April 29, 2008 – The Trojan Navy’s competition squad has been reduced for its final regatta of the season following a negative eligibility ruling by the PAC-10 Conference. Eight USC students, all studying for a certificate course in the Rossier School of Education’s English Language program, have been ruled ineligible to compete at the PAC-10 Championship Regatta on May 18.

Men’s Rowing is not a NCAA sport and so rules are left up to individual race organizers to determine. “We face different rules at every race we enter,” said captain Adam Fish. “We knew these rowers would not be able to race in some events such as IRAs but felt confident that they met the eligibility rules of the PAC-10 Conference Championship, set up specifically for clubs, which are looser than the rules for varsity programs.”

The USC Crew Board, comprised of University staff, student leaders, coaching staff and alumni offered scholarships to the eight foreign students in December on the basis that they were eligible to compete in the PAC-10 Championship Regatta.

We were disappointed by the ruling but respect the finality of the PAC-10’s decision in this matter,” said USC Head Coach Gene Kininmonth. “We were grateful to the USC Athletics Department and its head of compliance for their support for us on this issue.”

"These students have been working hard on the water and in the classroom at USC," said incoming team-captain Kevin Stanek. "Our team has benefited from rowing with them and they have been great members of our club. While it is unfortunate they cannot race at PAC-10s, our team has no regrets for bringing them to USC."

The PAC -10 noted that the ruling only governs the Conference Championship and “would not prevent these students from participating in a regatta with a club team at another Pac-10 institution or in any other non-Conference Championship event,” said a PAC-10 compliance official.

The ruling reached national attention in rowing circles given that seven of the eight USC students in question are reigning Under 23 World Champions recruited from Estonia. None of the rowers in question have participated in collegiate events this spring.

The oarsmen raced to a four boat-length victory in the Men’s Open at the San Diego Crew Classic in April and raced as an ‘exhibition crew’ in the George Gordon Cup.