This is the only way I can figure this deal out. Basically, it's a loophole in the rule where the coach states that he didn't understand the rules. This would fit Mangino's track record well.
14.2.6 Season-of-Competition Waiver—Competition While Eligible. A student-athlete may be granted an additional season of competition by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement in a case in which the student-athlete participated in a limited amount of competition while eligible due to a coach’s documented misunderstanding of the legislation or other extenuating circumstances. In cases in which a studentathlete does not meet the criteria of this waiver, the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement shall have authority to review and grant a waiver based on additional documented extenuating circumstances. (Adopted: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02; Revised: 10/28/04)
14.2.6.2 Coach’s Documented Misunderstanding. The student-athlete participated as a result of good faith, reliance on a coaching staff member’s decision to put the student-athlete in an alumni contest, exhibition contests, scrimmages, or nonchampionship segment contests based on the coach’s documented misunderstanding of NCAA legislation and the competition occurred under the following conditions: (Adopted: 10/28/04)
(a) The competition occurred while the student-athlete was representing an NCAA institution;
(b) The competition occurred prior to the completion of the first 20 percent of the championship segment
of the institution’s declared playing and practice season; and
(c) The student-athlete did not compete in more than two events or 10 percent (whichever number is
greater) of the institution’s scheduled or completed events in his or her sport.
All competition (including a scrimmage) against outside participants shall be countable under this limitation in calculating both the number of events in which the student-athlete participated and the number of scheduled or completed events during that season (both segments) in the sport. (Revised: 8/4/05)
Under this scenario, there is a penalty, however:
14.2.6.2.1 Penalty. A student-athlete who is granted a waiver pursuant to Bylaw 14.2.6.2 shall be withheld from two contests of intercollegiate competition for each contest in which he or she competed. (Adopted: 10/28/04)
Anyone know if Rivera has sat out two (or 4) games anytime in the last 4 seasons as a result of the above rule?