OXFORD — Jerrell Powe's college football future rests in an appeals process after the NCAA ruled Tuesday the defensive tackle is ineligible to play at Ole Miss in 2007.
University officials said the school will file two appeals on Powe's behalf. But the appeals don't mean the former high school Parade All-American - who has been practicing with the Rebels for three weeks - will be able to play in Saturday's opener at Memphis.
"Every team in the country is going to face adversity," Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said. "We faced a little adversity (Tuesday). We're going to treat it as such and turn it into a positive."
The NCAA ruled that Powe can receive "athletically related financial aid to attend classes," but will not be permitted to practice or play until at least the fall of 2008. It also invalidated part of Powe's high school records because he completed a "significant amount of coursework in an unusually limited amount of time - much shorter than the average time it takes students to complete similar courses."
Rebel Football: Ole Miss will appeal NCAA ruling -The Clarion-Ledger- Real Mississippi