Harty: Not fair to make Drew Ott wait this long
IOWA CITY, Iowa – A lot can happen in three months.
It’s enough time to complete the college football regular season.
It’s more than enough time for summer vacation away from school.
And it easily should be enough time to make a decision on whether Iowa defensive end Drew Ott will be granted a medical hardship waiver for a fifth year of football eligibility.
A decision was expected on Tuesday when the Big Ten Conference’s academics and eligibility subcommittee met in Rosemont, Ill.
Unfortunately, for Ott, the people on the subcommittee apparently will get to his case when they get to it?
“Our meetings concluded earlier today, and at this time, we have no update,” Big Ten spokesman Scott Chipman wrote in an e-mail to the Des Moines Register on Tuesday. “But feel free to check back in the coming weeks.”
You notice he said weeks and not days or hours? On the bright side, he didn’t say months or years.
A decision should’ve been made two months ago at the latest. This isn’t rocket science, nor is the safety of the public at risk.
It basically comes down to a group of what we can assume are well-educated people deciding whether Ott meets the criteria for a medical hardship waiver.
The rule states that a player can’t participate in more than 30 percent of his team’s games. Ott surpassed that by appearing in six of Iowa’s 14 games, which translates to 42.86 percent.
But he only played in two full games before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Illinois in the sixth game. Ott also injured his elbow in the first quarter against Iowa State in the second game. He missed the rest of that game and only played in one more full game against Wisconsin in week five.
So for a hardship decision, Ott’s case might be more complicated than usual.
But a decision still shouldn’t take this long.
I’m sure there is important stuff that has to be discussed at these annual meetings, but what could be more important than the eligibility of student-athlete whose life is basically on hold?
Ott should’ve had his answer before the NFL Combine, which is being held this week in Indianapolis. He couldn’t have worked out for teams, but he could’ve helped his cause by interviewing with teams.
He can’t hire an agent because that would make Ott ineligible under NCAA rules and eliminate any chance of him returning for a fifth season.
So instead, Ott is in limbo, waiting three months for a decision that must not be a priority for those who ultimately will make the decision.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters on Feb. 3 that he was a little bit more optimistic about Ott’s situation, but without being specific.
That was reason for hope, but three weeks have since passed and still no decision.
Adding to the frustration is that we’re in an age where many college athletes are in a huge hurry to move on to the next level, even though their best option would be to stay in school.
Ott wants to stay in school in order to advance his education and his football prowess, but the subcommitte is making it ridiculously hard for him to do that.
Ott has shown star potential as a Hawkeye, making second-team all-Big Ten as a junior in 2014. He also was performing at a star level last season before the injuries occurred.
Some young men with his credentials might have said the heck with trying to return to college and tested the NFL waters.
But Ott doesn’t want to move on yet. He still wants to soak up the college experience as a student-athlete. So either let him to do that, or at least come up with a good reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to return.
Denying his appeal in a more timely fashion probably would’ve been easier on Ott and his family because at least they would’ve known his circumstances. Ott could’ve focused on life after college and started preparing for a chance to play in the NFL, assuming that is his plan.
But his only option is to keep waiting for a decision that could change the course of Ott’s young life.
Imagine the difference between being a fifth-year senior leader for the Hawkeyes or a reluctant rookie trying to make it in the NFL despite a knee injury.
At this stage, the subcommittee doesn’t just owe Ott a decision, but also an apology for making him wait this long.