Former player sues the NCAA

Cincinnati -- Former University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk is suing the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.

The NCAA denied the request last spring and Mauk filed his lawsuit Thursday in Hardin County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court.

The request was based on new information about the foot injury he suffered in high school.

In 2003, he enrolled at Wake Forest and underwent an additional foot operation that season.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday that Coach Brian Kelly will not allow Mauk to practice with the Bearcats despite the temporary restraining order in response to Mauk's suit.

"Ben Mauk, myself and everybody else here will not go down that road," Kelly told the newspaper, fearing that the school could be forced to forfeit games and return bowl money if the NCAA prevails. "That's ludicrous to even think that we would put him on the field and put our football team in harm's way."

Last season, Mauk passed for 31 touchdowns and 3,121 yards.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.