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FSU responds to allegations of “whistle-blowing” by Oklahoma
August 21st, 2009, 5:09 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Brad Milner
Well, make that two releases from Florida State in the span of minutes on Friday.
The latest involves the NCAA”s eligibility ruling on Oklahoma linebacker Mike Balogun. The long and short of the story is FSU overheard a story during the BCS talking about how Balogun, who is 25, played semi-pro football. FSU had a similar case that involved Corey Surrency and the school was doing everything it could to get the wide receiver an extra year of eligibility.
The NCAA ultimately denied the extra year, citing rules that prohibit playing for any type of semi-pro team after the age of 21. If you do you lose a year of eligibility in college for every season you played on that level.
FSU’s office of compliance called Oklahoma to discuss the situation. Eventually word trickled to the NCAA and Balogun has been ruled ineligible for this season.
Balogun filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and he said it was FSU’s fault for ratting him out. FSU said it didn’t and released the following statement:
In response to erroneous media reports, Florida State University athletics would like to clarify its conversation with Oklahoma University as it pertains to the eligibility of Sooners linebacker Mike Balogun.
Florida State’s compliance office did contact the Oklahoma University compliance office after learning that Balogun had played in a semi-pro football league while watching the Jan. 9, 2009 television broadcast of the Bowl Championship Series national championship game.
“The purpose of the inquiry to Oklahoma University was to gather information regarding a similar eligibility case involving former Florida State wide receiver Corey Surrency,” said Brian Battle, FSU Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. “Florida State’s compliance office did not contact the Big 12 or the NCAA.”
Surrency, who also played in a semi-pro football league beyond his 21st birthday, was denied a second year of eligibility by the NCAA following the school’s appeal on April 28, 2009.
“There was no ill intention on our part,” Battle said. “It was merely a fact-finding phone call, made only to the Oklahoma University compliance office. This is a very common practice amongst compliance offices with this type of complex situation.”
Oh and these teams play next season in Norman, Okla., and In Tallahassee in 2011. It should be interesting, not only for the fact it will be a god matchup but because of this bit of news. But I think this will blow over.
