As those that know me know, I'm a big sports fan. I'd say 75% or more of my television viewing is related to sports, either games or highlight shows. I fall asleep to ESPNEWS. I TiVo Reds games — and then watch them — for crying out loud. So, yeah. I'm a sports fan.

However, I admit that I hadn't paid much attention to my local University of Cincinnati football program until this season. The two previous head coaches have been defensive-minded: Rick Minter and Mark Dantonio. Nice enough defense, but the offense was always something left to be desired. Made for some mediocre teams, with a boring-to-watch offense and zero chance of making a BCS bowl or sniffing a national championship. Hell, they couldn't even sniff their conference championship.

That all changed last year when Dantonio left for Michigan State and the Bearcats hired Brian Kelly. Kelly brought in his spread offense and immediately the offense was fun to watch and the team was more competetive — the 'Cats will likely finish 3rd in the Big East, behind West Virginia and Connecticut.

A nice move during the off-season was bringing in Ben Mauk as the quarterback. Mauk was the starting QB at Wake Forest until he destroyed his throwing arm and shoulder in an attempt to recover a fumble during the first game of his senior season. As he rehabbed from surgery to repair rebuild his arm, he earned his degree.

NCAA rules allowed players who have earned a degree and still have playing eligibility (Mauk redshirted his freshman year) to transfer to another school and play right away. Typically, transfers must sit out a year.

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that since Mauk missed an entire season with his injury, Kelly plans to petition the NCAA to issue Mauk an additional year of eligibility by way of a medical hardship. Hopefully, the NCAA obliges. I enjoy watching Mauk and respect a guy that is willing to go back out there after such a devastating injury.

Come on, NCAA. Do the right thing.

[Bearcats want more of Mauk]