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re: Owen Heinecke Case / Owen Wins! He’s Back!!!
Posted on 4/16/26 at 12:49 pm to OU Guy
Posted on 4/16/26 at 12:49 pm to OU Guy
Brandon Drumm
@Bdrumm_Rivals
Heinecke's legal counsel showing a photo of Heinecke's time living in Houston where he had his dad -- who was his coach -- name them the Houston Sooners.
Heinecke said all of his friends were A&M and Horns fans, but they were wearing Sooners uniforms.
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Posted on 4/16/26 at 1:32 pm to OU Guy
We are back in session, after being given a strong reminder we are not allowed to take photos or videos….
Heinecke is at the stand.
Heinecke is at the stand.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:02 pm to OU Guy
Cooper is pointing out that Heinecke was listed as a redshirt junior all of last season.
Heinecke explains that he thought he’d be given a medical hardship. Didn’t realize he would be denied another year until the LSU game (the last game of the season).
We are now getting into the medical hardship part of the discussion. Heinecke says he detailed his injuries in 2021-22 in his initial petition in January, which was immediately denied by the NCAA.
Heinecke says that Venables and Nagy told him to play in the Senior Bowl while he was in limbo. Says it was a difficult situation because he did not know what the NCAA was going to do.
Says if he had gotten a waiver from the NCAA he wouldn’t have participated in the Senior Bowl/Combine.
Heinecke says he made next to nothing playing for OU other than having a scholarship.
“It’s not about the money.”
Heinecke is now being questioned by the NCAA.
Heinecke explains that he thought he’d be given a medical hardship. Didn’t realize he would be denied another year until the LSU game (the last game of the season).
We are now getting into the medical hardship part of the discussion. Heinecke says he detailed his injuries in 2021-22 in his initial petition in January, which was immediately denied by the NCAA.
Heinecke says that Venables and Nagy told him to play in the Senior Bowl while he was in limbo. Says it was a difficult situation because he did not know what the NCAA was going to do.
Says if he had gotten a waiver from the NCAA he wouldn’t have participated in the Senior Bowl/Combine.
Heinecke says he made next to nothing playing for OU other than having a scholarship.
“It’s not about the money.”
Heinecke is now being questioned by the NCAA.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:03 pm to OU Guy
The NCAA asks if Heinecke had offers to walk-on at OSU and Duke. Heinecke says he had conversations about it, but was never offered an opportunity to walk-on.
A lot of back and forth between the NCAA and Heinecke about his time playing lacrosse at Ohio State. Heinecke essentially says he wouldn’t have been able to play football in 2021-22 due to injuries.
Heinecke is now done on the stand.
The plaintiff rests.
Cooper is now giving her closing argument for Heinecke.
She starts by saying this is a life-altering decision for Heinecke that is in the judge’s hands.
Cooper says recruitment for college football at the highest level was not available for Heinecke.
“The NCAA’s whole job is to take care of student athletes… for them to say you go play at a service academy or a Division II, that’s not right.”
Says Heinecke is a third party beneficiary
A lot of back and forth between the NCAA and Heinecke about his time playing lacrosse at Ohio State. Heinecke essentially says he wouldn’t have been able to play football in 2021-22 due to injuries.
Heinecke is now done on the stand.
The plaintiff rests.
Cooper is now giving her closing argument for Heinecke.
She starts by saying this is a life-altering decision for Heinecke that is in the judge’s hands.
Cooper says recruitment for college football at the highest level was not available for Heinecke.
“The NCAA’s whole job is to take care of student athletes… for them to say you go play at a service academy or a Division II, that’s not right.”
Says Heinecke is a third party beneficiary
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:05 pm to OU Guy
Cooper on the NCAA claiming Heinecke could have played college football at a service academy or a D2 school: “It’s the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard.”
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:09 pm to OU Guy
Cooper now talking about how the NCAA didn’t upload the similar case regarding a female athlete.
“I find it interesting the NCAA has no one here to talk about these decisions.”
“I find it interesting the NCAA has no one here to talk about these decisions.”
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:14 pm to OU Guy
Cooper is cooking!!
Cooper continues to point out that it makes no sense that the similar case was not uploaded. Pokes holes in the NCAA’s reasoning.
Cooper says irreparable harm is “absolutely undisputed.” Says it’s clear that not giving him another year would be irreparable harm. Points to Venables and Nagy’s testimony’s.
Cooper continues to point out that it makes no sense that the similar case was not uploaded. Pokes holes in the NCAA’s reasoning.
Cooper says irreparable harm is “absolutely undisputed.” Says it’s clear that not giving him another year would be irreparable harm. Points to Venables and Nagy’s testimony’s.
This post was edited on 4/16/26 at 2:15 pm
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:17 pm to OU Guy
Brandon Drumm
@Bdrumm_Rivals
The final testimony from Heinecke's legal counsel is obviously them nailing in even more that he never had the opportunity to get recruited due to COVID.
They are talking about how he was unable to be seen in-person, he was unable to go to camp, etc... He has always done what he's asked to do... They also are touching on players with extra covid years and him getting injured soon after.
Now, we have NCAA response to Heinecke's where Mary Quinn Cooper notates how NCAA failed to upload similar situations that they granted into the database. She said it had to be a 'joke.'
They asked the judge to look at both. Calling them "eerily similar."
Mary Quinn Cooper also shows that NCAA stated that the committee didn't approve female athletes season, but she just finished her extra season a few months ago. She asks how that could be.
"Was anyone considering the totality of the circumstances for Owen Heinecke? Absolutely not."
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:18 pm to OU Guy
Cooper notes that the NCAA claimed Heinecke didn’t submit medical records in his waiver for the 2021-22 year, but he did, showing 171 pages of medical records were submitted in his petition
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:19 pm to OU Guy
This is as good as the OJ trial
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:22 pm to OU Guy
Mason Young
@Mason_Young_0
Wish I could get a picture: Heinecke's team just put up a graphic showing how he, Venables, Nagy, Tappana and Newville all testified today. There's a blank avatar on the graphic for the NCAA, which brought no witnesses
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:24 pm to OU Guy
Owen Heinecke's lawyer Mary Quinn Cooper: "The undisputed evidence says the value of another year of development at the college level is immeasurable."
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Cooper says the NCAA did not give Heinecke’s petition a “holistic review” like they did with the female athlete.
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"I know this is nothing to the NCAA, but this is his life. He's been in limbo since December," Mary Quinn Cooper (Heinecke's rep) said during closing statements for Heinecke's behalf.
She now is showing that OU uploaded 171 pages of medical records after NCAA says they didn't submit them back in 2021-22.
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Cooper says the NCAA did not give Heinecke’s petition a “holistic review” like they did with the female athlete.
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"I know this is nothing to the NCAA, but this is his life. He's been in limbo since December," Mary Quinn Cooper (Heinecke's rep) said during closing statements for Heinecke's behalf.
She now is showing that OU uploaded 171 pages of medical records after NCAA says they didn't submit them back in 2021-22.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:28 pm to OU Guy
Cooper: “This kid deserves to live out his dreams… This isn’t the kid from Texas who missed the portal window or Chandler Morris who is on his fourth school asking for a seventh year.”
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Heinecke's lawyer Mary Quinn Cooper: "This is not Chandler Morris who's going to his fourth school and asking for his seventh year of eligibility."
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Cooper finishes by saying she asking the judge to grant injunction that not only gives Heinecke eligibility, but also keeps the NCAA from punishing Heinecke in the future for participating in the Senior Bowl/Combine and the University of Oklahoma.
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Heinecke's lawyer Mary Quinn Cooper: "This is not Chandler Morris who's going to his fourth school and asking for his seventh year of eligibility."
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Cooper finishes by saying she asking the judge to grant injunction that not only gives Heinecke eligibility, but also keeps the NCAA from punishing Heinecke in the future for participating in the Senior Bowl/Combine and the University of Oklahoma.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:31 pm to OU Guy
Time for the NCAA to make their closing argument
The NCAA is now giving their closing argument. Starts by saying he knows this an emotional case, but emotion should not affect the rules.
The NCAA says that there is no other athlete that received another year of eligibility because of COVID effecting their recruitment out of high school.
The NCAA says the reason the similar case was not uploaded because it hasn’t been reviewed by their committee to be used as a citation.
The NCAA is now giving their closing argument. Starts by saying he knows this an emotional case, but emotion should not affect the rules.
The NCAA says that there is no other athlete that received another year of eligibility because of COVID effecting their recruitment out of high school.
The NCAA says the reason the similar case was not uploaded because it hasn’t been reviewed by their committee to be used as a citation.
This post was edited on 4/16/26 at 2:35 pm
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:37 pm to OU Guy
The NCAA says Heinecke chose to play lacrosse, not football. Says he knows the service academy or D2 are not the same, but that doesn’t change the rule. It was in his control.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:39 pm to OU Guy
The NCAA:
“Coach Venables says they play 6 linebackers. Heinecke would be one of those. What about No. 7? I bet he’d like to be No. 6.”
NCAA: “There isn’t enough proof that the NCAA has done anything but apply its bylaws.”
NCAA finishes their closing argument.
Cooper has a rebuttal.
“Coach Venables says they play 6 linebackers. Heinecke would be one of those. What about No. 7? I bet he’d like to be No. 6.”
NCAA: “There isn’t enough proof that the NCAA has done anything but apply its bylaws.”
NCAA finishes their closing argument.
Cooper has a rebuttal.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:46 pm to OU Guy
Cooper says the NCAA has shown time and again they have flexibility, so she doesn’t understand why they haven’t been flexible with Heinecke.
Cooper: “We’re not asking for a stretch here. We’re not asking for a fifth, sixth or seventh year. We’re asking for a fourth year of football.”
Cooper: “Does the NCAA know the OU locker room better than coach Venables and Jim Nagy).”
Chad P. Smith
@ChadPSmith_
NCAA trying to make it a clean line, but it only works if Judge Balkman treats this as strict rule enforcement case.
I think the problem is waivers exist for situations where real-world circumstances blur what counts as a true “choice.”
If this case turns on fairness & consistency instead of technical control, Owen wins this argument.
Cooper: “We’re not asking for a stretch here. We’re not asking for a fifth, sixth or seventh year. We’re asking for a fourth year of football.”
Cooper: “Does the NCAA know the OU locker room better than coach Venables and Jim Nagy).”
Chad P. Smith
@ChadPSmith_
NCAA trying to make it a clean line, but it only works if Judge Balkman treats this as strict rule enforcement case.
I think the problem is waivers exist for situations where real-world circumstances blur what counts as a true “choice.”
If this case turns on fairness & consistency instead of technical control, Owen wins this argument.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:50 pm to OU Guy
Judge Balkman says he’s going to review his notes for 15 minutes and then a decision will be made.
Hold onto your butts.
Hold onto your butts.
Posted on 4/16/26 at 2:56 pm to OU Guy
Heinecke is spending the break chatting the NCAA’s lawyer, Taylor Askew. He wished Heinecke the best either way the decision goes.
Judge said “15 minutes”, which makes me think he’ll come back w someone snarky to say about the NCAA denying eligibility for 15 mins of lacrosse
Judge said “15 minutes”, which makes me think he’ll come back w someone snarky to say about the NCAA denying eligibility for 15 mins of lacrosse
Posted on 4/16/26 at 3:15 pm to OU Guy
Judge Balkman says the evidence clearly showed Heinecke is a third-party beneficiary and that COVID affected his recruitment. He says the NCAA failed to consider the totality of the case.
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