New law? No, this has been in place for DECADES. And the other little piece of information that is missing ... You are given MULTIPLE chances to complete the run on time. It's not a 1 Day test; it's a multi-week challenge; you only have to beat time ONCE. And yes, you also have months of 'Practice' in which to get into shape.
Successful completion of the fitness test - which includes sit-ups, push-ups and a two-mile run - is an Army standard.
So, let's make an exception to the rules for this guy ... because he's a Feakin' football player??!? The rules are in place, they are conveyed YEARS in advance, you are made aware of them on a daily basis. If ANYONE should be able to make time, one would think a athletic scholarship recipient would. Funny, 99.9% of the rest of the cadets make time with seconds/minutes to spare.
First, I am a totally out-of-shape 46-year-old 250-pound 5'4" white male. But if I had to run 2 miles in 16 minutes in order to save the price of a college education, I am absolutely certain I could do it in 3 months. Maybe I'll take this on as a challenge, I need to get back in shape.
Second, I don't want the money back either. I acknowledge we don't have all the information, but most football players get a scholarship to play football, and he did it.
I blame the school, and the rediculous push for success in sports. I don't think anybody should be allowed to skip the physicals simply because they play football. If they only allowed players who could meet the physical each year, we wouldn't have this problem. So maybe they wouldn't win as many games, they would be doing the right thing.
He can't go into the military. There is a reason you have to be able to run 8-minute miles -- you have to be able to keep up with your platoon. He was a lineman, and apparently has no ability to run at that speed, or at least no desire to get himself into the shape he needs to be to run at that speed.
And he probably shouldn't get a diploma, IF the diploma requirements include running that speed. You have to do what your diploma requires. Any other student who couldn't run that fast would have been out their freshman year, so I don't think he was harmed -- he got an excellent education for 4 years simply because he was a big fat guy who could block.