Alabama Football Coach Tommy Tuberville made headlines this week when he announced an end to the “blanket hold” by the U.S. military on its athletes. The blanket hold was issued during the early stages of the Iraq War, when it was difficult to secure permission from the Defense Department for military personnel to pursue sports while on active duty.
Coach Tuberville had recently made national news after his recruitment of a former Army Ranger for his team. The Ranger, Chance Abney, had struggled with post-traumatic stress after his service in the war and sought the support of the Crimson Tide Football Program to help him heal from his injuries and get a good education.
The “blanket hold” by the military has caused significant problems for U.S. athletes over the years, particularly in the NCAA. The blanket hold essentially prevented military personnel from playing intercollegiate sports while on active duty. This limitation was especially frustrating for members of the armed forces who also happened to be gifted athletes.
Coach Tuberville first proposed overturning the blanket hold during a recent meeting of the NCAA’s Division IA Athletic Directors. After some initial uncertainty, he finally got the green light from the NCAA and the Defense Department to end the blanket hold.
The immediate effects of this decision are that U.S. military athletes will now be given the opportunity to pursue their athletic ambitions while serving their country. For Army Ranger Abney in particular, the announcement came with a sense of great relief.
In a statement to the press, Coach Tuberville said, “We’re doing something great here by making sure that our military personnel can continue to pursue their dreams in sports. All of us here at the University of Alabama strive to support our military in any way we can.”
Coach Tuberville’s move is being credited with providing hope and relief to many members of the U.S. military who previously had to make the difficult decision between sacrificing their dreams of athletics or their service to their country. Tuberville’s proactive step in overturning the blanket hold is sure to garner him a lot of well-deserved appreciation from all across the country.
Alabama Football Coach Tommy Tuberville made headlines this week when he announced an end to the “blanket hold” by the U.S. military on its athletes. The blanket hold was issued during the early stages of the Iraq War, when it was difficult to secure permission from the Defense Department for military personnel to pursue sports while on active duty.
Coach Tuberville had recently made national news after his recruitment of a former Army Ranger for his team. The Ranger, Chance Abney, had struggled with post-traumatic stress after his service in the war and sought the support of the Crimson Tide Football Program to help him heal from his injuries and get a good education.
The “blanket hold” by the military has caused significant problems for U.S. athletes over the years, particularly in the NCAA. The blanket hold essentially prevented military personnel from playing intercollegiate sports while on active duty. This limitation was especially frustrating for members of the armed forces who also happened to be gifted athletes.
Coach Tuberville first proposed overturning the blanket hold during a recent meeting of the NCAA’s Division IA Athletic Directors. After some initial uncertainty, he finally got the green light from the NCAA and the Defense Department to end the blanket hold.
The immediate effects of this decision are that U.S. military athletes will now be given the opportunity to pursue their athletic ambitions while serving their country. For Army Ranger Abney in particular, the announcement came with a sense of great relief.
In a statement to the press, Coach Tuberville said, “We’re doing something great here by making sure that our military personnel can continue to pursue their dreams in sports. All of us here at the University of Alabama strive to support our military in any way we can.”
Coach Tuberville’s move is being credited with providing hope and relief to many members of the U.S. military who previously had to make the difficult decision between sacrificing their dreams of athletics or their service to their country. Tuberville’s proactive step in overturning the blanket hold is sure to garner him a lot of well-deserved appreciation from all across the country.
