Llopis played largely on the junior level, but was called up to the senior team for 20 games in the 1989-90 season. Llopis, however, sought to retain his amateur status by refusing to sign a contract or take an agent.

"The level of his involvement was high, but his actions and intentions show that Arturo was committed to being an amateur," Wickerham said.

It was while Llopis attended the University of Barcelona that the major violation took place. The Spanish government partly subsidized his education, as did F.C. Barcelona to the tune of $8700 over a two-year period.

Nearly $500 went to tuition, while the other $8200 went to room and board.

Compared to scholarship students at most American colleges, this is not an extraordinary sum. For example, $4100 a year would not come close to paying the bill at Harvard, where the fee is $6600.

This quasi-scholarship has emerged as the major obstacle to Llopis's re-instatement. NCAA could allow Llopis to play if he repays the money he received from F.C. Barcelona.

"While they could ask him to repay the entire sum, it is unlikely Llopis would be able to do so," Wickerham said.

The NCAA, however, does not sympathize.

"I don't think pulling on their heartstrings will do much good for us," Wickerham said. "I'm not optimistic about our chances."

Throughout the controversy, Llopis has continued to practice with the team while his future is decided in the NCAA bureaucracy.

"He'll be devastated if [the NCAA] denies the appeal," Sullivan said. "He wants so much to stay involved."