The Herb Pope situation at New Mexico has taken a turn for the bizarre. Pope has lawyered up according to Jason Grove of the Las Cruces Sun-News:Herb Pope's attorney Stephen Hubert of Las Cruces said that the player has been cleared to play basketball for the Aggies. "(State District) Judge Jerald Valentine today signed a restraining order restraining the NCAA from declaring Mr. Pope ineligible and ordering New Mexico State University to give him his Pell Grant," Hubert said.
NMSU Athletics Director McKinley Boston confirmed the report.
"The judge did rule that Herb was eligible to be treated as a student athlete and we are now having conversations with the NCAA regarding the injunction as it relates to NCAA Bylaw 19," Boston said.
"There is an injunction and the judge ruled he was eligible pending the outcome of the initial eligibility certification process."
But don't expect to see him on the court any time soon. The NCAA is believed to have filed an injunction on the judge's ruling, meaning that New Mexico State could be in big trouble of if Pope is ultimately ruled ineligible by the NCAA. So the Aggies have a decision to make, and they will likely wait until everything has been resolved. In other words, the NCAA only moves quickly when it comes to filing an injunction. At least they have Pope on the brain now. Maybe they should just go ahead and make a decision because this whole situation has become ridiculous.
The Aggies could use Pope, too, coming the indefinate suspensions of center Hatila Passos and junior guard Paris Carter. Justin Hawkins also was believed to be suspended, but he will play in Saturday's game at Louisville. At this point, you wouldn't blame Marvin Menzies is he just pulled a Bobby Petrino and went back to be a coach at Louisville. Seriously, he should just go and sit on the Cardinals bench during the game and be done with it. What has he done to deserve this?
Stay tuned.
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Much thanks to reader Alex, for tipping us off.
