Rhodes, an Antioch native, finished his five years of active service in the Marines this summer, when he called MTSU coaches in hopes of landing a spot as a walk-on player for the Blue Raiders. They happily granted the request of the athletic 6-foot-3, 240-pound Marine sergeant. He has played both tight end and defensive end thus far in preseason camp.
But not long after arriving on campus, Rhodes was told that his participation in a military-only recreational football league in 2012 would hinder his immediate eligibility to play Division I college football, per an NCAA rule.
Despite his age, military service and complete lack of college football experience, Rhodes must take a mandatory redshirt and not play a single game for MTSU this season.
Rhodes was shocked by the news. He knew what that recreational league was. It was not pay-for-play. It was not highly competitive. It was not even well organized.
“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.”
National Communists Against Athletes strikes again!
National Communists Against Athletes strikes again!
http://www.dnj.com/article/20130818/SPO ... ck_check=1
National Communists Against Athletes strikes again!
Did you see the rule the NCAA is citing to justify this? It's total crap.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -tennessee
I understand the intent behind that rule, but like this guy said, these were basically intramural games. Someone needs to exercise some common sense here.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.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -tennessee
