Your daily New Mexico State legal update

Here's your daily New Mexico State men's basketball legal brief, courtesy as usual of the Las Cruces Sun-News and Jason Groves. First this:

Jason Groves
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Two hours until gametime

I was informed that the injunction is still in place, but Pope will not play today, even if he made the trip to Louisville. The two sides will meet again in a scheduled hearing Jan. 14. I will update this post when I get to the arena.

Followed by a much lengthier article:

Pope's attorney says player is cleared; Hawkins to play vs Louisville
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
12/22/2007

Herb Pope's attorney Stephen Hubert of Las Cruces said that the player has been cleared to play basketball for the Aggies.

"(State District) Judge Jerald Valentine today signed a restraining order restraining the NCAA from declaring Mr. Pope ineligible and ordering New Mexico State University to give him his Pell Grant," Hubert said.

NMSU Athletics Director McKinley Boston confirmed the report.

"The judge did rule that Herb was eligible to be treated as a student athlete and we are now having conversations with the NCAA regarding the injunction as it relates to NCAA Bylaw 19," Boston said. "There is an injunction and the judge ruled he was eligible pending the outcome of the initial eligibility certification process."

Boston could not determine if Pope would be joining the Aggies in Louisville.

"It's great news, because No. 1, it means he can receive financial aide," Boston said.

Boston said the bylaw contains 19 penalties that can be imposed on NMSU if Pope does not win his lawsuit.

"That's the question that we are dealing with at the moment," Boston said.

Valentine scheduled another hearing on the matter for Jan. 14...

Go here for the complete article.