Marine Must Sit A Year Instead Of Play NCAA Football, Really...??? Really...

((HT: dnj.com/Sparks))

See if this makes any sense for you...

And, since, the NCAA is involved... the HQ thinks you already have your answer as you ask yourself...

Steven Rhodes served his country, served it well, and is now back home- which translates into central Tennessee...

Rhodes wants to play football for Middle Tennessee State, but he has been told that he's having to redshirt at the age of 24 because of his participation in a military-only recreational football league in 2012 is the culprit.

The 6-3, 240-pound sergeant is a little miffed to say the least...

From Sparks:

“Man, it was like intramurals for us. There were guys out there anywhere from 18 to 40-something years old,” said Rhodes, chuckling and shaking his head. “The games were spread out. We once went six weeks between games.”

By current NCAA rule, Rhodes would have to sit out this season and forfeit two years of eligibility because his recreational league season spanned two academic years (two games were played in the winter and as many as 10 more games in the summer and fall of 2012).

Last week, MTSU won a partial appeal to the NCAA to recoup those two years of eligibility (giving Rhodes four total seasons of eligibility), but he still must sit out this season. MTSU’s athletic compliance office is now reloading its argument in hopes of also gaining Rhodes’ immediate eligibility due to his unique situation.

Those of you looking in the NCAA rule book can thank 14.2.3.2.1 for the ruling and subsequent appeals by Middle Tennessee State.

Inasmuch as the entire civilized world would like the clause in question to be changed, MTSU (in the interim) is just looking for relief from an antiquated wording of an old idea that has been revised but not updated.

MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill is in Rhodes' corner:

“For a guy to go serve our country, you’d think there would be some compassion and understanding so this guy is not prevented from playing college football. He’s going to be almost 30 years old when his (eligibility) clock runs out. He needs to be allowed to play right now. Hopefully, they let him.”

Listen to Rhodes story hyah...

And here's Rhodes tape that got MTSU's attention
((HT: Steven Rhodes his own self))