MAUK IS DENIED - again (UPDATE 1:45 p.m.) Reply
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But the saga is not over yet. From UC:
University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk had his request for reconsideration on his original waiver for a sixth year of eligibility denied by the NCAA, head football coach Brian Kelly announced today.
The request for reconsideration was based on new information submitted regarding a foot injury he suffered at the beginning of his high school career. Prior to enrolling at Wake Forest University, Mauk required an additional operation on the foot in the spring of 2003.
The NCAA’s decision to deny the appeal was based a lack of contemporaneous medical documents from Wake Forest.
The Mauk family will continue to work with Ben’s former college coaches and Wake Forest University medical staff members to collect the needed information.
"This is just another step through the NCAA process and is nothing out of the ordinary," said Kelly. "The Mauks will continue to work through it. The next step in the NCAA process will give Ben his first opportunity to speak directly with the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee."
The Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee is a panel of athletics directors, faculty representatives, and conference commissioners who has the authority to determine all matters pertaining to the policies and procedures for the reinstatement of eligibility for a student-athlete. The committee will need a two-third majority vote to reinstate Mauk’s eligibility.
Under NCAA rules, the UC Athletics Compliance Office will act as the conduit between the Mauks and the committee. Cincinnati has already submitted the appeal, which will be heard by the Reinstatement Committee, and expects the timetable for the response to be expedited.
UPDATE (1:45 p.m.)
We're supposed to be meeting with Ben about 3 p.m., so in the meantime, I rung up his father, Mike. Here's some of what he had to say.
"Disappointed, but not necessarily surprised," he said. "It's the next step in the process. They've received the documents we've provided for them. At the same time, I still think there's more to be seen. That's why you go through the next step in the process. We'll look at that and continue to pursue it. He's played three years, and we're hoping he can get that fourth year."
Through it all, though, the Mauks remain optimistic.
"Ben's faith has a lot to do with it," Mike Mauk said. "If it doesn't work out, there will be other things that will work out. We're disappointed, but we still feel things will work out for the best."