SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- University of Illinois quarterback Dave Wilson can continue playing football for the Illini, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday in a 4-3 decision.
The high court rejected a motion from Big Ten attorneys, who Tuesday asked Justice William Clark to ban Wilson from the field.
The high court's action upheld a Sept. 19 appeals court ruling that allowed Wilson to play until his lawsuit against the Big Ten _ which had denied him eligibility _ is resolved.
The Big Ten has contended Wilson does not have enough academic credit to compete as a senior. Wilson, however, has maintained he is only a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
The Supreme Court's decision was confined to a four-sentence ruling with no explanation. Dissenting from the majority opinion were Justices Howard Ryan, Thomas J. Moran and Thomas E. Kluczynski.
Clell Woods, clerk of the Supreme Court, said he had been ordered to return any further appeals from the conference. He said the only legal recourse apparently open to the Big Ten would be an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wilson's attorney Robert Auler was elated by the news.
'When we found out this (law) office just went bananas,' Auler said. 'And then I called Dave, and he said 'I'm very grateful for all your help Mr. Auler.' That's the kind of kid he is.'
Wilson will start for Illinois, now 2-1-1, Saturday against Mississippi State at Champaign.
The 21-year-old quarterback transferred to Illinois from Fullerton Junior College where he broke his arm on the first play of the first game of the 1977 season. Under Big Ten and NCAA rules, that one play used up one year of playing eligibility.
A conference eligibility committee originally agreed to waive its rules and let Wilson play football this fall. But a committee of faculty representatives overturned that decision and Wilson filed a lawsuit.
Champaign County Associate Circuit Judge Harry Clem ruled Sept. 2 Wilson could play until his lawsuit went to trial. But new information surfaced and Clem two weeks later reversed himself.
That decision sent the case to the appeals court, which reinstated Clem's Sept. 2 injunction and Wilson was calling signals again.
