An article on ESPN...now if the NCAA had to even think about restoring this guy's eligibility, what a slap in the face it will be when they welcome MW back with open arms. Why did they even have to think about about letting this guy play again? Maybe this is an indication that MW won't be playing for the Condoms.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=1840849


LITTLE ROCK -- The NCAA has decided to allow Henderson State fullback Jayvian Johnson to play this fall after he missed a year of school at war in Iraq.

The NCAA on Thursday reversed an earlier ruling and declared Johnson eligible to play this fall after serving a year in Iraq and Kuwait with the U.S. Army Reserve.

Johnson, a specialist in the Army Reserve, didn't complete the 2003 spring semester because his unit was activated. He returned to North Little Rock in April when the 42 members of the 468th Chemical Battalion came home.

"That's what I'm talking about. Oh yes," Johnson said when informed of the NCAA's decision. "Wait until I tell my momma, she's going to flip. That's what I'm talking about. I'm too happy."

The NCAA turned down Johnson's initial request for an academic progress waiver two weeks ago. Henderson State coach Jesse Branch and faculty athletic representative David Gardner filed Johnson's appeal on July 1.

"The NCAA has granted Jayvian Johnson a waiver," said Kay Hawes, a spokeswoman for the NCAA. "We had some miscommunication from the institution. Once we received accurate information the waiver was granted. It was approved due to the unique circumstances of him serving."

Branch said he never doubted that NCAA officials would change their minds. Johnson deserves the waiver, the coach said.

"I'm just tickled to death he's going to have an opportunity to be back with his teammates and he's alive and back in the states," Branch said.

Johnson, 21, rushed for 731 yards and three touchdowns for the NCAA Division II school as a freshman in 2002. During that semester he took 12 hours, but he said he only passed nine because he failed a math class.

Johnson registered for 18 hours in spring 2003, trying to make up academic ground, but he only finished two weeks before the 468th was sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for training.

Johnson, who has two years remaining on his enlistment, was stationed in Camp Commando near Kuwait City last summer, and once in Iraq he alternated between Camp Cedar in southern Iraq and Camp Victory in Baghdad.

According to the NCAA Division II manual, a student-athlete needs to complete 24 credit hours to make academic progress and needs a 1.6 or 1.8 grade-point average to stay eligible.

"I knew all along the right decision was coming," Johnson said. "I said 'Lord, I know you'll find a way.' He brought me through so much, I just couldn't get down about this one setback. I already had a lot of them and I couldn't get down. I'm happy right now."

The NCAA Division II Academic Requirements Committee turned down Johnson's first request because Henderson State hadn't provided all the necessary information. The nine-member committee meets by conference call, but once the NCAA had all the information from Gardner, the NCAA staff approved Johnson's appeal.

"Once we cleared that up, there was not the sticking point there initially was," said Gardner, a math professor. "We feel good about their decision. We think they have certainly treated us very fairly."

Johnson finished ninth in the Gulf South Conference in 2002 with 731 yards and only West Georgia's Brandon Glover rushed for more among freshmen with 744 yards. Johnson gained 181 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries in a victory over Southern Arkansas.

Johnson is expected to battle Arthur Burnett for playing time at fullback. Burnett, a junior, rushed for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns last year in Johnson's absence.