As it turns out, missing the rest of the 2009 season was actually a reduction in punishment for soon-to-be-former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant.
According to multiple reports, Bryant’s eligibility had been permanently stripped by the NCAA, but “mitigating factors presented by the university” allowed the NCAA to apply “relief” to Bryant and give him back his eligibility as of September of 2010.
Part of the “mitigating factors” included in the school’s original appeal earlier this month was the fact that Bryant’s “personal life and upbringing were extremely difficult.” The specifics of that argument were redacted from the documents released to the public.
Bryant was originally suspended by OSU on Sept. 26 as the NCAA’s investigation into the receiver’s relationship with Deion Sanders was still ongoing. Bryant ultimately admitted on Sept. 30, through legal representation, that he had lied to NCAA officials about a meeting and a jog with Sanders.
Bryant’s admission only came after Sanders talked to NCAA officials and told them that the meeting with Sanders -- which OSU contends was not a violation -- did indeed take place.
It was at that point that Bryant was permanently barred from playing NCAA football. University officials and Bryant himself traveled to Indianapolis on Oct. 13 to appeal the punishment.
That appeal resulted in the “relief” announced by the NCAA yesterday, and that Bryant would have his eligibility restored in September of next year.
Of course, this talk of reinstatement next year means little; Bryant is a near-unanimous choice to be a top-ten pick in the 2010 draft, although it’s unclear if his NCAA issues will cause some NFL teams to drop him on their draft board.
