Steven Rhodes, a former US Marine sergeant, just finished five years of active duty. Now, he is going after his dream of playing college football. He was a walk-on to the Middle Tennessee State (MTS) football team this summer and has been practicing as a tight end and defensive lineman. Rhodes is, however, appealing an NCAA rule that prevents him from playing football this season.
The NCAA says he won’t see any game time this year because of a league he played in during his time serving the country. The Daily News Journal said NCAA rule 14.2.3.2.1 would be violated if he played.
[T]he rule essentially says that student-athletes that do not enroll in college within a year of their high school graduation will be charged one year of intercollegiate eligibility for every academic year they participate in organized competition.
While in the Marines, Rhodes played in the military base recreational league for soldiers. Rhodes describes it as an intramural league at best. “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,” he said. The NCAA disagrees and says since there were referees, team uniforms, and they kept score, it was an organized league.
The rule, originally written in 1980, has been revised several times. Under the rule’s original formulation, “participation in organized competition during times spent in the armed services…” was exempted from limiting eligibility. However, the revisions to the rule have abandoned the armed services exception.
The NCAA first said Rhodes would have to sit out this year and that he lost two years of eligibility. But, MTS won a partial appeal allowing Rhodes to recoup the two years of eligibility. Rhodes plans on appealing further so he may play this season.