u/Balloutonu

Texas Tech Community,

Earlier this evening, Texas Tech University Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell issued an update on Brendan Sorsby and announced that he will not be a member of the Red Raider football team this fall.

When Brendan’s lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction, we found ourselves in a difficult situation. With his health and wellness as our top priority we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions. Our position was challenged by many but our support for him never changed. We will continue to extend all available resources that Brendan had as a student and athlete to ensure his transition is as successful as possible.

We heard from many Red Raiders and we appreciate your passion. Please know that Texas Tech will continue to be a constructive voice in matters related to health and well-being for all students.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Schovanec

Texas Tech Community,

Two weeks ago, I wrote to you about Brendan Sorsby, welcoming him back to our campus. At that time, we did not know if Brendan would be granted an injunction to play. But we felt that it was in his best interest to have the support of his coaches and staff, his teammates, and access to university resources.

On Monday, a judge from Fort Worth, with no affiliation with Texas Tech, found that Brendan's legal claim had merit and granted a temporary injunction protecting his right to continue his collegiate football career.

I am writing today to share additional information and update you on where we stand.

A few things to consider:
Texas Tech had absolutely no knowledge of Brendan's gambling activity until several months after his arrival on campus earlier this year.
Texas Tech has acted with integrity at every step of this process. We have not violated a single NCAA rule, much less a federal, state, or local law.
Texas Tech did not file or fund Brendan's lawsuit against the NCAA.
Brendan suffers from a diagnosed gambling addiction, like tens of thousands of young people today.
Brendan never bet against his own team. There is no allegation - none - that he ever tried to manipulate the outcome of a game.
The vast majority of Brendan's betting occurred prior to his enrollment at Texas Tech.
When the issue came to light, we acted quickly to help Brendan seek treatment and worked cooperatively with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference.
While others may disagree, our sincere belief is that ending his college football career would be unjust, given the extenuating circumstances of his case. We understand the wide range of opinions on this matter, but we will continue to support him.

I also want to be clear about what Monday's injunction does and does not mean. It does mean he will sit out the first two games per the court’s order. It does not mean his return is unconditional. The comprehensive plan surrounding his return was built in consultation with his clinical treatment team and reviewed by the judge. The plan includes ongoing outpatient care, individual and group therapy, active device monitoring, betting sites blocked across all devices, a financial custodian overseeing his accounts, and periodic compliance checks.

Brendan has taken accountability for his actions. He is sincere in his contrition, and he has embarked on what will be a lifelong journey of addiction recovery.

This story is an example of a system that needs to change. We live in an era where a legal betting app sits on millions of young people’s phones. The NCAA has previously acknowledged and must recognize that gambling addiction is a mental health condition that absolutely should be considered in situations like this.

As a lifelong academic and university president, hearing Brendan’s story and his desire for redemption has evolved my own views on this subject. He is a young man with real-life struggles, hopes and dreams. The way we’ve governed sports betting among student-athletes calls for change and Texas Tech intends to advocate as such through every opportunity available to us. We will advocate for policy reforms that better support and promote the well-being of the modern student-athlete. Through our Center for Students in Addiction Recovery, one of the nation’s largest collegiate recovery programs, we are prepared to lead this conversation.

We stand behind Brendan because he is a student on our campus and a member of our community who is seeking a path to pursue his ambitions. We'd make the same choice for any student. That is who we are and will always be.

Sincerely, 

Lawrence Schovanec 
President
Texas Tech University