There was big news swirling around the Sam Houston State athletic department Wednesday afternoon about the possibility of the Bearkats landing two Division I football transfers.
SHSU athletic director Bobby Williams confirmed that former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn both have expressed interest in transferring to play for the Bearkats.
“We are one of the schools they are considering transferring to,” Williams said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We can’t say much more than that at this point. We have to make sure that we go through the correct process the same way we have with other transfers in the past.”
Bomar, a sophomore, was dismissed by the Sooners after a team investigation revealed he had made up to $18,000 while working at a car dealership in Norman, Okla., and filed for 40-hour work weeks despite only working five hours a week. Quinn, Bomar’s roommate, was also dismissed.
Bomar and his father, Jerry, were seen in Huntsville on Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with SHSU athletic department personnel about possibly enrolling at SHSU.
Bearkats head coach Todd Whitten said he met with the Bomars.
“We have spoken with them,” Whitten said Wednesday. “There isn’t much we can say, but we have talked about the possibility (of him transferring to SHSU).”
Reports have linked Bomar to other universities over the last few days including Houston, North Texas, TCU and Texas State-San Marcos.
Bomar and his father were headed to Houston to meet with University of Houston head coach Art Briles on Tuesday night. In an interview with sportscaster Mark Berman of KRIV-TV in Houston, Jerry Bomar said his son could shine in the Cougars’ offensive system.
“Coach Briles has an outstanding offensive system,” Jerry Bomar told KRIV. “His scheme is quarterback-friendly and fits everything Rhett has done.”
The Cougars run a wide-open attack, spreading the field with multiple wide receivers. It is similar to the offense SHSU runs under Whitten and offensive coordinator James Ferguson.
Several Division I quarterbacks have transferred to SHSU and flourished under Whitten, Ferguson and former head coach Ron Randleman at SHSU. Chris Chaloupka transferred from Oklahoma State and was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 1999 while Whitten was offensive coordinator for Randleman. Ferguson helped guide Josh McCown (SMU) in 2001 and Dustin Long (Texas A&M;) in 2004 to SLC Player of the Year honors and into the Division I-AA playoffs.
Long also set an SLC single-season record for passing yards (4,588) and touchdowns (39) en route to leading the Kats into the semifinal round of the playoffs and a No. 4 season-ending ranking, both the best in school history.
Bomar faces the possibility of an NCAA suspension when and if he is reinstated. Several Texas A&M; players were suspended for similar violations in 1993.
The problem facing Bomar if he decides to transfer to another Division I school is he will have to sit out a full season because of NCAA regulations. If he is suspended a few games this season, he will have to serve that suspension after sitting out a year, significantly cutting into his eligibility.
But if he chooses the I-AA route, the transfer rule is waived and he could play this year after he serves his suspension. Bomar then would have two full years of eligibility remaining.
“If they decide to transfer here, we will have to deal with the process of their violations and go with it from there,” Williams said. “We would have to address the different suspension possibilities. There are a lot of issues, and we will deal with it if it happens.”
Bomar was a top-rated recruit out of Grand Prairie High School. He took a red shirt in 2004, then started Oklahoma’s final 11 games last season and set a Sooner freshman passing record with 2,018-yards. He also threw 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, guiding Oklahoma to six wins over the final seven games, including a Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon.
Quinn, also a sophomore, started four games at guard for the Sooners in 2005.
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