the school and happens to be a former ncaa executive committee member. >> i picked up the phone. called a few folks. i said you really want to take a second hard look at this issue. >> reporter: they allowed him to play. it turns out that men and women in the military are normally excused from the rule. over time that exemption was forgotten. at the season opener in western carolina, rhoads put his first tackle in the record books. in the end, the blue raiders won. >> i made the sacrifice. do what i need to do. that's what i wanted to do. i was in the marine corps. i was determined to finish out my dream. kept my faith. kept praying. kept believing. here i am. >> steve osunsami, abc news, murfreesboro, tennessee >> go ahead. >> going to say good thing about the story. he didn't give up. kept fighting. it came his way. >> yeah, he had somebody at the school to look out for him. i feel like all around the ncaa need to look at their rule