Bledsoe, NCAA attorneys meet in court for hearing

NORMAN — Amani Bledsoe doesn’t know the outcome of his legal case against the NCAA quite yet.

But Monday morning, his attorneys and attorneys for the NCAA met in at Cleveland County Courtroom in front of District Judge Jeff Virgin for a hearing on the NCAA’s motion to dismiss the OU defensive lineman’s lawsuit.

While Virgin didn’t make an immediate determination, both sides had an opportunity to voice their arguments.

The NCAA wanted the lawsuit dismissed because it maintains the organization is not a state actor and the privilege of playing college football is not a liberty protected by the Oklahoma Constitution.

But Bledsoe’s attorneys argued the NCAA is a state actor, and it’s depriving Bledsoe of his basic constitutional rights. Bledsoe’s attorneys argued that it was not Bledsoe’s intent to take clomiphene, a banned substance, which came from a sealed container of protein powder that was given to him by a teammate.

The container did not list the substance in the ingredients, and a test of the powder from another container did not contain clomiphene.

Bledsoe’s attorneys want him to be able to testify in front of a jury about what led to his positive test for banned substances.

“The ludicrous nature of the (NCAA) rule is that if a third party had slipped this banned substance in his drink, he would have a defense,” said Stanley Ward, one of Bledsoe’s attorneys. “But instead, he opened a container of a protein substance given to him by a teammate and took one helping from it, as he has done for years of taking these protein supplements. He tests positive, but he can’t say, ‘Look, I had no idea that this had any type of a controlled substance in it.’ So it doesn’t go to his intent.

“He had no intent to violate the rule. So he’s being punished by not being able to provide that defense. He can’t say, ‘I had no intent. I had no knowledge I violated it, I had no intent to violate.’ That argument has been denied.”

In the lawsuit, Bledsoe seeks to restore the year of eligibility and reimbursement for court costs and attorney fees.

Because Bledsoe tested positive for a banned substance, he not only missed a year of playing time, he also lost a year of eligibility.

According to NCAA.org: “The penalty for a positive test for a performanceenhancing drug (PED) is strict and automatic: student-athletes lose one full year of eligibility for the first offense (25 percent of their total eligibility) and are withheld from competition for 365 days from the date of the test.”

Bledsoe is listed as a sophomore on OU’s roster, but because of the NCAA banned substance rules, next year would be his last year of eligibility and last year of an athletic scholarship.

“Very few student-athletes today go through school in four academic years,” Ward said. “It’s usually a five-year academic pursuit. He doesn’t come from a wealthy family. He would need that academic, athletic assistance to get his college education under his belt.”

Riley inquires about late hit on Mayfield

Coach Lincoln Riley has contacted the Big 12 about the late hit from Kansas cornerback Hasan Defense in OU’s 41-3 win.

Defense was flagged for a late hit, but it appeared he led with his head and made contact with Baker Mayfield’s helmet — both criteria of a targeting call.

“He’s been a target of a lot of things on the field that we’ve made apparent to our conference office,” Riley said of Mayfield.

Riley said he hasn’t heard back as of Monday morning.

Thomas questionable for West Virginia

As a senior, Saturday will be the last time cornerback Jordan Thomas steps on the turf at Owen Field for an OU football game as a player.

However, whether he plays is still in question.

Thomas, who injured his knee against Oklahoma State, is questionable to play against the Mountaineers.

“He’s made some good progress,” Riley said. “But not to the point where we can say he’ll for sure play right now.”

Riley added he doesn’t expect any new injuries to impact the regular season finale.