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NCAA declares Baylor RB ineligible for accepting place to live

By Ethan Finkelstein

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The NCAA has officially ruled that Baylor running back Silas Nacita is ineligible due to accepting a place to live during the school year.

Sometimes life deals you a bad hand. As the old metaphor probably goes, you move on, reshuffle, and try again. That is what Baylor running back Silas “Salsa Nacho” Nacita is attempting to do.

Part of his world came crumbling down on Wednesday when the NCAA ruled he is ineligible to play football at the collegiate level moving forward due to accepting an offer from a family friend for a place to live during his time with the university.

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The NCAA currently prohibits players from accepting any improper benefits and/or favors from third parties unaffiliated with their school of matriculation.

Under those strict guidelines, Nacita unfortunately failed to comply with the governing collegiate sports organization, and will face the commensurate penalties.

The debate of whether college athletes, football players at the FBS level of the NCAA in particular, should be compensated or not has grown exponentially in recent years. Northwestern University’s team recently formed their own union; an unprecedented measure on the matter.

It is a topic that could be argued back and forth by proponents of both sides for months on end. But with regards to this story, we will try to stick to the player in question.

Silas Nacita was homeless not too long ago. Before accepting a partial financial aid package (one that apparently did not even cover the cost of his own textbooks), he was desperately trying to make his way into the institution.

His story, which can be found here, tells of his journey in greater detail.

It is an inspiring tale; one of loss, doubt, depression, persistence, anger, faith, joy, and acceptance. It might very well be the best thing you read all week. Nacita’s path to the present makes for one of college sports’s ultimate sagas.

That is why it is such a shame to have the athletic part seemingly come to such an abrupt end.

Nacita, despite his disappointment over the ruling, released a statement via Twitter. In it he acknowledges his mistake in overlooking NCAA guidelines and regulations, while at the same time stating his gratitude towards Baylor and their fans.

An all-Big 12 academic selection, he takes extreme pride in his academics. Although his football career might be over, if his grades are any indication, the future still appears to be bright for the man known in Waco, Texas as “Salsa Nacho.”

H/T Sports Illustrated

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