Troy player reinstated ... not that it helps those who missed playoffs

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Troy missed the football playoffs this season, and a likely No. 3 seeding, because it forfeited six victories for using ineligible player Tommy Mavritsakis, a transfer from Fullerton.

According to Dan Albano’s story in The Register, he had his eligibility restored for next season by a hardship appeal committee. He had originally been declared ineligible until Nov. 8, 2008. The committee upheld an original ruling by Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton (which made the forfeitures stand) but determined the punishment too tough for the crime.

But get this: He was attending Fullerton while practicing with Troy in the spring.

How dumb on everyone’s part: his, and the Troy coaches (assuming they knew about it). Didn’t anyone see a red flag being waved??? I love what’s written on a Troy website, ‘because of a perceived violation of rules of eligibility, Troy has been eliminated from CIF playoff competition.’

Mavritsakis’s father, Gus, reportedly said he was ‘ecstatic’ because his son’s ‘goal is to play football.’

Funny, but I’m guessing his Troy teammates’ goal was to play playoff games. Presumably, they are not nearly as ecstatic.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.mod.uk