Marine banned one minute by NCAA can play the next

NCAA: Marine can play
Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Aug 19 2013

College football • The NCAA ruled Monday that a Middle Tennessee football player who spent five years in the Marines will be allowed to compete this fall and that he will have four years of eligibility remaining. It’s a reversal from the NCAA’s earlier decision to rule Steven Rhodes was ineligible because he played in a recreational league during his military service.

The NCAA issued a news release saying Rhodes could play immediately and member schools would continue to re-examine the competition rules, especially as they impact those returning from military service. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Rhodes has been practicing at both tight end and defensive end.
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Marine who played at base banned
ESPN
Updated: August 19, 2013

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- A Middle Tennessee freshman who finished five years of active service in the Marines this summer is appealing an NCAA rule preventing him from playing this season because he played in a recreational league in the military.

According to The Daily News Journal, the rule essentially says student-athletes that do not enroll in college within a year of graduating high school will be charged one year of collegiate eligibility for every academic year they participate in organized competition.

By NCAA standards, Steven Rhodes' play at the Marine base counted as "organized competition" because there were game officials, team uniforms and the score was kept.

But the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Marine sergeant said the recreational league was nothing close to organized.

"Man, it was like intramurals for us," said the 24-year-old. "There were guys out there anywhere from 18 to 40-something years old. The games were spread out. We once went six weeks between games."

The NCAA says it's working with Middle Tennessee and hasn't made a final decision on Rhodes' eligibility. MTSU spokesman Mark Owens told The Associated Press on Sunday that the school hopes to hear from the NCAA within the next month. The Blue Raiders open the season Aug. 29 hosting Western Carolina.
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