Father says Bomar looking at new schools

By George Schroeder

Published: August 10, 2006

CALLISBURG, Texas - Rhett Bomar’s father said Wednesday his son is sorry for his actions and understands the impact on his future - and perhaps, on Oklahoma’s fortunes.

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“The blame is on him,” Jerry Bomar told The Oklahoman. “Rhett knows it, I know it, his family knows it. We’re not making excuses. He got caught up in a situation, but he shouldn’t have done it.

“We just want to move on.”

But moving on isn’t an easy proposition.

Jerry Bomar said his son hopes to be enrolled in a new school within two weeks. Although Rhett Bomar visited the University of Houston on Tuesday, Jerry Bomar said his son has not made a decision.

Regardless of the destination, it’s uncertain when Rhett Bomar might be able to play again.

He is currently ineligible at any NCAA school because of the rules violations, which occurred last fall when he and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn were overpaid between $2,500 and $6,000, according to a university source, by Big Red Sports/Imports. The players were declared ineligible by OU and dismissed from the team last week.

Jerry Bomar said the family understood and accepted the punishment.

“There’s no ill will toward Oklahoma,” Jerry Bomar said. “We feel terrible because (Rhett) jeopardized their hopes for this season. And we don’t want the university to go on probation, because they’re on the up-and-up. They’re above-board.

“They haven’t done anything wrong.”

Rhett Bomar could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Standing on a hot patch of asphalt adjacent to the football stadium at Callisburg High School, where he is head coach, Jerry Bomar insisted his son “is not a bad kid.” He said plenty of college coaches have inquired into Rhett Bomar’s plans.

North Texas and TCU have shown interest among others. Rhett Bomar has also considered NCAA Division I-AA schools, including Sam Houston State, and Texas A&M-Commerce, a Division II school.

“There’s a lot of people out there who want him,” Jerry Bomar said. “This kid could go a lot of places.”

But there’s a big hitch. While Rhett Bomar is free to enroll anywhere, his options might be limited. At the least, they’re unclear.

Transferring to another NCAA Division I-A school would be a gamble.

Under NCAA transfer rules, a player who transfers from Oklahoma to another Division I-A school must sit out a season to establish eligibility. Thus, if Bomar transferred to Houston or North Texas, he would not play in 2006.

But the complicating factor is Bomar’s current ineligibility. Although OU coach Bob Stoops said the school would work to help Bomar transfer, and OU officials have said they would help him get his eligibility restored, it’s unclear what penalties the NCAA might require in addition to restitution of the overpayment.

If Bomar transferred to a I-A school and sat out the 2006 season, he might still have to serve a suspension in 2007. Whether that would be several games or the entire season isn’t known.

Although the NCAA allows students to be immediately eligible when transferring to a Division I-AA or Division II school, Bomar would not qualify because of his current ineligible status. NCAA bylaw 14.5.1.3 stipulates any student who transfers while “disqualified or suspended from the previous institution for disciplinary reasons” must sit out a year.

A decision on reinstatement might not happen quickly.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christiansen, while not speaking specifically about Bomar or Quinn, said the reinstatement process, which must be initiated by a student’s school, could not begin until “all of the relevant facts” were known. OU officials have not yet sent a report to the NCAA regarding the rules violations.

“All of the relevant facts and circumstances are reviewed in any reinstatement,” Christiansen said.

Other options for Bomar could include transferring to an NAIA school or to a junior college. But the athletic director at one Texas junior college said that was unlikely. Tim Drain, the athletic director at Tyler Junior College, said in an e-mail Bomar has not been contacted by his school and said Southwest Junior College Conference rules do not allow members to accept transfer students who are “leaving their previous institution due to academic or disciplinary reasons.”

Regardless, Jerry Bomar said his son hopes to move on, and quickly.

“All we want to do is go to another university,” Jerry Bomar said. “Obviously, it won’t be like being at Oklahoma, we know that. But it ain’t just about football. It’s about getting a degree. It’s about image and reputation.

“The kid is about more than throwing touchdown passes. He’s a good kid who made a bad mistake. We just want to move on.”