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Former Marine Will Get to Play Football for MTSU

goblueraiders.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Middle Tennessee State University football player Steven Rhodes had a practice Monday afternoon he won’t soon forget.

Rhodes learned during a Blue Raiders practice session that the NCAA will let him play for MTSU this season. The association had previously ruled that Rhodes was ineligible because he played in a Marine Corp recreational league during his five years in the military.

But late yesterday the NCAA changed course, issuing a news release thanking Rhodes for his military service to the nation and wishing him well.

After practice, Rhodes told reporters he’s getting a lot of ribbing from teammates because of the attention the story has generated.

“A lot of superstar jokes. I’m not going to be able to live this down for a long time, but I really don’t want the attention to be on me. I want the attention to be on the team and the focus that we have going forward.”

Middle Tennessee state President Sidney McPhee showed up at Monday’s Blue Raider practice to deliver the news to Rhodes in person.