Court Victory Is Only Temporary : College football: Now Ifeanyi must wait to see if NCAA decides that rules were violated.

USC’s Israel Ifeanyi will play against Notre Dame today in South Bend, Ind., after getting a court order in Los Angeles that temporarily blocks his suspension by the NCAA.

Ifeanyi, a senior defensive end, was granted a temporary restraining order Friday that remains in effect until the NCAA determines whether he violated rules by accepting money from members of his Nigerian tribe.

That ruling is expected Monday, when the 10-member NCAA interpretations committee holds its regularly scheduled teleconference meeting. The committee will consider USC’s appeal of a legislative service ruling that Ifeanyi broke rules by taking about $3,700 from members of the Igbo tribe living in Los Angeles.

Ifeanyi was touring the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday when he learned he could play for the first time in a month. While studying busts of 1950s college All-Americans, Ifeanyi said, “I’m very happy for the chance to play.”

Ifeanyi has sat out two games for rules violations stemming from his involvement with sports agent Robert Troy Caron and another for accepting money from fellow Nigerians.

In what has become a complicated dispute over NCAA protocol, Ifeanyi took the matter to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert H. O’Brien after the NCAA had refused Thursday to hear an appeal of the eligibility committee’s decision to sanction him. The judge scheduled a hearing on a preliminary injunction for Nov. 2.

NCAA officials said the school had not acted in accordance with the organization’s procedures when it petitioned two of its committees simultaneously. As a result, a two-game suspension was handed down prematurely by the eligibility committee this week.

“There were procedures in place that could have been followed that would have resolved this matter earlier,” said John Cadarette, a Los Angeles lawyer representing the NCAA. “They changed their minds [Wednesday] and were hedging their bets both ways.”

Scott Edelman, a USC attorney, said the school was encouraged to use a two-pronged approach to try to get Ifeanyi’s eligibility restored. He said the school did not have to waive its right to appeal to one body in order to be heard by the other.

While the school and NCAA disputed the finer points of the system, Ifeanyi got his reprieve.

Keith Burns, USC’s defensive coordinator, said Ifeanyi will play today against Notre Dame.

Ifeanyi will be the first suspended starter to play since he, linebacker Errick Herrin and running back Shawn Walters were withheld Sept. 28 for allegedly accepting money and favors from Caron, the Oxnard agent who allegedly paid college athletes to secure them as clients.

USC sued Caron but the case was settled out of court last Friday when Caron agreed to pay the school $50,000 and to never induce Trojan athletes to violate NCAA rules.

Herrin was suspended for five games Thursday and will not return until Nov. 4 against Stanford. USC still is determining Walters’ culpability in allegedly accepting $15,900 from Caron. The school has yet to petition the NCAA to restore his eligibility.

Although Ifeanyi did not want to discuss his return, other Trojans were more than willing.

“He’s going to come out of the gate like a bull at a rodeo,” said Kyle Wachholtz, who shares quarterback duties with Brad Otton.

Burns said Ifeanyi is ready because he has continued to practice.

“The whole thing has been a form of torture for him,” said Dennis Thurman, coach of the defensive back.

“It’s hurt him emotionally,” safety Micah Phillips said.

Ifeanyi, an Orange Coast College transfer who came to the United States in 1990 to learn to play football, still may have to sit out another game--presumably against Washington next week--if the interpretations committee upholds the initial ruling that the Igbo practice of support was a violation.

Edelman, USC’s attorney, said the school would examine the committee’s decision closely if its appeal is denied. USC has filed a lengthy argument on Ifeanyi’s behalf.

Mark Wooster, Ifeanyi’s attorney, said the player has not discussed what action to take should the ruling be upheld. He simply was happy with Friday’s decision, saying, “No doubt this is right, this is justice.”

In court papers filed Thursday, Ifeanyi argued that the NCAA showed cultural bias by sanctioning him.

“These gifts, made to a young student living half a continent away from his home and his family, were no different than the assistance that American students ordinarily receive from their families and friends,” the suit said.

Cadarette said the NCAA levied a light sentence compared to other athletes who have accepted thousands of dollars because it was sensitive to the tribal customs.