While I applaud Mahtomedi High School officials for bringing an ineligible player to the attention of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHL), it sickens me that the Zephyrs must forfeit five victories as a result. The ineligible player was a foreign-exchange student with no football experience who entered each game in the waning moments after Mahtomedi had the victory well in hand. He had no more impact on the outcome than the cheerleaders or waterboy. He was not a transfer student by the normal definition and should be exempt from the rule governing transfers. Having spoken to several players of the Richfield team, which now boasts a "victory" over Mahtomedi despite being beaten 31-6 on the field Sept. 5, it is safe to say they are not exactly overwhelmed with gratitude toward the MSHL or particularly proud of their new achievement. Like many high schools that implement a zero-tolerance policy toward weapons, the MSHSL trips over its own feet by allowing no discretion to investigate alleged rule violations on a case-by-case basis. Mahtomedi's self-reporting of the violation was noble and should have been examined for what it was, then dismissed. At the worst, how about allowing Classic Suburban Conference opponents to vote whether the matter warranted forfeitures? I doubt there would have been any takers. Technically, this may be Mahtomedi's fault, but only because a lousy policy system allowed it to happen. Hats off to Mahtomedi players and coaches for encouraging a foreign-exchange student to experience a great American tradition. Shame on the MSHSL for completely mismanaging a simple situation by stripping five victories from deserving kids and awarding them to teams that didn't earn them and probably don't want them anyway. ADAM STROT, RICHFIELD