The Boise St. Broncos certainly does not need any more help this season as they have not been challenged, but the Broncos are glad to get back defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe. What a game to get an extra defensive tackle back when the Broncos host the Air Force Falcons and their run-option offense.
Tjong-A-Tjoe had been one of the three players from Amsterdam to be suspended due to eligibility concerns with defensive back Cedric Febis and wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn. The others had suspensions of one and four games respectively, but Tjong-A-Tjoe's improper benefits of $13,600 from his host family resulted in this six-game suspension. That amount still must be repaid as well.
Here is the NCAA's response:
$13,600, received from"a host family, which included Boise State boosters, both prior and after enrolling at the university," the NCAA said. "These benefits included housing, meals, gifts, school supplies, travel, vacation, among other items."
What I do not get is that Tjong-A-Tjoe was that this was his home as a foreign exchange student and thus his family. This situation is more on the up and up than the Michael Oher situation, where he moved in with a family who helped him out and I felt was not an NCAA violation, but is closer to one than hosting a student from another country. Plus, Tjong-A-Tjoe is a sophomore so this is not like his situation was not known last year.
The only way I could begrudgingly see the NCAA's point of view is that his host family was Boise State boosters and helped him during his time once he left the home and was on campus at Boise State, so I guess that is where the issue came from. However, using logic (try it sometime NCAA) they are his family and helping him out once in college should not be a violation. I don't know all the facts but what happened to Tjong-A-Tjoe when the dorms were closed during breaks during certain holidays was he to just find a place to live for a few weeks if he did not have an apartment yet. He probably stayed with his family and oh my! gave him food and gave him a ride to the grocery store.
Well, he is back and able to play this weekend against Air Force.
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