Ad Disclosure
Indiana freshman DB ruled ineligible due to mishap by Office of Compliance
Published:
An Indiana freshman defensive back has been ruled ineligible for the 2017 season according to a release from Indiana University on Saturday Morning.
The release from Indiana states that Bryant Fitzgerald was ruled as a non-qualifier and is not eligible to practice or play this fall. Fitzgerald’s ineligibility is due to a mistake made by the Office of Compliance Services of the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Here is the full release from Indiana:
This is the release explanation of the situation. Can't remember seeing this before. #iufb pic.twitter.com/u2tPXB0pSF
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) August 19, 2017
While ineligibility is nothing new to college football, this situation is uncommon.
Indiana athletic director Fred Glass publicly apologized to Fitzgerald and his family for the mistake and claimed that “his ineligibility is not his fault. It is ours.”
Here’s the full statement from Glass:
And this is a lengthy statement from IU Athletics Director Fred Glass alternately assuming responsibility and calling down NCAA as well. pic.twitter.com/AqiVwqAz3P
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) August 19, 2017
Fitzgerald was a member of the Hoosiers’ 2017 recruiting class and was ranked as the No. 9 player out of the state of Indiana. He chose IU over other B1G offers from Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Indiana opens its season on Aug. 31 at home against Ohio State.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB