Roscoe Crosby Cleared By ACC to Play in 2003

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Wed Aug 13 22:08:06 GMT-04:00 2003

CLEMSON - Roscoe Crosby, the one-time can't miss football prospect who hasn't played a down collegiately since the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, Wednesday was granted a Medical Absence Waiver by the Atlantic Coast Conference and is eligible to return to the Clemson lineup immediately.

Counting this season, Crosby - who will be listed as a redshirt sophomore - will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Neither Phil Grayson, the associate athletic director for student development, nor head coach Tommy Bowden had spoken with Crosby early Wednesday evening when the announcement was made. Grayson spoke with Crosby in the days before the waiver was filed, and said Crosby indicated if granted he would report to camp.

Bowden refused to comment specifically on Crosby's return "until I get a chance to talk with him here in the next 24 hours." It is then that Bowden said he should know when - or if - Crosby will report.

All that appears to be just a formality. Meanwhile, Grayson was pleased with the outcome.

"What it means for Roscoe is that he can resume his career here immediately so he can participate as a student athlete," he said. "We hope he's here, enrolled as a full time student, so he can pick up his academic career, as well. This really is a second chance for him."

Grayson would not comment on the specifics of what went into the waiver.

However it was believed to contain not only information about Crosby's elbow injury and the recovery period required after surgery, but also other off-field personal problems - such as the death of three friends in a car accident who were in route to see him play minor league baseball for the Kansas City Royals at Haines City, Fla. in 2001.

"I'd rather not talk about the specifics of the case," Grayson said. "I think we did what we could to help him. I was just trying to restore him to where he was before the circumstances in his life happened. That's what this waiver does."

Crosby had 27 catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns in 2001. He started four games,

including wins over Duke and Louisiana Tech at the end of the season when he had a combined 10 catches for 208 yards and three touchdowns.

Dan Scott covers Clemson University for the Florence Morning News. He also hosts SportsTalk from 9 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Friday, on WCCP-Fm, 104.9. Click here for Dan Scott's SportsTalk discussion board.