Hearts thumping, blood surging, lungs gasping, hundreds of college football players will run out onto the field Thursday night for the start of the 2013 season.
One of those players will be Steven Rhodes, a freshman defensive end at Middle Tennessee State who likely will have no bearing on the outcome of the game, if he even gets in.
Rhodes was not a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He did not verbally commit to three schools before signing with a fourth. There would be no reason to write about Rhodes, 24, except for the fact that for the last five years, he has proudly worn the uniform of a United States Marine, and the NCAA almost disregarded that.
None of us should. Every player that runs out of the tunnel Thursday night, every fan that rises to his feet in cheer, every member of the pep band, every concession worker, you, me and every citizen of this nation owes Rhodes a round of applause.
Rhodes, 24, was asked to imagine what he will feel Thursday, when the Blue Raiders host Western Carolina.
“Oh man, I can’t tell you the emotion I’m going to feel,’’ Rhodes said. “I’m sure it’s going to be emotional. I’ve thought about it once or twice and I had to stop myself. I’m just grateful, so grateful that I have this opportunity.’’
America was, is, and always will be the land of opportunity, but the NCAA came frightening close to denying Rhodes a chance to play this season. Rhodes played in an military-only recreational football league at a Marine base in 2012.
He wasn’t paid. He didn’t sign hundreds of mini-helmets or jerseys for an autograph dealer. He didn’t smack his wife, drive while intoxicated or cheat on a test.
For the last five years, Rhodes evolved into the best of what we can be.
But the NCAA, which dances with two left feet, initially ruled Rhodes had to forfeit two years of eligibility and serve a mandatory redshirt year this season.
Middle Tennessee State appealed and the NCAA restored the two years of eligibility, but kept the mandatory redshirt.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a Navy vet and prisoner of war in Vietnam, tweeted his support for Rhodes. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) penned an open letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert.
The twittersphere lit up, and finally, the NCAA saw the light.
“Throughout this process, NCAA staff worked closely with Middle Tennessee State University, and we appreciate the school’s partnership,” Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said in a statement.
“As a part of the ongoing review of NCAA rules, our members will examine the organized competition rules, especially as it impacts those returning from military service. We thank Steven for his service to our country and wish him the best as he begins college.”
Translation: We realized we looked like inept fools and couldn’t afford any more negative press than we’ve been receiving, so we finally showed some common sense.
Since Lennon raised the point that Rhodes had served, we asked the 6-foot-3, 240-pound master sergeant if he were frustrated to have been put through the wringer.
“I did feel frustrated,’’ he said. “I didn’t expect and I wasn’t asking for any preferential treatment because I served. I served my country because I wanted to. I was frustrated because I thought the ruling was unfair.’’
It was. But Rhodes, a native of Antioch, Tenn., has proven he can make chicken salad out of his own life.
After high school, he took an assembly line job at a Nissan factory.
“My life was not going good,’’ he said. “I had no goals, no direction. When I decided to enlist I chose the Marines because I wanted to be the best.’’ he said.
’’
He changed all that by joining the Marines.
He has done that. When he runs out of the tunnel Thursday night, his sons, Kameron, 3, and Devon, 1, and his wife Adrienne — in the final month of her enlistment with the U.S. Navy — will be in the stands, clapping, cheering and maybe crying.
We should cheer, too.
