06/12/26 05:02:00
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06/12 17:01 CDT Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond calls on the Big 12 to sanction
Texas Tech for Brendan Sorsby saga
Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond calls on the Big 12 to sanction Texas Tech for
Brendan Sorsby saga
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) --- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond publicly
called on the Big 12 to sanction Texas Tech after quarterback Brendan Sorsby
won a court order restoring his eligibility, setting aside his ban by the NCAA
for gambling on pro and college sports.
"If Texas Tech will not do the right thing, the Big 12 should," Drummond wrote
Friday in a letter to the conference.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned the Big 12 on Thursday of potential
legal action from Texas Tech as the conference considers its options. Big 12
Commissioner Brett Yormark said the notice came shortly before the start of the
league's executive board meeting to discuss Sorsby's situation.
Drummond said claims that sanctions against Texas Tech would violate antitrust
laws are meritless.
"By adopting and enforcing its bylaws, the Big 12 Conference is simply
upholding integrity and fair play among membership," he said.
A Texas district court's temporary injunction that was issued Monday prevents
the NCAA from enforcing its permanent ban of Sorsby, a decision that sent shock
waves across college sports.
The transfer quarterback had been ruled ineligible after he acknowledged years
of gambling that included more than $90,000 in wagers and at least 40 bets on
his own team while he was a freshman at Indiana.
NCAA rules call for a permanent loss of eligibility for any player who wagered
on his own team.
Texas Tech said Sorsby has completed a month-long inpatient treatment program
and will continue to receive treatment and support while being monitored.
Big 12 athletic directors in a conference call Tuesday expressed strong
opposition to Sorsby playing for the Red Raiders in what will be his final
college season. Some of those athletic directors suggested not playing Texas
Tech if he does.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in January for a reported multimillion-dollar
deal after playing the past two seasons at Cincinnati, another Big 12 school.
The 22-year-old Texas native first spent two seasons with the Hoosiers.
The Red Raiders, with one of college football's most expensive rosters, won
their first Big 12 title last season, set a school record with 12 wins and made
the 12-team College Football Playoff.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and
https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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