Oklahoma Sooners general manager Jim Nagy trashes NCAA over ridiculous Owen Heinecke decision, issues plans to challenge
Sooner Nation is incensed over the NCAA’s latest nonsensical ruling over linebacker Owen Heinecke’s eligibility.
Over the last several weeks, the Oklahoma Sooners have been awaiting a ruling from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of linebacker Owen Heinecke.
Heinecke, a breakout starter from this season, spent his first season in collegiate athletics playing lacrosse at Ohio State, and appeared in just three games with the Buckeyes. That decision is evidently going to cost Heinecke his final year with the Sooners.
On Thursday night, the NCAA officially denied Heinecke’s petition to return for one more season in Norman, incensing Sooners fans everywhere. General manager Jim Nagy took to Twitter to fire off a message to the NCAA about their ridiculously inconsistent rulings with eligibility.
NCAA cannot pick a side in ridiculous issue
Nagy’s frustrations are certainly well-founded. The NCAA is constantly allowing players with four, five, six, or even sometimes seven years of playing time to return, such as Miami linebacker Mohamed Toure, who announced just four days ago he would be returning for an eighth season of college football. Quarterback TJ Finley is on his sixth different school and seventh season of football, but he somehow was granted that extra year.
Heinecke played in three games of lacrosse for a grand total of 15 minutes of playing time, and somehow, that’s too far for the NCAA. Evidently, their process for deciding this is to shake a magic eight ball or spin a wheel that varies by position.
There’s no logic or consistency with the NCAA’s decision here. Earlier this week, the rumor mill broke that Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss might be getting his waiver for a shaky case of “tonsilitis” that has been dubious at best. What is the rationale for allowing that but drawing a line in the sand over 15 minutes of lacrosse as a freshman?
It’s no surprise that Sooner Nation is up at arms over this ridiculousness. It’s unjust, and the NCAA’s inconsistency makes this feel biased and deliberate.
The next step for Owen Heinecke
Heinecke will, of course, appeal the decision from the NCAA. That appeal, however, seems destined to fail.
What Heinecke will have to ultimately decide upon is to sue the NCAA over the decision or to enter the NFL. He’ll have to make this decision soon, as both the NFL and NCAA won’t wait around forever. Heinecke has been stellar at the Senior Bowl, showcasing his ability to thrive against NFL caliber talent, and he’ll at worst be a special teams ace for a decade. NFL teams will want a decision from him to be fully bought in.
Oklahoma would welcome him back without a second thought. However, roles, playing time, and adjustments would have to be figured out in the linebacker room that returns Kip Lewis and added Cole Sullivan out of the transfer portal. With spring workouts starting up just around the corner, Heinecke will need to have decided sooner (no pun intended) or later.
It’s ridiculous and unfortunate he is stuck in this position at all.
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