Suddenly The NCAA Wants to Give Mauk Another Hearing

Obviously, some recent lawsuits have not gone the way the NCAA would have liked. Faced with the prospect of having to explain its decision making regarding the denial of Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk's application and appeals for a 6th year of eligibility, in an open court the NCAA has rethought its approach. How about a clean slate and a fresh set of NCAA eligibility hearings?

The NCAA agreed on Wednesday to re-hear Mauk's appeal for a sixth year to complete his four years of eligibility.

If the appeal reaches the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, which ruled against Mauk on Aug. 8, Mauk has been assured that he will be given a chance to speak, something that he was not allowed to do the last time.

Mauk's attorney says there is new evidence to present to the NCAA. Presumably it is testimony and further information regarding the injury he suffered as a senior in high school that lingered into his freshman year at Wake Forest. Mauk was redshirted as a freshman, but it was not specified as a medical redshirt. While Wake Forest has backed Mauk's claims that his redshirt was primarily because he was still recovering from a setback from the injury and surgery, they lacked the requisite paperwork demanded by the NCAA.

If this somehow gets Mauk another year of eligibility, it isn't clear what will happen with the starting QB job at Cinci. Mauk has missed all of training camp while awaiting word. Senior Dustin Grutza has been named the starter. Mauk, though, took the job last year and really made the Bearcat offense hum with better mobility than Grutza.