Ben Mauk Keeps On Fighting

Everyone thought Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk’s story was over after the NCAA rejected his application for a sixth year. Then he decided to appeal. And appeal again. And appeal again…and…

Well, let’s just say that they denied him five times. This last time, they said that he was out of time, and that he wouldn’t be granted any more appeals.

So, he went over their heads. Mauk is now, in essence, suing the NCAA. The court case is being held in Hardin County, where Mauk grew up, and is being overseen by Judge William Hart, who refused to throw out the case as the NCAA requested. That doesn’t mean he’ll grant Mauk the right to play, though. Both sides make valid points for this case:

Mauk’s side: Mauk was injured early during his freshman season. He couldn’t play and was only a part of the team because they didn’t have a third QB to take his spot. He was then injured again in 2006 during the season opening, so essentially, he missed almost two full years.

NCAA’s side: Mauk was injured, but team doctors cleared him to play. Even though he didn’t play that year, he was officially part of the travel team and Wake Forest has no records indicating that he couldn’t have played if needed in a game.

So, really, there is a lot of gray area here. Mauk’s appealing be, I’m sure, he’s hoping to come back for another great season and be drafted. Why else would you fight so hard for another year of playing time? And really, I’d probably fight too. He had a great career once he transferred to Cincinnati, leading them to a #17 ranking last year and throwing for 31 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards. If he has anther year like that, he’d def be drafted.

Though I have to say this – he is injury-prone and NFL teams aren’t going to overlook that. Plus, at this point, when the season’s already started, is it worth the time to continue on with another trial, which I’m sure (if he is turned down) will lead to another appeal? There comes a point where enough is enough.

I do tend to think that the NCAA is being hard on him, since they’ve granted others sixth years in the past without this much trouble. Sure, Wake Forest might not have documentation of everything, but three doctors have come forward to say that Mauk is right – he couldn’t have played, even if he was “officially” a part of the travel team.

So what’s you stance on the Ben Mauk story? Should they grant him another year? Should he keep fighting?

Picture via Newscom.