NCAA misses an easy layup

The NCAA seems to have a conveniently flexible way of strictly interpreting its rules. This week, the collegiate athletic authority rejected University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk's request for an extra year of eligibility to play via medical hardship waiver, even though there's no real dispute that he was injured and unable play during his freshman year of 2003 at Wake Forest. No, the problem is that Wake Forest failed to produce sufficient documentation that Mauk was redshirted that year because of injury.

He also sat out the 2006 season because of a first-game injury, so you'd think an extra season for Mauk would be an easy call. But noooooooooo, said the NCAA -- no note from the Wake Forest doctor, no eligibility, although Mauk gets another appeal. Gotta follow the letter of the law, right?

Well, not always. On Tuesday, presidential contender Barack Obama played a pickup game with the University of North Carolina men's basketball team, with coach Roy Williams watching -- a clear NCAA violation. Coaches are not allowed to be at off-season pickup games.

Still, the NCAA gave Williams and UNC its blessing, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. NCAA media relations director Erik Christianson called it a "unique situation." No doubt it was. But Ben Mauk -- and UC football fans -- might rightly think his situation's unique, too. Maybe he doesn't have enough superdelegates to sway the NCAA.