adoniijahsooner
9/26/2009, 08:57 AM
it appears he is being a man about it, even though his dreams are being taken from him by the NCAA; I respect the man and his strength.
BY DAVID UBBEN
Mike Balogun's still in the picture at OU
NORMAN — Mike Balogun was ready to spend his final season of college football cementing his place in school history.
Oklahoma’s Mike Balogun’s last game played for the Sooners was the 2009 BCS championship game against Florida. But Balogun is still helping the team out.
The Oklahoma linebacker’s story was well-known, but "that guy who used to play semi-pro ball and did a pretty good job at linebacker when Ryan Reynolds got hurt” wasn’t how he wanted to be remembered. Balogun wanted to be known for his efforts on Owen Field, not the semi-pro field in Maryland or junior college field in Pennsylvania that helped land him in Norman. He won’t get that chance.
Balogun received word earlier this week that the NCAA determined he played semi-pro football as late as 2006, nearly two years after he turned age 21. Players lose a year of college eligibility for each year they play semi-pro football after age 21, although Balogun was initially cleared by the NCAA when he arrived at Oklahoma.
Even though fans won’t get a chance to see Balogun’s influence during his senior season, those within the Oklahoma locker room have.
Relegated to mostly scout-team work, Balogun has taken on the role of coach when he interacts with the players.
Slip up on a defensive assignment? Balogun is going to help make sure it doesn’t happen again. Make a play? Balogun wants to celebrate. Unsure of a defensive call in a game or scrimmage? Check the sideline. Balogun is probably helping relay the call.
"He’s just wanting to get back on the field so bad, and it’s showing,” said defensive tackle Adrian Taylor. "He’s doing whatever he can off the field to help the team out.”
Balogun’s only hope of a return lies in an appeal to the NCAA. A reversal of the decision is unlikely, according to Balogun’s lawyer.
Balogun’s absence has contributed to a sudden lack of depth at middle linebacker. Days after the NCAA declared Balogun ineligible, freshman Tom Wort suffered a torn knee ligament, ending his season. Austin Box was senior Ryan Reynolds’ backup, but Box has since moved to weakside linebacker. Now, true freshman Ronnell Lewis fills Balogun’s role.
"He’s been trying to help the team by staying happy even though he’s hurting,” Taylor said.
Balogun’s smiles and jokes in the locker room have inspired teammates to do the same. No one’s putting their arm around the Maryland native with a, "Man, this must be tough.” He isn’t asking for sympathy.
"He’s already hurting as it is,” said linebacker Travis Lewis. "We need to just be ourselves for him, be like we always are with him.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/mike-baloguns-still-in-the-picture-at-ou/article/3404184?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0SDkoqnC 9
BY DAVID UBBEN
Mike Balogun's still in the picture at OU
NORMAN — Mike Balogun was ready to spend his final season of college football cementing his place in school history.
Oklahoma’s Mike Balogun’s last game played for the Sooners was the 2009 BCS championship game against Florida. But Balogun is still helping the team out.
The Oklahoma linebacker’s story was well-known, but "that guy who used to play semi-pro ball and did a pretty good job at linebacker when Ryan Reynolds got hurt” wasn’t how he wanted to be remembered. Balogun wanted to be known for his efforts on Owen Field, not the semi-pro field in Maryland or junior college field in Pennsylvania that helped land him in Norman. He won’t get that chance.
Balogun received word earlier this week that the NCAA determined he played semi-pro football as late as 2006, nearly two years after he turned age 21. Players lose a year of college eligibility for each year they play semi-pro football after age 21, although Balogun was initially cleared by the NCAA when he arrived at Oklahoma.
Even though fans won’t get a chance to see Balogun’s influence during his senior season, those within the Oklahoma locker room have.
Relegated to mostly scout-team work, Balogun has taken on the role of coach when he interacts with the players.
Slip up on a defensive assignment? Balogun is going to help make sure it doesn’t happen again. Make a play? Balogun wants to celebrate. Unsure of a defensive call in a game or scrimmage? Check the sideline. Balogun is probably helping relay the call.
"He’s just wanting to get back on the field so bad, and it’s showing,” said defensive tackle Adrian Taylor. "He’s doing whatever he can off the field to help the team out.”
Balogun’s only hope of a return lies in an appeal to the NCAA. A reversal of the decision is unlikely, according to Balogun’s lawyer.
Balogun’s absence has contributed to a sudden lack of depth at middle linebacker. Days after the NCAA declared Balogun ineligible, freshman Tom Wort suffered a torn knee ligament, ending his season. Austin Box was senior Ryan Reynolds’ backup, but Box has since moved to weakside linebacker. Now, true freshman Ronnell Lewis fills Balogun’s role.
"He’s been trying to help the team by staying happy even though he’s hurting,” Taylor said.
Balogun’s smiles and jokes in the locker room have inspired teammates to do the same. No one’s putting their arm around the Maryland native with a, "Man, this must be tough.” He isn’t asking for sympathy.
"He’s already hurting as it is,” said linebacker Travis Lewis. "We need to just be ourselves for him, be like we always are with him.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/mike-baloguns-still-in-the-picture-at-ou/article/3404184?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0SDkoqnC 9