From the Milwaukee paper, by Jeff Potrykus.
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MADISON – With the season-opener less than three weeks away, University of Wisconsin officials are continuing to press the NCAA to declare Micah Potter eligible immediately.
Potter, who transferred to UW from Ohio State last December and sat out the 2018-19 season, learned recently UW’s appeal for immediate eligibility had been denied by the NCAA.
Scott Tompsett, an attorney based in Kansas City, Missouri, who is representing Potter, revealed in a letter Thursday that UW has filed a request for reconsideration.
“The NCAA should grant this new request so Micah may compete immediately,” Tompsett wrote.
Although Potter sat out all of last season, his appeal was denied because he spent only the second semester at UW. According to NCAA transfer rules, student-athletes must sit out an entire year when transferring from one school to another.
Unless the NCAA changes course, Potter must miss UW’s first 10 games. He would be eligible to play on Dec. 21 against UW-Milwaukee.
“The NCAA says the purpose of the year-in-residence rule is to let transfer student-athletes become comfortable in their new environment,” Tompsett wrote. “Micah excelled academically at Ohio State and has continued his academic excellence at Wisconsin.”
According to Potter, he recorded 3.5 grade-point average at Ohio State and recorded a 3.3 GPA in the spring and summer at UW.
“He does not need to sit another semester,” Tompsett wrote. “Moreover, both Ohio State and the Big Ten Conference support Wisconsin’s request.”
