Breaking News: LT Mike Tepper granted 6th year Eligibility

BearswithFangs has learned from inside sources that senior left tackle Mike Tepper was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

And by inside sources, I mean Tepper’s Facebook Status:
“Mike will be coming back to Berkeley for a 6th year! F*** yes!!”

Congrats to Mike. I’m sure the NCAA realized that the whole reason Tepper was lost for one of his earlier seasons was because he was freaking run over by a freaking car protecting a young woman.

Fair enough.

It should be great news for the Bears who will be featuring a talented, but young group of players at the offensive line position. Although all the returning starters will enter the fall with significant game experience due to injuries to the offensive line this year, there’s a lot to be appreciated about a player who has several years as a starter already under his belt.


This could also provide a bit of a quandary for the Bears. Redshirt freshman Mitchell Schwartz has shown to be a revelation at the left tackle position, and one will wonder whether Tepper will reclaim that spot, or whether he or Schwartz will make the move back over to the right tackle position.

If Tepper is then asked to compete on the right side, he would have to battle soon to be senior Chet Teofilo who had the RT starting job before being lost for the season. His replacement, JC transfer Donovan Edwards had also improved greatly by season’s end.

Either way, I would much rather have competition between several very capable players, than scramble for someone to step up for the job.