As first reported on Newscenter 16 at 5:30 on Wednesday, the IHSAA ruled that Eric Woods is not eligible to play varsity football at South Bend Washington this season.

Woods--a senior running back and defensive standout each of the last two seasons at Adams--transferred from Adams to Washington this summer.

"It didn't happen the way transfers are supposed to happen," IHSAA Commissioner Blake Ress explained in exclusive interview with Newscenter 16.

According to paperwork obtained by Newscenter 16, the IHSAA gave Woods full eligibility on June 24th.

But things began to change last week. Last Friday, NewsCenter 16 learned and reported that Woods was ineligible for Washington’s first game against Clay due to participating in 7-on-7 scrimmages with the Panthers before he was supposed to.

Then on Wednesday came a harsher penalty. The IHSAA ruled that Woods would only have 'limited eligibility' meaning he could play JV, but not varsity football.

But why the change from the earlier determination that Woods was granted full eligibility in June?

"It wasn't handled properly," Ress said. "Procedures weren't followed. Every school is supposed to make its decisions on its own and that didn't happen that way."

Ress says Woods never moved, but that there is a clause in the IHSAA by-laws that indicates that if the original school---in this case Adams-- determines the transfer has nothing to do with athletics, they can sign off on it.

"Adams schools officials decided they were not going to sign off on that," Ress said. "Things changed when people got involved that had no business getting involved."

"What happened after that was inappropriate."

Ress would not get into any more specifics.

Newscenter 16 was unable to reach the Woods family for comment, but we are told by someone close to the family that they plan to appeal the decision and may be considering legal action.

Earlier this year, the IHSAA ruled that Jasmine Watson was ineligible to play basketball for the Panthers after transferring from Elkhart Memorial. Watson took the IHSAA to court and won, allowing her to play her senior season with the Panthers. She is now at UMass where she will begin her freshman season on the school's basketball team in October.

Newscenter 16 first confirmed the Woods story with South Bend School Corporation attorney Ed Sullivan. Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the entire corporation, would only give this statement.

“Washington High School was informed today that the IHSAA changed Eric Woods’ eligibility status to ‘limited eligibility.’ According to the IHSAA, ‘limited eligibility’ does not include varsity football at Washington High School.”

Two other players who transferred from Adams to Washington after the 2008 season--Nolan and Gehrig Dieter---have had full eligibility since December.

Both played in last Saturday's win over Clay and there is nothing as of now to indicate that there is any question as to their eligibility.