The farewell tour for Ball State University running back MiQuale Lewis may be getting an encore.
Coach Stan Parrish announced Monday that paperwork has been filed requesting a medical redshirt for the senior, meaning he would be eligible to play for the Cardinals again next season.
Pat Quinn, associate athletics director for compliance and operations, said the school should hear in two-to-three weeks if the request has been approved.
Quinn said athletes have five years to use their four years of eligibility. If a player is injured within a certain percentage of games, and misses the remainder of the season, an extra year of eligibility can be granted. Because Lewis did not have a redshirt season already, he is likely to receive clearance.
"They told me we have a good chance of getting it," Parrish said.
Lewis missed the final nine games of the 2007 season after tearing his ACL at the University of Nebraska. Quinn said Ball State playing a bowl game that season did not affect the running back's eligibility to receive a redshirt, because only regular season games count to the percentage of games an athlete must have missed.
Lewis could be joined next year by fellow senior Madaris Grant. The tight end tore his ACL in the first quarter Thursday night and will have surgery in a couple of weeks. Quinn said paperwork will be filed seeking a sixth season for the team captain.
Grant redshirted his freshman year, which could make the request more difficult.
"Through no injury, he voluntary gave up one year of his eligibility to get bigger, stronger," Quinn said. "We can make a case for an appeal for an extra year."
Quinn said in his six years as associate athletics director, he could not remember anyone applying for a sixth year at Ball State. Most notably, former University of Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jason White received a sixth year in 2004.
Because the paperwork for Grant was filed much after Lewis', Quinn isn't sure when Ball State will learn if Grant can play in 2010.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
