Gulf eligibility appeal denied

Posted Oct 7, 2009 by Rick Harmon

Updated Oct 7, 2009 at 11:33 PM

For the first in his 25-year coaching career in Kentucky and Florida, Gulf coach Jay Fulmer wasn’t at practice Wednesday.

But he had a good reason. While his Buccaneers prepared for their game Friday night at Pasco, Fulmer was in Ocala at the Section 2 Appeals Committee meeting to plead the case of senior lineman Jacob Smith.

Smith, a transfer from Ridgewood, had been declared academically ineligible and the ruling had been appealed.

“Basically, he has a 2.0 (grade-point average) but he didn’t achieve that 2.0 until after the start of the school year,” Fulmer said Tuesday. “He did four summer school classes but didn’t complete a virtual school class before the start of the school year.”

Smith has not played in a game this season but Fulmer said he was receiving some inquiries about Smith from some Division II colleges.

“Some schools are really interested in him and they want to see film but I don’t have any on him,” Fulmer said.

And Fulmer won’t get the chance to film the 6-1, 275-pound Smith. The Appeals Committee voted 3-1 to deny the appeal.

“Rules are rules and you almost expect them to say no,” Fulmer said. “But in the interest of the kid, a chance to get a college education through football, I feel like I should go.”

Fulmer said he had never missed a practice since he started coaching in 1985.