A torn ACL last October during a special teams drill sidelined Clemson linebacker Tony Steward for the remainder of the 2011 season. At the time, Clemson announced they would be pursuing a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
Unfortunately for Steward, that request has been denied. NCAA rules state players can become eligible for medical redshirts if they’ve played 30 percent or fewer of their team’s games in a season. Steward played in five games and was just over that percentage.
“Its’ really a shame,” coach Dabo Swinney said.
Steward, a five-star linebacker and one of the prize recruits from Swinney’s 2011 class, will be a sophomore this year.
(Hat tip: Post and Courier)
The 30% rule was enacted to prevent some coaches from getting a guy, who is normally a back up or has to suddenly start due to injuries of another player, too much time as a regular player, and then having them declare he hurt his arm or something like that. He could basically, get a lot of time on the field and still be rewarded with another year of eligibility.Believe it or not, some coaches have done it.