Brian Kelly ‘respects’ appeal process, but doesn’t agree with Vanderdoes ruling

By Ben KerchevalJul 31, 2013, 1:21 PM EDT

Surprise, right?

Word began circulating yesterday evening that UCLA defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes would be eligible to play for the Bruins this year following his appeal to the NCAA. Notre Dame, the school Vanderdoes signed with in February, had been unwilling to release the five-star D-lineman, who transferred to UCLA earlier this summer. That would normally mean Vanderdoes would have to sit out the 2013 season and lose a year of eligibility.

Instead, Vanderdoes will have an opportunity to contribute immediately for the Bruins. That’s something Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly still isn’t 100 percent on board with. In a statement released through the university, Kelly said that while he understands and respects the NCAA’s appeals process, it does not change his stance on the matter.

“While I disagree with yesterday’s decision by the NCAA National Letter of Intent Appeals Committee to reverse its original ruling and grant Eddie Vanderdoes a complete release from his NLI, I understand and respect the entire appeal process,” Kelly said in a statement. “However, this result does not change my opinion concerning the importance of protecting the integrity of the NLI program, nor will it change our approach to the process going forward.”

A report from CBS’ Bruce Feldman in June said that Vanderdoes was citing a family illness as the cornerstone of his appeal, and the NCAA apparently felt the reason was legit. Does the decision open up the proverbial flood gates to other athletes seeking an appeal to get out of NLI’s? John Infante of athleticscholarships.net doesn’t necessarily think so based on the fact that a trend was in place even before Vanderdoes’ case.

Indiana confirms 2½-year suspension for Morgan Ellison, permanent dismissal from football team

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By John TaylorOct 20, 2018, 10:10 AM EDT

Tim Tebow wonders if Nick Bosa will regret decision

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By John TaylorOct 20, 2018, 9:09 AM EDT

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Everybody has an opinion on one of the biggest storylines of the past week in college football, including a former Heisman Trophy winner.

Tuesday, Ohio State announced that, because of injury, Nick Bosa had decided to withdraw from school “in order to devote more time to his rehabilitation and training efforts” for the 2019 NFL draft. Bosa’s father explained that the decision was “difficult on” his son, who “had set all kinds of team goals.”

One of those team goals was likely earning a berth in the College Football Playoff. Because he withdrew from school, Bosa will not be a part of the playoffs if the Buckeyes qualify, a decision that Tim Tebow said the All-American defensive end could very well come to regret.

From USA Today:

This is a really tough situation, because yes, he’s got a severe injury and he’d probably be out until early December healing from it. One one side you can say ‘you know what, if he waits and he goes and trains, he can probably make 20 to 30 million dollars, and that’s amazing.’

But at the same point, when you’re 50 years old and you look back, aren’t you going to regret it a little bit? To say ‘my guys went to the playoff and they played Alabama in the championship… I could have been with them, but I was more worried about the money.’

Listen, your family’s already made however many million. You’re probably still going to make that. And I get that you want to be safe and keep your body [healthy], and I can see both sides. I get where he’s coming from. But at the same point, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ve got a team that has a chance to win a championship. Your brother’s got one. You don’t want to compete to go win a championship like your brother?

For me, what I would do? I would wait, I would get healthy, and if my team was in the Playoff, I’m going to compete with my team. But that’s who I am.

As long as Nick Bosa is comfortable with his decision, that’s all that really matters — regardless of what Tebow would or wouldn’t have done

Big 12 denies Iowa State’s appeal of $25,000 field-rush fine

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By John TaylorOct 20, 2018, 8:08 AM EDT

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It was worth a shot, I guess.

Friday night, Iowa State announced in a short, to-the-point press release that its appeal of field-storming fine slapped on it by the Big 12 had been denied by the conference. The fact that ISU came out on the wrong side of the ruling was the expected result of the university’s Hail Mary appeal.

“Our institution takes the safety and welfare of all student-athletes, officials, and fans very seriously,” ISU president Dr. Wendy Wintersteen said in a statement, “and we will continue to review and refine our safety protocols based upon our actual experiences.”

Earlier in the week, the Big 12 had announced that ISU was fined $25,000 after their fans stormed the field this past Saturday. The field storming came in the aftermath of ISU’s huge upset of then-No. 6 West Virginia in Ames.

In a statement announcing the fine, conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby said that the league “[has] a duty to provide a safe game environment” and that ISU “has a written event management policy that was not thoroughly implemented, and was unsuccessful in ensuring the safety and security of all visiting team game participants” — a sentiment with which WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen is likely to agree.

“Our institution takes the safety and welfare of all student-athletes, officials and fans very seriously,” Wintersteen said in a midweek statement, shortly after the fine was announced. “We have reviewed all of our procedures, including several videos of the post-game celebration, and we do not agree with Commissioner Bowlsby’s assessment of the events that evening.”

Boise State blasts Colorado State, keeps pace in MWC Mountain

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By John TaylorOct 20, 2018, 6:36 AM EDT