Copiah-Lincoln Community College has been deemed to have played an ineligible player.

The school had been under investigation for having a student-athlete partake in the Wolfpack’s first two games of the year against Itawamba Community College and East Mississippi Community College.

East Mississippi CC had won 25 consecutive games before losing to Co-Lin 31-24 Sept. 4. The NJCAA record is 26 wins in a row. EMCC has won five consecutive games.

However, since Co-Lin violated an MACJC rule and did not commit an NJCAA infraction, the forfeit will only reflect MACJC standings and records and not national records.

“I was contacted by the NJCAA about this,” MACJC Director of Athletics Activities James “Jim” Southward told The Star. “We had extensive conversations (Wednesday) — myself and various people at the NJCAA office. Since this was a violation of the MACJC and not a violation of the NJCAA bylaws, then they did not have authority to have them forfeit ball games. There was no national rule broken.”

Southward first ruled Co-Lin had an ineligible player. His ruling was appealed by Co-Lin last week and sent to the MACJC Athletics Council for review.  The Athletics Council upheld Southward’s ruling Wednesday.

EMCC will remain 6-1 and will be credited only with a 25-game winning streak.

The NJCAA said in a statement, “The NJCAA can only enforce the constitution and bylaws adopted by its national board of directors. In addition, the NJCAA supports the enforcement of rules and policies adopted by an NJCAA Region. Furthermore, the NJCAA is not governed by or affiliated with conferences that operate within the two-year college landscape. The authority of applying and enforcing conference rules is the sole responsibility of the respective conference.  

“As it pertains to this situation within the MACJC, the NJCAA has determined that Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) is not in violation of the Association’s national constitution and bylaws. The ruling of the MACJC can only apply within the conference and will not be applied nationally.”

Co-Lin violated a rule that was put in place by the presidents of the MACJC schools in regards to diplomas and GEDs.

“There was some misinterpretation on Co-Lin’s viewpoint as to whether the student-athlete would be grandfathered in under the new rules,” Southward said. “The certified player was not grandfathered in and did not meet requirements to be grandfathered.”

Copiah-Lincoln acknowledged its forfeits in a statement released Wednesday, “The Copiah-Lincoln Community College football team will forfeit the first two football games this season due to a ruling of an ineligible player. The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) Athletic Appeals Committee upheld the ruling made by Commissioner Jim Southward.

The student-athlete in question was previously enrolled, signed and certified by the MACJC. The college interpreted the new eligibility rule as the player would be grandfathered in, however, the MACJC commissioner ruled him ineligible.

“This is an unfortunate situation and difficult for a team that has worked very hard, but I believe we will come out of this stronger and continue to be committed to offering a quality athletic program,” Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles said. “We are disappointed, but accept the ruling by the Appeals Committee and are grateful the committee removed the one year probation sanction initially imposed.”