Former Crusader Tata leaves Nebraska
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Nebraska yesterday announced that Tata, a 6-foot-1, 255-pound linebacker, asked for a release from his football scholarship. People familiar with the situation said Tata wanted to return to Hawai'i to care for his son, who is battling an undisclosed illness.
Tata met with UH officials this week, expressing an interest in joining the Warriors. But Tata must negotiate with the NCAA if he ever wants to play in a game for the Warriors.
The NCAA permits a football player five consecutive years to play four seasons. Under that criteria, Tata does not appear to have any remaining eligibility if he were to transfer to UH.
He redshirted as a freshman in 1998, played a total of 11 games in 1999 and 2000, and spent the entire 2001season recovering from knee surgery. Because the NCAA requires a transferring player to sit out a season before being allowed to play at his next school, Tata's eligibility clock will expire at the end of this season.
The only way Tata will be allowed to play for UH in 2003 is if he is granted a medical hardship. In his petition for a sixth year, Tata will ask the NCAA to consider his knee injury in 2001 and his current family circumstances.
UH coach June Jones, who was playing golf in Kona yesterday, declined to comment because Tata is not enrolled in school. But several UH staff members have said Tata has filed an application to enroll at UH and is seeking clarification on his eligibility.
Tata was a two-time all-state player and The Advertiser's All-State Defensive Player of the Year in 1997. He visited Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Washington before signing with Nebraska.
