Bomar ruled ineligible for season but will return next year

Thursday, November 2nd 2006, 11:13 am

By: News On 6

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) _ Former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar was ruled ineligible Wednesday to play for Sam Houston State this season but will return in 2007 with two years of eligibility remaining.

Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn were kicked off the Sooners' squad in August for accepting payment for more work than they performed at a car dealership, a violation of NCAA rules.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bomar transferred to Sam Houston and Quinn to Montana, both Division I-AA schools. Quinn also was ruled ineligible by the NCAA but will be allowed to play next season, Montana associate athletic director Dave Guffey said.

``I am happy to get this behind me,'' said Bomar, who has been allowed to practice with the Bearkats. ``I look forward to having the opportunity to represent Sam Houston State. This decision today will help take the focus off me and put the focus on the team.''

Bomar, from the Dallas area, was one of the nation's top recruits in 2004. He redshirted, then threw for 2,018 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman at Oklahoma last year.

The NCAA ordered the players to give the extra money they earned from the dealership to charities of their choice. Bomar owes $7,406.88, and Quinn owes $8,137.17.

The NCAA said the players were paid for work they said they performed during ``times when they were attending class, eating dinner or at football practice.''

Oklahoma also told the NCAA the student-athletes ``began the practice of clocking one another in and out, dependent on who arrived first and left last each day.''

In addition, the NCAA said Bomar and Quinn did not notify or receive approval from the school's compliance staff for their employment and never signed a required notification form for work during the academic year.

``Obviously, we would have liked for him to able to play in games this season,'' Sam Houston coach Todd Whitten said. ``But, with his experience working with the squad this fall and spring training ahead next year, we look forward to having him as a Bearkat for the next two seasons.''