Ex-NAFL Commish Casts Further Doubt On Eligibility of Oklahoma's Mike Balogun

According to a story published on the National American Football League's Web site, Oklahoma's Mike Balogun appears to have exhausted his college eligibility by participating in a semi-pro football league past the age of 21.

The NAFL's Web site indicates that Balogun, 25, did play with the Maryland Marauders at least up until 2005. In the recap from the losers' bracket championship game in November 2005, there is mention of Balogun recovering a fumble in the Marauders' 13-10 loss to the West Sound (Wash.) Saints. The write up goes on to say Balogun finished the day with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.

The 2008 Oklahoma media guide lists Balogun's birthday as Sept. 28, 1983, which would have made him 22 in the fall of 2005.
When FanHouse reached NAFL Director of Business Development and former Commissioner Terry Sullivan Thursday, he said short of seeing the video of the game and someone identifying Balogun, it's hard to be certain.

Sullivan went on to say that it's not uncommon for a team to keep a player listed on its 60-man roster who isn't still playing for the purpose of keeping others teams from picking him up. But when read a recap from the league's own Web site Sullivan couldn't deny the real possibility Balogun played in that game.

"Then that's right, he played in that game," said Sullivan, who has been involved with the NAFL for five years according to the Web site. "I was there, but like I said, I don't remember him."

Another site, semiprofootball.org states that Balogun played in a 2005 All-Star game for the NAFL's Eastern Conference as a member of the Marauders.

The NCAA guidelines state that a player who participates in a semi-professional league past the age of 21 loses a season of college eligibility each year he participates beyond that age. If that holds, Balogun's collegiate career is over, and there could be questions ahead for head coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners, which advanced to the BCS national championship game last season with Balogun as a first-year member of the team.

The NCAA moved to decertify Balogun last week, but on Tuesday he filed a $10,000 civil lawsuit in a Oklahoma District Court against the NCAA and received a temporary restraining order against any NCAA action, which will allow him to continue practicing with the team at least until Monday's hearing.

The evidence against Balogun certainly seems to be mounting, but the disorganization and rather loose guidelines of semi-pro football leagues muddy the issue. Another problem is the Maryland Marauders franchise has since folded and the former personnel could not be reached.

Current NAFL commissioner Robin Williams did not return phone calls from FanHouse.

In the meantime, things appear to be heating up in Norman, Okla. According to court documents obtained by the Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa World, it was Florida State which blew the whistle on Oklahoma and Balogun after an administrator listened to the broadcast of the Sooners' BCS national championship loss to Florida last January.

When Balogun, making just his second start of the season, dropped Florida running back Chris Rainey for a 3-yard-loss in the first half, one of the FOX commentators began to tell his story of coming up through the semi-pro ranks.

That conjured up memories for the FSU administrator of a similar situation the Seminoles had recently gone through with wide receiver Corey Surrency. After it was revealed Surrency had participated in a semi-pro league past his 21st birthday, his college career was cut short.

But Balogun is insisting he did not play beyond the age of 21. In fact, he says in a sworn affidavit that he only played in the league at the ages of 19 and 20 and that 2004 was his last season.

According to the Oklahoman, Florida State obtained a copy of the box score from 2005 as proof Balogun played semi-pro ball beyond his 21st birthday on Sept. 28, 2004. According to the NAFL Web site, the Marauders made it to the championship round at the end of that season, as well, which would have put Balogun beyond his 21st birthday if he played. There is no mention of Balogun in that recap.

Balogun enrolled at Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania in 2006 where he starred on the junior college football team for two seasons. He played well enough that he was recruited by several big schools, but chose to come to Oklahoma in 2008.

He was instantly flagged because of his semi-pro background. But once the NCAA conducted its interviews, Balogun was certified to play Division I-A football for the Sooners in May 2008. Balogun, who didn't play his final two years of high school football in Upper Marlboro, Md., and later worked a construction job to provide for his family, appeared in 10 games for the Sooners last season, making two starts.

He is expected to contend for the backup middle linebacker job behind Ryan Reynolds this season if he remains eligible.