Officials at Texas Tech have released a video in response to backlash over a court's decision to allow an injunction to quarterback Brendan Sorsby, restoring his eligibility after admitting he placed wagers on at least 40 Hoosiers games while at Indiana.
University president Lawrence Schovanec, Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire and director of athletics Kirby Hocutt released a 21-minute video discussing all things surrounding Sorsby and the backlash the school and program have faced in the wake of Sorsby receiving an injunction to be eligible to play for the Red Raiders despite his admitted gambling addiction.
"I think everybody should realize first and foremost," Schovanec said in the video, "that our decisions in this matter are guided by a conviction that we have at Texas Tech and that is that we stand by our students. Now, Brendan made a mistake and acknowledged that. Mistakes have consequences. At the same time, here’s a young man with a dream and a vision to pursue a career, and we felt not to have the opportunity to pursue that career given the circumstances and the evolving changes in this world that these athletes face was unfair and unjust."
The video comes as Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark appears prepared to gather representatives from all conference programs for a roundtable on the matter.
According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, under Section 3 of the Big 12 bylaws, rule 3.6 allows sanction of fellow universities by a supermajority vote.
In the video, both senior associate athletics director Robert Giovanetti, who moderated the video discussion, and Schovanec discussed Texas Tech's Center for Addiction and Recovery, which Schovanc said has been a national model for other schools.
"I think it speaks to the sincerity of our actions to this matter," Schovanec said. "We're doing this for Brendan, but we do this for all students."
University of Central Florida athletics director Terry Mohajir told the Orlando Sentinel that if one of his players had committed the same transgressions as Sorsby, they would be ineligible.
"At UCF, if a student-athlete were found to have engaged in sports gambling that violated NCAA rules, that individual would be deemed ineligible for competition by UCF. We would still continue to support that student-athlete's mental health and academic pursuits, but participation on the field would be out of the question."
The NCAA has already appealed the court's decision to grant Sorsby's injunction. The appeal, which was filed with the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas, was described as "accelerated," as Sorsby needs a final ruling before June 22, which is the deadline for applying to the NFL's supplemental draft.
The NCAA reacted to the ruling by stating it "corrupts the integrity of sports." AL.com reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker cited the ruling as the latest reason why the NCAA needs the Protect College Sports Act.
In the video, Hocutt explains that Sorsby has been allowed to return to the team under certain conditions. Texas Tech has contacted the facility Sorsby received treatment from to put together his rehabilitation program, which includes implementing monitoring software on his phone and a custodian in charge of his finances.
"This is a well-thought-out plan," Stovall said. "Brendan's in a lifelong recovery process. We're here with him as he tackles these challenges that he's going to face."
Hocutt said the monitoring software was installed on Sorsby's phone the day of the injunction, and he rejected any questions around the integrity of Texas Tech's athletics department.
"There are sanctions for mistakes," Hocutt said. "He made a mistake, but don't question the integrity of our athletics department or the product that we put on the field or a court."
