As expected, the NCAA has appealed the ruling in the Andrew Oliver case. The Sandusky (Ohio) Register reported the NCAA filed an appeal last month with the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals, claiming that judge Tygh Tone reached his decision to reinstate the Oklahoma State lefthander (and overturn the no agent rule) "against the substantial weight of the evidence" and "based upon clearly erroneous conclusions of the law".

You knew the NCAA would fight this one tooth and nail, even with the forces of logic and decency lined up against it, but the timing of the appeal was somewhat unexpected. Beth A. Naufel, a court administrator for Tone, told the Register that because the jury portion of the trial (to determine monetary damages) is still pending, the court was under the understanding that "it wasn’t a final appealable ruling".

Frances King, an assistant court administrator for the Sixth District, told the Register that the judges could sanction the NCAA if they feel the appeal is frivolous, but they have not yet determined that to be the case.