Re: Viola Odebrecht - What's the story?

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Odenbrecht was pulled from the FSU roster before the ACC semi-final loss to Virginia because of questions concerning her eligibility. This particular case is about whether or not she is a professional in the eyes of the NCAA. Odenbrecht is a former member of the 2nd best team in the German women's pro/semi-pro league where players are definitely paid to play. Teams from inside/outside the ACC must have taken their concerns about this to the NCAA or ACC concerning whether or not the German star ever accepted anything from her club or national team that the NCAA could determine made her a pro. Remember when Lori F. from UNC played in the WWC? The U.S. team accepted money for winning but Fair had to decline the dough to remain eligible to play for UNC. What are the chances that a German player would be thinking about her potential eligibility for an American college when her national team or club team is handing out $$? Unlikely, but you would think that FSU would have carefully looked into this so we'll have to wait to see. There are many other things like accepting a car or a few hundred bucks a game that can make international players ineligible for NCAA soccer. The investigation is on going and the NCAA has not yet determined guilt or innocence. The trickiest part of the timing of this situation revolves around 2 things. #1, the NCAA selection committee is picking teams for the NCAA tournament right now and so a ruling either way would seem to be an important piece of the process for the NCAA and FSU. #2, the head of the south regional NCAA tournament selection committee is none other than the associate AD from FSU. I am sure she will have to remove herself from the discussion when FSU is up for placement but just being that influential in the process when her team is being investigated for possibly playing an illegal player is a tight spot to be in.

Obviously, if she is a pro in the eyes of the NCAA, then she and FSU are done for 2005. Additional fall out? Who knows. If she is found to be a true amateur then the sad part for FSU will be that the controversy might have cost them an ACC Championship. Having the German might have put them over UVA and possibly UNC in the final...we'll never know that since she was pulled from the tournament and FSU lost to UVA.

More to come I am sure.

Florida State violates NCAA eligibility with foreign players?? Say it ain't so, Joe!

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[This message has been edited by Little Debbie (edited 11/8/2005 7:43p).]

For some reason this thread makes me think "Baylor tennis"...

7 pm Nov. 20 vs. Southern at Reed Arena - I can't wait!
"I feel like we have some unfinished business." - Chris Walker
On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

Here is a coach that should not be coaching at the college level. Florida State was not in anyones poles before the season, when he had just taken over. Last week they were in everyones top ten before the lost to Virgina by not using one of their pros. He recruits heavily from Europe and always has when he coached mens. The girl we are discussing is turning 23 and has played professionally in Europe. If programs like this are not challenged, in our win oriented college programs, by next year every team will be forced to look for players that push the limits of NCAA eligibility.

we will se a lot more of this in the future as college gets more and more competetive. Baylor has realized its too hard to compete for American players who know what a craphole of a school/program it is. UTEP used this to have its great track teams for years and now other schools are starting to do it to especialy in basketball tennis and track.

My biggest problem is that if a school like Duke or Baylor want to do this kind of stuff, fine, but public schools have an obligation to the citizens of their state and country and shouldnt be giving schollies to people from out of the country. I know we all want to win at any price but this isnt the way.

you'd think they'd just glance @ baylor's tennis program.