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Mike Balogun academically decertified

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20090815_92_B1_NORMAN903508

Oklahoma senior linebacker Mike Balogun, the Sooners' starter in last year's national championship game, has been academically decertified by the NCAA and his future with the OU football team is uncertain. 

Balogun, who has been battling this preseason for the starting middle linebacker job with senior Ryan Reynolds, will be allowed to practice until Wednesday. He might be sidelined after that time while OU waits for the NCAA to issue a ruling on Balogun's status. 


"Our (compliance) people found some new information," OU coach Bob Stoops said after Friday's morning practice, "so they're trying to sort through that." 
According to published reports, Balogun graduated from high school in 2002 at the age of 18 and, at 19, went out for the Maryland Marauders, an NAFL franchise, in the spring of 2003. The NAFL schedule runs from mid May through late September. 

After that, though, there are conflicting reports about Balogun's age and his participation. 

A Maryland newspaper reported last year that Balogun joined the Prince George Jets, a winter semipro team, in the fall of 2005, leaving unclear whether Balogun played a season with the Marauders and then sat out a year, or played two seasons. 

Balogun didn't earn money while playing semipro ball. Instead, coaches and players in the NAFL pay up to $2,000 per season to participate. 

From Tulsa World

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interesting. sucks if true that no one caught this for however many years he’s been at OU. how would that affect him going to the NFL combine and such? is he a freak enough to sit out a year of college ball and still get scout’s attention?

by Displaced Longhorn on Aug 17, 2009 6:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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