It’s time for Texas Tech to bite the bullet, move on from Brendan Sorsby

The college football world has closely followed the ongoing Brendan Sorsby court case against the NCAA. While a federal judge weighs a decision, Texas Tech recently appealed to the NCAA in an effort to secure Sorsby’s eligibility. As expected, the NCAA denied the request, leaving Sorsby’s fate in the hands of a Texas federal court judge.

In many ways, the move was embarrassing for Texas Tech. Supporting a player and helping him navigate a difficult situation is one thing—that’s what programs should do. Doing the player’s public advocacy for him is another. For a program that aspires to compete with the likes of the Texas Longhorns, it comes across as a desperate and weak position.

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Texas Tech should have moved on from Sorsby the moment he admitted to gambling on his own team while at Indiana. That’s an inexcusable action with potentially serious consequences for the integrity of the sport. Sorsby’s attorneys can talk about student well-being all they want, but the reality is simple: a player who gambles on his own team should never play college football again.

The Red Raiders knew the details once they became public. This is not a case of a program standing by a player after being misled or deceived. Instead, Texas Tech appears to be acting in bad faith in hopes of retaining its starting quarterback. Sorsby’s actions are not the program’s fault. Refusing to move on from them, however, is.

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A school can support a student-athlete while also acknowledging harsh realities. Actions have consequences, especially when they undermine the integrity of competition. When one player acts selfishly, the fallout extends beyond himself and affects everyone around him. Those consequences are now Texas Tech’s to bear.

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The Red Raiders may simply be delaying the inevitable. The odds appear stacked against Sorsby receiving eligibility. Even if a judge ultimately rules in his favor, Texas Tech should seriously reconsider whether he belongs in its football program. How can the coaching staff and administration fully trust him again—not only to lead the team, but to make sound decisions moving forward?

In almost any other era, and likely with almost any other player, Texas Tech would have dismissed him immediately. The difference here is that Sorsby plays quarterback, and a talented quarterback at that. Talent, however, should not excuse behavior that threatens the credibility of the sport.

Regardless of how the judge rules, Texas Tech should move forward without Sorsby. Anything less would add insult to injury for a sport already fighting to preserve its integrity.