SWOSU's Musick Given Extra Year by NCAA

September 1, 2005

Weatherford, Oklahoma - The NCAA on Wednesday granted an extra year of eligibility to Southwestern Oklahoma State University football player Josh Musick, who missed one season because of attending to his cancer-stricken father.

He will be in uniform Saturday when the Bulldogs play their second game of the season at Midwestern State University.

Musick, 27, originally enrolled at Southwestern in the fall of 1995 where he spent his first season as a redshirt. He then left Weatherford the following year to return to his home in Clovis, New Mexico in order to care for his father, James, who was ill and eventually would be diagnosed with cancer in 1999. He continued his education, attending Eastern New Mexico University and Clovis Community College while caring for his dad.

James Musick died on Oct. 23, 2003.

Musick eventually decided to re-start his collegiate football career and enrolled at SWOSU in the fall of 2002. He was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs at linebacker and was among the team’s top tacklers last season, finishing with 82 tackles.

The NCAA said the 10-semester extension waiver, requested by SWOSU, was granted because of Musick’s inability to play four competitive seasons considering the extreme, unusual and extenuating circumstances of his case. A Division II student-athlete has 10 semesters of collegiate enrollment to complete four years of athletic participation.

Kelli Litsch, SWOSU assistant director of athletics and compliance official, said Musick’s extension was the first-ever granted to a SWOSU student-athlete.

"This has been quite an involved process from the beginning,” Litsch said. “The NCAA has dozens and dozens of eligibility appeals each year. We felt Josh’s case certainly warranted consideration and felt his unfortunate circumstances met the criteria of the extension waiver.”

Musick has been practicing on a part-time basis with the Bulldogs while awaiting for the NCAA to act upon his appeal.

"Having Josh back with us is tremendous,” coach Ryan Held said. “His leadership, enthusiasm and style of play is something that we really need to improve as a football team. We’re glad he’s back being a Bulldog.”