Nacita says disregarding guidance from Baylor was mistake
WACO, Texas (AP) - Former Baylor running back Silas Nacita says he made a mistake by "disregarding guidance" from the school's compliance department and accepting benefits that led to him being removed from the team.
Baylor announced Tuesday that Nacita, whose story of overcoming an unstable family situation to play major college football made him a fan favorite, was no longer part of the program. The school's announcement came not long after Nacita posted on Twitter he had been ruled ineligible.
Nacita posted another statement Wednesday on his Twitter account - @Salsa_Nacho - clarifying his original post.
He says it was misleading to call the people who provided him an apartment when he was unable to afford housing "close family friends."
"Although at this point in time we consider ourselves as such, at the time I was only close friends with one member of the family," he wrote. "The family members who offered assistance were merely acquaintances who I met at home in Bakersfield, CA."
He said he did not think he was doing anything wrong but, "now I can see that I made a mistake by disregarding guidance from Baylor compliance on what benefits I may accept."
"I take full responsibility for my choice to accept these inappropriate benefits," Nacita wrote.
Nacita thanked Baylor coach Art Briles, athletic director Ian McCaw and university president Ken Starr for "rallying around" him throughout his time in Waco.
Nacita, who picked up the nickname Salsa Nacho because his name autocorrects to that on smartphones, had 191 yards rushing on 31 carries as a fourth-stringer and played on special teams last season.
Local and national media outlets profiled his road from growing up mostly fatherless in California to a year playing at Cornell for a year to walking on at Baylor. Nacita was described in those stories as once being estranged from his mother and homeless at times.
Nacita can remain a student at Baylor. He was a sophomore last season.
McCaw said in his statement Tuesday Nacita would no longer be part of the program because of rules violations that affect his eligibility, though no details were given.
The NCAA said it was not involved in Baylor's decision.