Following a court ruling that sent shock waves throughout college sports, administrators in the Big 12 Conference – including Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo – and around the country are speaking out.
On Monday, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction by Judge Ken Curry of the 99th District Court of Lubbock (Texas) County, making him eligible to play this season, following a two-game suspension. (The NCAA ).
Sorsby had previously been ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA for violating its rules on gambling. Itap been reported that Sorsby wagered at least $90,000 on sporting events over the past four years, throughout his time as a student-athlete at Indiana, Cincinnati and, for the past five months, Texas Tech.
“The injunction issued today regarding Brendan Sorsby is troubling as his admitted actions are a clear violation of long-held standards of integrity in college athletics,” Lovo said in a statement given to the Daily Camera. “Caring for student-athletes is important but so is accountability and this injunction is a clear affront to the competitive principles that been the foundation of college sports for more than a century. We will continue to engage with the Big 12 Conference and our peers on this issue.”
For years, NCAA rules have prohibited student-athletes and athletic department personnel from gambling on collegiate sports. In a high-profile case less than three years ago, an investigation led to more than 40 student-athletes at Iowa and Iowa State being ruled ineligible for sports betting.
One of those athletes, Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, was hit with a permanent loss of NCAA eligibility after it was discovered he wagered $15 on one of Iowa State’s football games.
Sorsby’s activity included at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team he was a part of in 2022.
Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported Monday that Big 12 athletic directors and presidents are scheduled to .
“The ramifications of today’s ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormak said in a statement sent to media. “I’ve been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled a meeting with our Conference ADs and our Executive Board this week. We are also in touch with (NCAA president) Charlie Baker and anticipate the NCAA to appeal the order in the next 24-48 hours. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.”
Some of Lovo’s peers in the Big 12 also spoke up on the ruling.
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor , “Itap f–ing bulls—. It is absolutely devastating for him to be able to play when every other sport, no matter the level, deems an athlete ineligible or they are punished severely for betting on their team.”
Utah AD Mark Harlan , “As with many around the country, I am disheartened by the injunction issued today in the Brendan Sorsby matter, which will allow him to compete this fall despite clear violations of NCAA policies and ethical guidelines.”
Dellenger reported that Big 12 ADs have told Yahoo there have been “serious” conversations about not playing Texas Tech. CU is scheduled to host the Red Raiders on Oct. 3. Dellenger also reported that athletics officials at Georgia – from the SEC – and Nebraska – from the Big Ten – have told their coaches in all sports to not schedule games against Texas Tech.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that a league-wide mandate against playing Texas Tech in any sports.
“I think there needs to be serious conversations about not playing Texas Tech in any sports,” Georgia AD Josh Brooks told Yahoo.
