Vol. 3 No. 69 BYU Runner loses a year of NCAA elegibility for running in a Halloween Race before enrolling in college

Once again the NCAA steps on its you know what by declaring a BYU runner ineligible for a year for  competing in an open event before his enrolling in college.    Apparently this has happened to a number of Mormon athletes who go on their mission before enrolling in college and participating in an athletic event while 'on mission'.  This by the NCAA clear thinkers is an unfair advantage and thus deserves the loss of some eligibility.  I think this rule was probably conceived when some coaches complained that other coaches were bringing in 'seasoned' foreign athletes.   Could someone look up whether during WWII when military bases used to have pretty good football teams that played against colleges whether those guys lost eligibility.  I don't think they did.  But I could be wrong.  If a kid goes to prison and plays ball in a prison league, would he lose eligibility if he went to college and wanted to play some more? 

On another occasion a soldier while on active duty played in a military football game and got dinged some time for his transgression.  If you are going to do this kind of stuff, why play the Star Spangled Banner before a football game?   This reminds me of some track officials who seem to relish their power to the point of bragging to other officials about how many kids they can disqualify at a meet for minor dress codes, wearing a stopwatch during a race, and a variety of other arcane rules.   It is the mentality of power over others that is the cause of so much misbehavior in the world.   Even though the prime evil doers are themselves probably taking crap in their own lives from some overbearing boss or are in an unviable marriage, they should be above passing their own misery on to kids who are trying to set some goals and attain some level of performance and success in their athletic lives.   Those of you in power,  back off a bit , take a deep breath, and enjoy life instead of trying to make it miserable for everyone else.  Below is the article which set off this tirade.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865590194/Doug-Robinson-Another-wrong-to-right.html