Thank You For Your Service, But You Can't Play Football

Steven Rhodes, a 24-year-old Marine, enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University following his five-year active service. Rhodes always had a dream to play college football, and he initially had a spot as a walk-on, possibly as tight end or defensive end. But the NCAA said no, because Rhodes played one year in a military-only rec league, which means he loses two years of eligibility plus cannot play a game this season. From the Daily News Journal:

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.”

So add that to the list of dumb shit the NCAA says: playing a season against 40-year-olds from the base's traffic control is worth as much as playing two against draft prospects in the NFL's de facto minor league.
Read more at The Daily News Journal.