Former Marine Corp member Steven Rhodes was declared ineligible by the NCAA from playing football in the fall because he participated in a recreational league in 2012 while serving a tour, prior to him joining the school.
But on Monday, Middle Tennessee State’s president Sidney McPhee said he fully expects the NCAA to overturn their initial ruling, allowing Rhodes to play this season.
The NCAA ruled that Rhodes, 24, had to sit out this season because he did not enroll in college a year after completing high school and therefore competing in organized competition voided his first year of eligibility. Rhodes spent five years in the Marines before returning this summer and walking on to the Middle Tennessee State football team.
“I’m very confident common sense will prevail here. I have made a call to the NCAA and asked them to take a serious look at this situation. I was very pleased that there was some sense that this case needed a second look,” McPhee told Yahoo Sports Monday.
“I certainly understand there are policies and procedures and rules, but I think this is a classic case of a rule that has produced an unintended consequence. In this particular case, the rule does not make any sense. This is a kid who was involved in serving his country. He’s doing everything right. Why penalize that?”
Rhodes said that the games weren’t very organized and it was more like intramurals with men of all ages participating in the games. There also wasn’t a set schedule for the games. The 6’3″ 240 pound sergeant plays tight end as well as defensive end.
The Blue Raiders finished 8-4 last season and their first game this season is August 29 against Western Carolina.