The NCAA implemented the hardship waiver for "student-athletes who are compelled to transfer because of financial hardship, or an injury or illness to the student-athlete or a member of their family."
In explaining why half of all hardship waivers are granted, an NCAA spokesman said, "there are a number of factors that are considered with the criteria, some of which include the relationship of the individual to the student-athlete and proximity from transferring institution to where the individual lives/is being treated, to name a couple. Each case is reviewed and determined based on its own merits, so it would not be accurate for me to say if any one factor is weighted more than another nor if cases that look similar on the surface have different outcomes."
Naturally, Rutgers didn't need to worry about Nkereuwem (Kerwin) Okoro's waiver request after he transferred from Iowa State following his freshman year. Right? I mean, his father died of a stroke in December, and two months later his 28-year-old brother died of colon cancer. Kerwin left Iowa State and transferred home to be with his mother.
And now he'll be sitting out a year because losing your father and your brother is apparently not considered a hardship.
I'll make the wise decision of staying off social networks today,cause if I express my feelings right now, I might just say the wrong thing
— Nkereuwem Okoro (@The_KO_Campaign) August 20, 2013
