NCAA: U.S. Marine Must Redshirt

[Grahambo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NCAA&src=hash">#NCAA</a> says Steven Rhodes, a Marine, must sit 1 year for playing in rec league in military <a href="http://t.co/vYcmqSb5aD">http://t.co/vYcmqSb5aD</a></p>— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Schlabach/statuses/369114493399228417">August 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>NCAA Lunacy, Part 72231: Marine denied eligibility to play at MTSU bc he played in a service rec league: <a href="http://t.co/nhH10UgriN">http://t.co/nhH10UgriN</a></p>— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/369103733361086464">August 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[D-BOE34]

BS

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Ridiculous.

 

[Black Irish]

Yeah, this is the guy the NCAA needs to put its foot down over and be sticklers for the rules. Why didn't he just sign some autographs for money, then nobody would care. What a crock.

 

[dshans]

Gotta take care of the important things ...

 

[KPENN]

This is such an NCAA thing to do.

 

[NDWorld247]

My initial reaction to this was "rules are rules". The rules state you are charged a year of eligibility for every year you participate in organized activity outside of the NCAA, or something like that. Why should this guy be exempt from the rules simply because he served in the military?

But then I read the article and apparently the NCAA screwed up by not including the military exception into the re-write of the rules. If this is truly the case, I fully expect this guy to be eligible for this season. Hopefully the NCAA doesn't let this thing drag out. I know, big leap of faith in the NCAA, but I'm hopeful they will do the right thing if in fact they are the ones that have screwed up.

 

[rikkitikki08]

NCAA priorities are so out of wack its ridiculous

 

[ARALOU]

Its just another example of a F'd up football league. I don't have the same passion for college football as I once did. The NCAA, ESPN, and big TV contracts have just about ruined it. Too much money in it now. You have a criminal element playing in it. Its a semi pro feeder for the NFL for the most part. One year scholarships, and other BS make the kids expendable and all they get is a shot at the NFL. Classes and degrees are secondary or nonexistent in many schools. Its depressing where it is headed.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

A rec league in the Marines shouldn't fall under that rule. That's like a Pro-Am making basketball players ineligible. No way to defend the NCAA here.

 

[Irishnuke]

Complete crock of shits.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Okay it's actually because he waited a year to join the Marines after finishing high school, not because of the rec league thing. That rule is in place to keep people from taking years off to gain an age or size advantage. It's a bummer, but I understand that rule.

 

[Rhode Irish]

And the NCAA continues to be the worst.

 

[ND NYC]

Okay it's actually because he waited a year to join the Marines after finishing high school, not because of the rec league thing. That rule is in place to keep people from taking years off to gain an age or size advantage. It's a bummer, but I understand that rule.

but didnt Brandon Weeden (and that FSU QB-cant remember his name) take like 3 or 4 years to try baseball and then went back to FSU and OkSt respectively in football when there baseball dreams were dead?

those two guys were like 26 years old in their final year of college football eligibilty

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

but didnt Brandon Weeden (and that FSU QB cant remember his name) take like 3 or 4 years to try baseball and then went back to FSU and OkSt respectively in football when there baseball dreams were dead?

those two guys were like 26 years old in their final year of college football eligibilty

Chris Weinke

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

but didnt Brandon Weeden (and that FSU QB-cant remember his name) take like 3 or 4 years to try baseball and then went back to FSU and OkSt respectively in football when there baseball dreams were dead?

those two guys were like 26 years old in their final year of college football eligibilty

They joined the organization in less than a year after graduating high school. It came down to how long it took this Marine to join the Marines, which was like 16 months.

 

[loomis41973]

Don't pull all your pubes out...this will be corrected.

 

[Booslum31]

Don't pull all your pubes out...this will be corrected.

Too late....

 

[BobD]

The NCAA is already "reviewing" their initial ruling.

 

[Grahambo]

Don't pull all your pubes out...this will be corrected.

The fact that this has to be corrected in the first place is the problem.

 

[military_irish]

Veterans get the shaft in everything apparently

 

[ARALOU]

I live and work close by. The word around town is that he will be granted eligibility.

 

[kmoose]

I'm not sure that this is necessarily a bad thing. The NCAA has already granted him his lost eligibility. All that's left now is that he has to sit out a year. But I'm sure that having a year to just practice and get back into the swing of civilian academic life would be a positive thing for him. Assuming he is eligible for the GI Bill (which is a fairly safe assumption), his college expenses will be largely taken care of, anyway. So the year of non-scholarship is not much of an issue. He is probably going to be slightly behind the curve, football-wise, anyway. The year of redshirting probably would have happened, anyway.

The rule sounds kind of dumb, though, and probably should be updated.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Once again the NCAA PR machine shows just how inept the Emmert regime is. This is exactly the type of story the NCAA should be using to show that they stand for what is good and right is this country. Instead, they come out with yet another stupid decision. I am sure the young man will get his eligibility back and be on the football field this season. Good luck to him and thanks for serving our country.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Guy is approved to play immediately. NCAA tweeted it just recently.

 

[BGIF]

Eye On College Football - CBSSports.com Former Marine Steven Rhodes allowed to play for MTSU in '13

By Chip Patterson | College Football WriterAugust 19, 2013 6:03 pm ET

After two days of relentless criticism for their ruling, the NCAA has reversed their decision regarding the eligibility of Steven Rhodes, the former Marine walking on the Middle Tennessee State football team.

Rhodes spent five years in military service, where he participated in a recreational football league. According to the NCAA's initial ruling, that league -- which Rhodes described as "something they did in their spare time on the same base" -- counted as "organized competition" and NCAA bylaws required Rhodes to sit out a mandatory redshirt year.

That changed on Monday afternoon with an official release from Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs.

"As a part of its continued review of Steven Rhodes' eligibility, NCAA staff determined he may play immediately," Lennon's statement read. "Additionally, he will maintain all four years of his eligibility.

"Throughout this process, NCAA staff worked closely with Middle Tennessee State University, and we appreciate the school's partnership. As a part of the ongoing review of NCAA rules, our members will examine the organized competition rules, especially as it impacts those returning from military service. We thank Steven for his service to our country and wish him the best as he begins college."

...

 

[Black Irish]

Good show NCAA; better late than never.

 

[ThePiombino]

Good show NCAA; better late than never.

Yup.

 

[Grahambo]

It was a safe bet to get overturned but the fact that it had to get over turned in the 1st place is the issue that a lot of people have.

 

[ulukinatme]

Gotta wonder if it would have been overturned at all if the media didn't run with it. Story breaks, within 24 hours NCAA reverses their decision...smh