 2006, Byrd Newspapers, All Rights Reserved.
Author: MIKE BARBER, Daily News-Record
Section: Sports
Copyright (c) 2006, Byrd Newspapers, All Rights Reserved.