Chris Fox has pleaded his case. The paperwork has been neatly folded, sealed and shipped off to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. Now the matter is out of his hands, and all he and the Syracuse cross country team can do is wait as Jeff Scull’s future hangs in the balance.

When Scull had his senior season cut short in 2008 due to two stress fractures sustained during workouts, questions arose regarding a possible return to the team.

‘I don’t see why I wouldn’t,’ Scull said. ‘I definitely want to be here as long as I can be.’

But Scull’s decision to return is only half the battle.

Scull is currently enrolled in the Department of Exercise Science graduate program at Syracuse University, leaving open only the matter of his eligibility. The team has petitioned the NCAA to grant Scull a medical redshirt for last season, thus giving him a fifth year of eligibility.

‘It was a matter of him getting into graduate school and a matter of getting his eligibility back,’ said Fox, SU’s head cross country coach.

Upon transferring to Syracuse in 2006 following his freshman season at Colorado State, Scull almost immediately became the cornerstone of the cross country program.

He has twice been named to the All-Northeast Region team and was an All-Big East selection in 2007. In his junior season, he placed 122nd overall at the NCAA Division I National Championships.

‘Jeff is certainly the guy who helped get our program off the ground,’ Fox said. ‘He came in when we weren’t very good, and he’s helped us become a nationally ranked program.’

But following a promising start to his senior season – a 24th place finish at the Paul Short Invitational – Scull suffered a stress fracture in his pelvis. He attempted to return in January but suffered a second stress fracture, this time in his lower back.

While there was never any doubt in Scull’s mind that he wished to pursue a fifth year of eligibility, the ultimate resolution depends on the sales pitch by Syracuse’s NCAA Compliance Office, which will present the case for Scull’s eligibility.

‘In Jeff’s case, it’s medical history,’ Fox said. ‘Jeff missed time because he had injuries and there was nothing he could do about it. We’re hoping that they will grant him an extra year of eligibility.’

Despite being assured by numerous parties that the extra year will be granted, Fox maintains that the key word is ‘hoping.’

‘I don’t assume anything when it comes to the NCAA,’ he said.

Scull, however, is building his fitness up, and is expecting to be competing come the Big East Championships on Oct. 31 at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis.

‘My health is 100 percent,’ he said. ‘My fitness is still improving – about 80 percent – but I feel I’m getting stronger every week and by late October, I should be ready to go.’

Aside from the potential accolades that wait for him, Scull sought a return for the purpose of serving as a mentor to the younger runners on the team.

Senior Dan Busby has witnessed his teammate’s leadership capabilities since joining as a freshman in 2006, the same season Scull transferred.

‘He has the proper philosophy, so he can take someone aside after a tough workout and he can help them get back in the right mindset,’ Busby said. ‘He has a lot of influence, so people listen to him. If you’re struggling, if you’re not doing some things right, he’s there. He’s never shy about talking to you if you need it.’

Naturally, Busby is looking forward to Scull’s potential return.

‘He’s one of our top guys,’ he said. ‘He might have been our top guy last year if he didn’t get injured. For our goal of going to nationals, it would be hard to do without him’

pcgeorge@syr.edu

Published on September 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm