newsok.com: Former Sooner Kyle Hardrick's mother criticizes OU at congress

[Big Old Booger]

Didn't see this posted yet...thought it was interesting.


http://newsok.com/former-sooner-kyl...zes-ou-at-congressional-event/article/3619186

Former Sooner Kyle Hardrick's mother criticizes OU at congressional event

BY CHRIS CASTEEL, Washington Bureau, ccasteel@opubco.com Comment on this article Leave a comment
Published: November 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — Former University of Oklahoma basketball player Kyle Hardrick and his mother said here Tuesday that the school is blocking their efforts to obtain a medical hardship waiver so he can play at a community college in Kansas.

A prized recruit who helped Putnam City High School win the 6A state championship in 2009, Hardrick played only a few minutes in two seasons at OU, but that would be enough to make him ineligible to play at a community college unless he gets a medical hardship waiver for one year, Valerie Hardrick told reporters.

Hardrick said her son sustained a serious knee injury at OU; Kyle said another player fell on him during practice in 2009 but that he was told he had injured his quad muscle.

In a statement released by the school, OU officials said it would be inappropriate to discuss Hardrick's case in detail due to student privacy guidelines but added they've been in contact with Hardrick's legal representatives and would facilitate the opportunity to present their case for a hardship waiver.

“The University maintains a highly qualified medical staff that offers its expert advice and treatment when needed and, of course, the university has specific policies that must be followed by all students,” OU said in the statement. “We have acted responsibly in this matter and have communicated with the student-athlete and his mother.”

However, whether any injury kept Hardrick from playing more isn't clear; former OU basketball coach Jeff Capel told reporters in January that Hardrick sat out the winter semester to focus on academics.

Hardrick is now at Pratt Community College in Kansas. Valerie Hardrick said she is also battling OU over getting her son's academic transcript released. She said the school is withholding it until a $3,000 tuition bill is paid for the summer 2011 session but that her son had been guaranteed his scholarship was to be extended through the summer.

Asked why he thought he was having trouble getting OU to submit the paperwork for a medical hardship waiver to the Big 12 conference, Kyle Hardrick said, “I think they really don't like me … I don't know who it exactly is.”

Valerie Hardrick participated in a round-table discussion on Capitol Hill hosted by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Illinois, about collegiate sports. Hardrick was one of two mothers on the panel who talked about injuries to her son. Kyle Hardrick was in the audience during the discussion.

Journalists, a former sports agent and the president of the National College Players Association also spoke about recruiting and financial issues in college athletics.

Ramogi Huma, the president of the players association, said most people would likely be shocked to learn that schools don't have to pay the medical costs incurred when a player is injured. He said it was unacceptable that the NCAA's current push for reforms doesn't include basic protections for medical costs for players.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, said he sent a letter to the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee asking for a hearing on several issues related to college sports, including the responsibility borne by schools for player injuries. Conyers said he also wants the committee to examine conference realignment.

Valerie Hardrick said during the panel discussion that her son was covered by the family's insurance policy but that she and her husband still had to pay thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

Hardrick said she and her husband didn't learn until early this year that a magnetic resonance imaging exam was done on his knee in 2010 and showed damage; she said she found out about the MRI because the medical clinic that performed the test called about the outstanding bill.

Kyle Hardrick had surgery on the knee but told reporters that he was now physically able to play.

Staff Writer Mike Baldwin contributed to this report.

Read more: http://newsok.com/former-sooner-kyl...ressional-event/article/3619186#ixzz1cYlRK9J8

 

[SoonerBounce13]

the hardrick family sounds like they suck

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

There is another thread on this somewhere.

the hardrick family sounds like they suck

Also, this.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

the hardrick family sounds like they suck

I love OU as much as anyone, but if what she is saying is true, she has a legitimate beef. The irony here is that it was an almost unanimous thought on this board that Capel should have asked Hardrick to move on to free up a scholarship, he does and now he can't get a release to play somewhere else.

The above said, I'm pretty sure that OU has a legitimate reason and will reserve judgement until I hear their response. Might be an APR thing, might be an ethical issue [Dr. won't lie about the extent of injury]. The whole thing is pretty weird if you ask me.

 

[AdaSooner]

Opsooner started another thread on this topic yesterday. The strange part to me is that the Hardrick family seems to hold OU liable for his injury. Is this the knee he blew out in high school or something that occurred in practice? It danged sure wasn't in a game. Kyle never saw enough action during his entire career to break a sweat.

Anyone recall a report about Kyle being hurt during the three years he got a free ride on his education? I sure don't. The only thing I remember are numerous discussions about why OU used a ship on him in the first place, and why he didn't transfer to get some playing time.

Can't say I blame the Hardrick's for wanting a release that would give the kid a chance to play at another school. The delay in granting it appears to mean there is more to this story than we know.

 

[campbest]

Said it before he even stepped on campus, should have never been here. Sorry to hear about the misfortunes regarding injury and academics, but anyone who wasn't naive saw this coming...injured in high school and didn't qualify academically. Hope he eventually heals and can land somewhere to finish his education, however, from an OU standpoint he was a waste of a schollie.

Furthermore, makes me question the intelligence of the author when someone labels Kyle as a "prized recruit".

 

[Big Old Booger]

I love OU as much as anyone, but if what she is saying is true, she has a legitimate beef. The irony here is that it was an almost unanimous thought on this board that Capel should have asked Hardrick to move on to free up a scholarship, he does and now he can't get a release to play somewhere else.

The above said, I'm pretty sure that OU has a legitimate reason and will reserve judgement until I hear their response. Might be an APR thing, might be an ethical issue [Dr. won't lie about the extent of injury]. The whole thing is pretty weird if you ask me.

Well, he is trying to transfer to a 2 year college but he already saw action in 2 different seasons at OU, so he would not be eligible at the junior college unless he can get the medical waiver.

Hardrick had a pre-existing condition with his knees before enrolling at OU so I'm sure OU's position is the injury was not caused in practice or a game as the knee was already bad.

The article mentioned an IMR showed damage in the knee, but who's to say that damage wasn't there before he arrived at OU? I'm no orthopedic surgeon, but could it be possible what the IMR showed was just normal wear and tear on the knee from practice on a knee that was previously injured?

Why isn't Hardrick trying to transfer to a D-2 school, or even better for his skills, an NAIA program? He would still have 2 years left to play, or 3 years to play 2 and wouldn't need the medical waiver.

I am also guessing the Hardrick's want the medical waiver so they can then go back to the school and request to be reimbursed for the medical expenses they incurred from the supposed knee injury.

So, OU must have some good evidence to support their argument that Hardrick was not injured while playing at OU, or else they wouldn't have allowed this to be in the newspaper.

I have to question the Hardrick's in the fact they allow their son to believe that somebody at OU "doesn't like" him. Please. What was their to like or not like? They gave him 2 years of free college at a great institution. I wish they didn't like me too if it meant I got 2 years of free college.

 

[DenverSooner]

the hardrick family sounds like they suck

I truly care about OU but my take on this is a bit different. It seems to me OU is being a bit petty. $3,000 is meaningless to OU. It is not a material number to the athletic department budget, the men's basketball team budget or any other significant budget at the University. If there is remotely a reasonable dispute, OU should take the high road, waive the tuition and release the transcript. I would say lack of a press release saying Kyle has left team creates a remotely reasonable dispute while the existance of a press release would make it crystal clear he was not on scholarship.

With respect to the injury issue, I also see zero reason for OU to not work with the kid unless he wants them to lie about an injury that did not exist. However, even in that case, they could simply complete the paper work truthfully but as advantageous to Kyle as possible.

I am sure Kyle Hardrick has some responsibility here but I would prefer to see OU take the high road and help the kid as much as possible.

 

[Tydude]

she is making a big deal out of it they should just be patient and they will get what they want she want them to be the one they get it done first

 

[Prodigal]

I truly care about OU but my take on this is a bit different. It seems to me OU is being a bit petty. $3,000 is meaningless to OU. It is not a material number to the athletic department budget, the men's basketball team budget or any other significant budget at the University. If there is remotely a reasonable dispute, OU should take the high road, waive the tuition and release the transcript. I would say lack of a press release saying Kyle has left team creates a remotely reasonable dispute while the existance of a press release would make it crystal clear he was not on scholarship.

With respect to the injury issue, I also see zero reason for OU to not work with the kid unless he wants them to lie about an injury that did not exist. However, even in that case, they could simply complete the paper work truthfully but as advantageous to Kyle as possible.

I am sure Kyle Hardrick has some responsibility here but I would prefer to see OU take the high road and help the kid as much as possible.

The "high road" is doing the right things and being honest in all situations. The "high road" is not letting someone steal from the taxpayers of Oklahoma after they have already been given more than was ever justified.

 

[AdaSooner]

Said it before he even stepped on campus, should have never been here. Sorry to hear about the misfortunes regarding injury and academics, but anyone who wasn't naive saw this coming...injured in high school and didn't qualify academically. Hope he eventually heals and can land somewhere to finish his education, however, from an OU standpoint he was a waste of a schollie.

Furthermore, makes me question the intelligence of the author when someone labels Kyle as a "prized recruit".

You weren't alone in your assessment of Kyle. I said the same thing after watching him play. He was not D-1 material following his injury. The "prized recruit" tag was applied during his freshman year in high school, when he was projected to be 6' 10" or taller by the time he was ready for college.

A year or so later, he blew out his knee, and the rest is history. He was never the same after that. I continued to question Capel's wisdom in signing him to an LOI, but I also admired (and said as much) his loyalty in honoring the scholarship offer. I'm sure Capel was hoping he would rehab and be able to contribute at some point. It just never worked out.

I have no reason whatsoever to wish Kyle anything but the best. By all accounts, he's a good kid, and it would be great if he could end his playing days on a positive note. This lawsuit, however, makes no sense at all.

 

[soonernutt]

I truly care about OU but my take on this is a bit different. It seems to me OU is being a bit petty. $3,000 is meaningless to OU. It is not a material number to the athletic department budget, the men's basketball team budget or any other significant budget at the University. If there is remotely a reasonable dispute, OU should take the high road, waive the tuition and release the transcript. I would say lack of a press release saying Kyle has left team creates a remotely reasonable dispute while the existance of a press release would make it crystal clear he was not on scholarship.

With respect to the injury issue, I also see zero reason for OU to not work with the kid unless he wants them to lie about an injury that did not exist. However, even in that case, they could simply complete the paper work truthfully but as advantageous to Kyle as possible.

I am sure Kyle Hardrick has some responsibility here but I would prefer to see OU take the high road and help the kid as much as possible.

I think, from OU's perspective, it's about more than $3K. The mother was disgusted that OU wanted them to sign a waiver saying they will not sue OU for medical liability. That right there is probably the whole crux of the problem, IMO. If the Hardrick's won't agree to sign a waiver, then if OU pays for any medical expenses, it could be taken as a sign of accepting responsibility for the injury, from a legal perspective.

I'm sure OU isn't worried about a few bucks, and I'm sure the school's legal counsel has reviewed this and they are acting according the the advice they've been given.

I agree it would be great to just pay the expenses and get it over with, but we don't know what kind of legal exposure there is for the school if they do that. It's sad for sure, but I'm going to withhold judgement as we don't really have all the facts, and probably never will have them due to privacy issues.