Just a brief update for you tonight on the Nic Kerdiles situation. Wisconsin's appeal of the one-year suspension handed out by the NCAA was supposed to be heard today (Thursday). However, that appeal has been pushed back one week from today to October 18th.
Obviously everyone in the Wisconsin camp is frustrated by the appeal being pushed back one week, as the Badgers open up their season this weekend with a two-game series vs Northern Michigan. Kerdiles will not be eligible to play until the appeal is heard.
In an update from the Wisconsin State Journal today, Andy Baggot notes that Wisconsin officials will make their appeal to the five-member NCAA reinstatement committee via teleconference. According to the report, the committee will then deliberate and vote, with the majority deciding the outcome.
I was told today that Kerdiles has taken the news very hard as expected, and Baggot notes that Kerdiles sat out practice Thursday for the third day in the row with persistent headaches.
After this weekend the Badgers don't play again until October 26th at Minnesota-Duluth. A decision on the appeal will be reached well in advance of that series. Eaves confirmed today that Kerdiles plans to stay at Wisconsin until a decision is reached.
Public outcry in support of Kerdiles has been overwhelming this week. Even reporters who cover Major Junior hockey in Canada have come out publicly in their support of the Wisconsin freshman.
From every available piece of evidence out there publicly, and off the record, Kerdiles' punishment seems so over the top it makes me sick. Let's hope the five members who will be hearing this appeal understand that they are dealing with peoples lives.
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