FRISCO, Texas (AP) 鈥� Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said he is proud of transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby for getting help with his gambling addiction and that the school will support him no matter what happens after the seeking the reinstatement of his eligibility.
鈥淲e’re here to support Brendan. I do believe that he made a mistake, and whenever that happens, I do believe there should be consequences,鈥� McGuire said Thursday at the Big 12 spring meetings. 鈥淏ut it’s my opinion that he shouldn’t be penalized for the rest of this year, or his career.鈥�
Sorsby was ruled ineligible after he acknowledged wagering on sports, including on his own team when he was a freshman at Indiana.
The school said Tuesday that the NCAA had denied its petition for his reinstatement, and would appeal the ruling. That came only a week after Texas after finalizing an agreed-upon stipulation of facts between the school, the NCAA and the quarterback, a necessary step to initiate the reinstatement process.
Sorsby has completed an inpatient gambling addiction treatment program he entered into last month. The quarterback, who transferred from Cincinnati and got a for what was supposed to be his final season of college football, can still take part in offseason activities with the Red Raiders.
McGuire said he has spoken with Sorsby multiple times since the Texas native left the treatment facility, and told him to take some time to be with his family before returning to the Lubbock campus.
鈥淚 told him to go home for a few days and take a deep breath, and we鈥檒l get him back on campus here in a few days,鈥� McGuire said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e here to support him in every way. And at the end of the day, whatever the ruling is, we鈥檙e gonna support him 100%. He chose Texas Tech, so he鈥檚 a Red Raider. He鈥檚 gonna be a Red Raider for life, and I鈥檒l be a part of his life and help him in any way I can.鈥�
Sorsby has also in Lubbock County, Texas, seeking an injunction against the NCAA to allowing him to play for Texas Tech this season after he was one of the biggest transfers of the offseason. A hearing in that case is scheduled Monday.
Tech does have a starter if Sorsby isn’t eligible
If Sorsby isn’t reinstated, Texas Tech’s top quarterback will be Will Hammond, who tore the ACL in his right knee during last October.
McGuire said Hammond is doing 鈥渞eally good鈥� in his rehab and should be released for full action by around Aug. 21, though that doesn’t mean he would be fully ready for the season opener at home Sept. 5 against Abilene Christian.
Hammond started throwing before spring break and is expected to take part in player-led 7-on-7 sessions that begin next week.
鈥淪o he鈥檚 in a good spot. I mean, we鈥檙e really fortunate to have Will Hammond,” McGuire said. 鈥淚f he鈥檚 not hurt, then we鈥檙e not talking about this. It would have been, we wouldn鈥檛 have been looking for necessarily a starting quarterback. We鈥檇 have been looking for probably a depth piece in that room. And then that money would have be allocated to other positions.鈥�
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