Bomar's Dad - Rhett deserves second chance

MeanGreen61 · August 9, 2006

Bomar's dad: Rhett deserves second chance

Jerry Bomar says former Oklahoma QB made a mistake, needs to be punished

03:16 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 9, 2006

By BRIAN DAVIS and RANDY JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News

Rhett Bomar’s father said the former Oklahoma quarterback made a mistake and needs to be punished for breaking major NCAA rules.

But Jerry Bomar said Rhett deserves a second chance and that the sophomore will pay restitution whether the NCAA requires it or not.

“All we want to do is start over fresh from here,” Jerry Bomar told The Morning News. “He didn’t murder anybody, commit a crime or anything like that. But he made a mistake. He didn’t want to hurt Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a great school, it’s got great coaches. But he made a mistake, and he’s got to be punished.

“But this is America, and I think he deserves a second chance.”

Jerry Bomar has not spoken publicly since his son and teammate J.D. Quinn were dismissed from the team last week. An investigation revealed the players accepted money for work they did not perform at a car dealership in Norman, Okla.

Now, Bomar said his son is examining his future options but admits they may be limited. OU officials are completing a report that will be forwarded to the NCAA. It could be months before the NCAA Committee on Infractions determines whether the school or players should be punished.

“He’s going to pay the money back, whether he’s [forced] to or not,” Bomar said from his office at Callisburg High School, where he is the head football coach. “His parents are not going to give it to him, so he’s going to have to earn it.”

Jerry Bomar would not say what schools he and Rhett are looking at. North Texas and Texas A&M-Commerce have expressed interest. Houston is also reportedly interested.

Bomar also said a major league baseball team has called expressing interest in signing Rhett to a professional contract. Rhett Bomar was a two-sport star at Grand Prairie before choosing to stick with football in college.

“We know he’s out of Division I-A for this year, and we think he could play Division II now,” Jerry Bomar said. “But then there could be penalties on top of that. It’s just all going to depend on what happens with the NCAA.”