Baylor walk-on running back Silas Nacita says the NCAA has declared him ineligible because he accepted impermissible benefits in the form of housing last summer. The problem is Nacita claims he only accepted those benefits so he could avoid homelessness.
On Wednesday morning, Nacita explained on Twitter that he moved in with a family friend who was concerned that he had no place to stay.
“In 2014, I was just a kid who couch-surfed and took classes online at a community college, but I had a dream to play college football,” he wrote. “Throughout that year, I was able to earn enough academic scholarships to pursue that dream, but it was only enough to pay for school without a place to stay or any other living expenses.
“However, a few months before enrolling, a close family friend approached me and said they didn’t want me sleeping on floors and wondering how I was going to eat the next meal, so they insisted on putting me in an apartment and helping out with those living expenses. Because I accepted that offer instead of choosing to be homeless, I am no longer eligible to play football and pursue my dream. I had no idea I was breaking any rules, but I respect the decision of the NCAA.”
While Baylor said in a statement that Nacita will no longer be a part of the team due to eligibility issues, the NCAA later tweeted that he has not been ruled ineligible and that Baylor has not requested a waiver for him.
The NCAA did not declare Silas Nacita ineligible and Baylor has not requested a waiver for him.
— NCAA (@NCAA) February 25, 2015
Either Baylor declared Nacita ineligible and not the NCAA, or the NCAA is backtracking because Nacita’s rant went viral. We saw a similar situation when NCAA rules prevented fans from helping out a homeless Boise State player, but that quickly changed. Don’t be surprised if the same happens with Nacita.
Photo: Twitter/Silas Nacita
