Let Ward Run

Did you hear about the Colgate basketball player who lost a year of eligibility for playing some church league games when he returned home from his LDS mission? Well, the NCAA has granted him his eligibility back. If you didn't hear the story, Google search Nathan Harries and you can read all about it.

Did you hear a few months ago about the Middle Tennessee State football player who was serving in the military and participated in a military recreation league while he was in the service. If you didn't hear about that one, Google search Steven Rhodes and you can read all about it.

It turns out there is a guy on the BYU Track and Cross Country team in the exact same situation; Jared Ward. Ward's final season of Cross Country eligibility was stripped for running in a coach/supporter race a few months after he got home from his LDS mission. So, if precedent should stand, with Harries and Rhodes getting their eligibility back, Ward should as well, right? We're not so sure. Apparently cross country is not too high profile of a sport so the NCAA would like to just push this one off to the side.

The rule that is in question is if an athlete does not enroll in school within one year of high school graduation, they are not allowed to participate in organized competition or else they lose eligibility. This helps make sure athletes don't train and compete to get an edge on the rest of the competition before they start their NCAA clock.

In the cases of Harries and Rhodes, the NCAA said there were different circumstances, such as serving an LDS mission or serving in the military. Obviously, they were not able to train for their respective sports and the leagues they participated in were not very high caliber, so they weren't gaining an advantage. Ward's case is EXACTLY the same.

Ward is a 4-time All-American in track and cross country, a master's student in statistics, a multiple time USTFCCCA All-Academic team member, multiple time conference All-Academic member, 2012 WCC cross country champion, he's married and has a 20 month old son. You won't meet a nicer guy. But apparently since he doesn't play basketball or football he won't get the same treatment Harries and Rhodes get. Or Johnny Manziel and Cam Newton.

Obviously, BYU is pretty upset about it. They have a good team this year, but with Ward, they could have a great team. While this decision hurts their team, it hurts our sport even more. The NCAA is proving to us that football and basketball are all that matter.