The NCAA needs to take a crash course in common sense.
It’s latest error in judgment occurred when college sports’ governing organization denied Rutgers’ sophomore transfer Kervin Okoro a hardship waiver this season so he could play immediately even though the former Iowa State guard lost both his father and brother within a 11 month span to cancer and a stroke this past season.
Okoro, a 6-5, 230-pound guard who played for St. Raymond’s in the Bronx, announced he wanted to attend a school near his home so he could be closer to his family. The school is appealing the decision. If it holds, he’ll sit out the year.
Okoro still has three years of eligibility left after he appeared in just nine games, averaging just 1.0 point per game. He likely would not have been a starter, but could have provided depth at the guard spot.
New Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan has every right to be upset by this ruling since the NCAA has become far more liberal in giving out hardship waivers in recent years. Several players transferred out after the firing of Mike Rice last spring. One of those players, Mike Poole, was actually granted a hardship waiver for his senior year at Iona immediately after leaving campus. No reason was given for Poole’s waiver and none was given for Okor’s denial.
But, once again, it’s time to for the NCAA to reassess its policies and its transparency.
Currently, the NCAA bypasses the transfer rule forcing athletes to sit out a year if a family member is suffering from a debilitating injury or illness. That rule apparently needs to be expanded to include the loss of family members.
