For a second, let’s be fair to whomever made this decision. Warren’s case wasn’t ordinary. The hardship made it seem like a slam-dunk, but the NCAA didn’t want him to become a precedent for players wanting to leave a team (without the team’s permission) without spending the year ineligible.

Having said that, let’s also realize that he must really have meant something to FSU if they were unwilling to release him to go home to be close to his mom. Bowden’s program may have had problems with the law (and with academics), but I’ve never thought him to be a heartless guy before.

hooper is right that nothing about this was a sure slam dunk, but in the end granting this waiver and allowing him to play in 2008 was the right move. The NCAA, SEC, and ACC should, after all, be serving the student athlete and helping them with their academic and athletic progress. I think that is what we are seeing with this decision for Warren.

I wish the young man the best of luck and look forward to seeing him in the checkerboards.