Texas Tech athletic director says school did not fund quarterback's lawsuit against NCAA
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby received a temporary injunction blocking the NCAA from imposing a suspension, while the university clarified it was not a party to his lawsuit.
A Lubbock County Court judge issued a temporary injunction on Monday that prevents the NCAA from enforcing a two-game suspension against Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby for alleged sports-betting violations. The ruling also bars the NCAA from pursuing restitution under its rules, though the organization is expected to appeal, a process that could take up to a year.
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt issued a statement saying the university was not involved in Sorsby’s legal action, adding, > "We did not file it. We did not fund it."
NCAA president Charlie Baker called for congressional action on the matter, and Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor said his school had held “serious” discussions about possibly refusing to play Texas Tech.
Hocutt acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating, > "I understand the frustration. This situation is hard, it is new, and there is no perfect answer. We are open to ongoing conversations about how to best handle these issues as an industry going forward. We will continue to be transparent in our decision-making and keep putting our students first."
Sources indicated Texas Tech has informed Big 12 officials that it is prepared to file a lawsuit against the league if schools decline to schedule games with the Red Raiders. Sorsby had previously admitted in court documents to placing dozens of bets on his own team while at Indiana, a violation that NCAA guidelines deem could lead to permanent loss of eligibility.
Hocutt emphasized the importance of integrity in college sports, saying, > "As someone who has dedicated his career to college sports, I, too, believe integrity is central to our industry’s success. The integrity of sport matters."
