Link: Texas Tech QB Sorsby Entering Treatment for Gambling Addiction

[bamamc1]

It seems like this was a lot bigger than we were led to believe. "Brendan Sorsby placed at least 40 bets involving Indiana football as a quarterback for the Hoosiers, used sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends to wager approximately $90,000 over four years, and continued to gamble after transferring from Cincinnati to Texas Tech in December, according to court documents filed Friday."

I thought he was trying to use the excuse that it only happened when he wasn't actively playing. He definitely should never be allowed to play college football again. Even if he does have a gambling addiction, he still didn't have to bet on college football. There are many other things he could've bet on that wouldn't be as much of a problem. I know the NCAA has a rule that players cannot bet on any sports (amateur or professional) in which the NCAA holds championships, but it would still be far less egregious in my eyes if he chose to bet on MLB, NBA, or something like that. Heck, I wouldn't even have much of an issue with it if he chose to bet on NFL. But that's not even mentioning the fact that there are many other things he could've bet on without penalty, like horse racing. I didn't realize a gambling addiction was specific to a single sports league.

Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football as Hoosiers QB

Brendan Sorsby placed at least 40 bets involving Indiana football as a QB for the Hoosiers and used sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends to wager approximately $90,000 over four years, according to court documents filed Friday.

www.espn.com

Anyone else a fan of Romanian soccer?

 

[KrAzY3]

The Catholic Church did that with pedophile priests.

You're also indirectly addressing the simple fact that it doesn't matter if you have some sort of mental or physical ailment, addiction, disease or what have you, there's some jobs you just can't do if you have them.

You can't be a fireman in a wheelchair. Yes you're disabled, and it's likely not your fault. But when it comes time to go into a burning building, you're a liability.

You can't be a pedophile and be around children. Period. Don't need to elaborate there.

You can't be a gambling addict and playing high level sports. It's like walking around with a lightning rod in a storm, it's just asking for trouble.

In some cases you might feel sympathy for the issues or ailments, in others you might not. But that isn't relevant to the simple fact that some people just can't be allowed to do certain things, end of story.

 

[CB4]

So does Sorsby have a gambling problem? I think the truest indicator is his gambling history. Betting across a variety of sports, year round, using intermediaries to place wagers and willing to do so knowing what was at stake when it came to NCAA regulations certainly speaks to that. The basic thing to understand is that, for the compulsive gambler, the high comes from “the action”, not the winning. Heck winning only means you GET to bet more. Losing means you MUST bet more to “catch up”. Either way you to get feed your habit.

Does the coke user suddenly stop when it isn’t available? Nope. They switch to alcoholic, or crack or meth or another substance. Does the compulsive gambler with an affinity to bet football suddenly stop when the season ends? Of course not. They switch to basketball or baseball or golf or Romanian soccer or cockroach races.

So Sorsby’s trip to inpatient treatment-is it a sincere recognition that he has a problem and needs help? As a compulsive gambler with many years in recovery and having sponsored many in the recovery process, there is little question he has problem. It’s the latter part, whether he is in full recognition of his inability to control his gambling, that I question. I’ve seen it far too many times across addiction- the “fanny is in a vise” and the easiest way to get folks off your back is “go to treatment”.

And the fact that Sorsby has put together a legal team to seek an injunction to allow him to go before a judge to play the “poor, poor, pitiful me. I have mental health issues” tells me he hasn’t reach a point of fully facing his problem and accepting the consequences of his actions. THAT is where building a foundation of recovery on your “rock bottom” truly begins.

Sorsby ain’t there.

 

[Padreruf]

So does Sorsby have a gambling problem? I think the truest indicator is his gambling history. Betting across a variety of sports, year round, using intermediaries to place wagers and willing to do so knowing what was at stake when it came to NCAA regulations certainly speaks to that. The basic thing to understand is that, for the compulsive gambler, the high comes from “the action”, not the winning. Heck winning only means you GET to bet more. Losing means you MUST bet more to “catch up”. Either way you to get feed your habit.

Does the coke user suddenly stop when it isn’t available? Nope. They switch to alcoholic, or crack or meth or another substance. Does the compulsive gambler with an affinity to bet football suddenly stop when the season ends? Of course not. They switch to basketball or baseball or golf or Romanian esoccer or cockroach races.

So Sorsby’s trip to inpatient treatment-is it a sincere recognition that he has a problem and needs help? As a compulsive gambler with many years in recovery and having sponsored many in the recovery process, there is little question he has problem. It’s the latter part, whether he is in full recognition of his inability to control his gambling, that I question. I’ve seen it far too many times across addiction- the “fanny is in a vise” and the easiest way to get folks off your back is “go to treatment”.

And the fact that Sorsby has put together a legal team to seek an injunction to allow him to go before a judge to play the “poor, poor, pitiful me. I have mental health issues” tells me hasn’t reach a point of fully facing his problem and accepting the consequences of his actions. THAT is where building a foundation of recovery on your “rock bottom” truly begins.

Sorsby ain’t there.

We search for that dopamine high in many ways, do we not?

 

[CB4]

We search for that dopamine high in many ways, do we not?

As you and I have discussed before, the thing that gets lost on many is how “high risk” the athlete that has spent much of their life in competition happens to be for gambling issues. Gambling fills that “competitive void” when they aren’t playing or can’t play any longer.

When I was in active addiction with gambling, the high I got while in action (winning and losing) was the same “jolt” as hitting a home run when I played baseball or sinking a 25 putt to win a hole in golf. High as a kite…

 

[TDBama78]

So does Sorsby have a gambling problem? I think the truest indicator is his gambling history. Betting across a variety of sports, year round, using intermediaries to place wagers and willing to do so knowing what was at stake when it came to NCAA regulations certainly speaks to that. The basic thing to understand is that, for the compulsive gambler, the high comes from “the action”, not the winning. Heck winning only means you GET to bet more. Losing means you MUST bet more to “catch up”. Either way you to get feed your habit.

Does the coke user suddenly stop when it isn’t available? Nope. They switch to alcoholic, or crack or meth or another substance. Does the compulsive gambler with an affinity to bet football suddenly stop when the season ends? Of course not. They switch to basketball or baseball or golf or Romanian soccer or cockroach races.

So Sorsby’s trip to inpatient treatment-is it a sincere recognition that he has a problem and needs help? As a compulsive gambler with many years in recovery and having sponsored many in the recovery process, there is little question he has problem. It’s the latter part, whether he is in full recognition of his inability to control his gambling, that I question. I’ve seen it far too many times across addiction- the “fanny is in a vise” and the easiest way to get folks off your back is “go to treatment”.

And the fact that Sorsby has put together a legal team to seek an injunction to allow him to go before a judge to play the “poor, poor, pitiful me. I have mental health issues” tells me hasn’t reach a point of fully facing his problem and accepting the consequences of his actions. THAT is where building a foundation of recovery on your “rock bottom” truly begins.

Sorsby ain’t there.

Gambling is seldom a problem when your winning, Sorsby doesn't know when to quit,thats his problem. You've got to have discipline or you'll end up like a lot of people broke and in trouble, AKA owing money you don't have.

 

[CB4]

Sorsby doesn't know when to quit,thats his problem.

That is, by definition, the pathological compulsive gambler. Not only the inability to recognize when to quit, but also the ability to do so.

 

[bamadwain]

When Bohannon was caught it was national media and Alabama was racked over the coals and he was given a 15yr show cause, but they want Sorsby to be allowed to play because he needs to be with a team, Give Me A Break

 

[4Q Basket Case]

So does Sorsby have a gambling problem? I think the truest indicator is his gambling history. Betting across a variety of sports, year round, using intermediaries to place wagers and willing to do so knowing what was at stake when it came to NCAA regulations certainly speaks to that. The basic thing to understand is that, for the compulsive gambler, the high comes from “the action”, not the winning. Heck winning only means you GET to bet more. Losing means you MUST bet more to “catch up”. Either way you to get feed your habit.

Does the coke user suddenly stop when it isn’t available? Nope. They switch to alcoholic, or crack or meth or another substance. Does the compulsive gambler with an affinity to bet football suddenly stop when the season ends? Of course not. They switch to basketball or baseball or golf or Romanian soccer or cockroach races.

So Sorsby’s trip to inpatient treatment-is it a sincere recognition that he has a problem and needs help? As a compulsive gambler with many years in recovery and having sponsored many in the recovery process, there is little question he has problem. It’s the latter part, whether he is in full recognition of his inability to control his gambling, that I question. I’ve seen it far too many times across addiction- the “fanny is in a vise” and the easiest way to get folks off your back is “go to treatment”.

And the fact that Sorsby has put together a legal team to seek an injunction to allow him to go before a judge to play the “poor, poor, pitiful me. I have mental health issues” tells me he hasn’t reach a point of fully facing his problem and accepting the consequences of his actions. THAT is where building a foundation of recovery on your “rock bottom” truly begins.

Sorsby ain’t there.

I say this with the utmost admiration.

To meaningfully judge an addict, it takes someone who has walked that path all the way to the rocky bottom, made both admissions and changes, has been in recovery for several years, mentored others in their own journeys, and treats recovery as a never-ending process, not a terminus.

CB, when you speak on this issue, I listen like I do when Warren Buffett opines on investing.

Gambling is seldom a problem when your winning, Sorsby doesn't know when to quit,thats his problem. You've got to have discipline or you'll end up like a lot of people broke and in trouble, AKA owing money you don't have.

The house ALWAYS wins. Play long enough to take out the bias of a small sample, and you WILL lose.

As others have said, they don’t build those palaces out of their payouts.

When Bohannon was caught it was national media and Alabama was racked over the coals and he was given a 15yr show cause, but they want Sorsby to be allowed to play because he needs to be with a team, Give Me A Break

Fair point. I agree.

Cue the whines of, “But….But…But….he’s a kid. He gets to keep his pay-for-play, but you can’t hold him responsible for what he does with it!”

 

[CB4]

If I was sponsoring Sorsby, my advice to him would be simple. Get your attorney to ask for a meeting with the NCAA. Ask for “medical redshirt year” for 2026. Layout a detailed plan, everything from therapy sessions, GA 12 Step Program attendance, etc.. He is accountable for every moment of his time and every dollar he gets. Then ask them to reevaluate their decision in the summer of 2027. No guarantees. Screw up? You’re done. Whatever they (NCAA) decides is final. You live with it.

And if the NCAA refuses? I tell Sorsby to accept it and move on. Sorby put himself in this position. The powers that be didn’t.

I owe my over 40 years now of marriage to the greatest lady in the world for one simple reason: my sponsor asked her the question “Are you done with him or is he redeemable? If it is former, divorce him. If the latter, make the decision a year from now. Is he worthy of your grace?”

No, I wasn’t worthy. I was one despicable human being. And I knew it. Many a time, so beaten down by my guilt and shame, I seriously contemplated “ending it all”. I was lucky. My wife saw something worth saving that I couldn’t any longer. I owe my recovery and my life to her.

I personally could not give two hoots in hell if Brendan Sorsby ever sees a football field again. But what I do care about is a young man that has a huge problem that will either put him in prison or in a grave if he doesn’t address it now.

Finally and I’ll shut up. Do you really believe deep down his head coach (Joey McGuire) and the Texas Tech President truly care about Sorsby’s recovery? Not in the least bit in my opinion. I can tell you unequivocally that the recommendations from many of the thought leaders in addiction treatment would tell you putting him back on a football field is absolutely one of the WORST things you can do. His life NOW is about working a program of recovery, not football. EVERYTHING is about staying clean. Those folks aren’t helping Sorsby in the least bit.

 

[dtgreg]

Freedom has consequences. You're free to buy a gun and go hunting. You need to learn responsible gun operating procedures and follow them or you might end up blowing your foot off. Hard to play football missing a foot. If you're a drinker, perhaps guns aren't for you. Gambling is similar. You're forbidden to eat from the Tree of Knowledge else you're cast out of Eden. Thorsby ate from the tree of Knowledge. He knew not to. Whether he couldn't help himself doesn't matter. He can get a job like everyone else. I reserve my tears for children with cancer.

Gambling used to be illegal because most people can't handle it. My little corner of the world, North Alabama, is so full of folks prone to addiction that, a hundred years ago, almost everything was banned. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, even movies. Shoot, when I was a kid, I used to watch K-Mart managers being handcuffed and taken to jail for daring to open their stores on Sunday.

I believe we're better off with freedom and sin taxes rather than giving our money to organized crime. But we must be clear-eyed about who we are and what our propensities are. We are currently in a life and death struggle over Reality vs Unreality. Reality is hard. Reality is you're fat and ugly and you're going to die some day. Nobody likes reality. But when we accept it, we can mitigate and make the best use of our time and help our families and our communities. And in reality, we have no choice.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

Ban him for life, like Pete Rose.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Just for the record, "sin taxes" aren't imposed to reduce drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, gambling, whatever.

So-called sin taxes are imposed because the demand for the taxed item is massively inelastic. IOW, people will consume what they will consume. Raising the price (through imposition of new taxes or raising existing ones) has little to no effect on how much they consume. Yes, they'll moan and whine and stomp and burp about government imposing morality -- while taking a long draw on their smoke and a swig from their booze of choice.

Thing is, the government is being absolutely amoral. It's just trying to collect more money. And that works because the tax won't change consumers' behavior much, if any at all. They may switch to a cheaper brand, but the tax is based on units, not price.

A bottle of generic low-quality rotgut hooch is taxed at exactly the same level as Pappy Van Winkle. Same with cigarettes -- the cheapest brand is subject to the same tax as the highest-end premium brand.

So the government collects the same amount regardless of the price or brand consumed.

Sin taxes aren't about reducing sin. They're about maximizing tax revenue.

 

[TDBama78]

Someone could easily place 20 bets a day for themselves.

The 20 bets per day is probably the vegas rotation of college games on a Saturday , you can also bet one game 3or 4 different ways, there are also half time lines made on games, so 20 bets per day,on a college football Saturday, is not a big shocker but for a college QB it should be zero.one is too many.

 

[jashleyren2]

I appreciate some of you attempting to look at this topic through the lens of "morality".

I myself have given up on the idea that America knows or care anything about such silly things.

 

[64 Grad]

A few general comments. Indiana last year may have been a perfect storm next year will let us know. May be somewhat like the 2019 LSU team or 2010 Auburn and there are some other fairly reason examples. We will see. Mark Cuban said the value of professional sports teams will explode with legalized gambling. Legal sports betting definitely works it easier for people to bet. Lines change fast and drastic on Hard Rock in Florida, so bet early if you have a good feeling about a game. You can always hedge it if you don't like to line change. NCAA called for Sorsby to be banded from playing. Only band him for betting against his own team otherwise rehab him.

 

[Bill from NYC]

You're also indirectly addressing the simple fact that it doesn't matter if you have some sort of mental or physical ailment, addiction, disease or what have you, there's some jobs you just can't do if you have them.

You can't be a fireman in a wheelchair. Yes you're disabled, and it's likely not your fault. But when it comes time to go into a burning building, you're a liability.

You can't be a pedophile and be around children. Period. Don't need to elaborate there.

You can't be a gambling addict and playing high level sports. It's like walking around with a lightning rod in a storm, it's just asking for trouble.

In some cases you might feel sympathy for the issues or ailments, in others you might not. But that isn't relevant to the simple fact that some people just can't be allowed to do certain things, end of story.

This post is not easy to argue with. I mean one could test a drug addict to see if there are drugs in his or her system. This would seem impossible with a gambling addict.

My father was a gambling addict. It is a horrible existence, I feel sorry for this kid but he is not bigger than college sports.

 

[JDCrimson]

Per ESPN, a judge has granted Sorsby eligibility for 2026 season...

 

[rolltide_21]

Per ESPN, a judge has granted Sorsby eligibility for 2026 season...

Wonder who slipped someone a few Benjamins? TT pockets run deep. I started to put this in blue, but part of me believes it.

 

[JDCrimson]

Wonder who slipped some one a few Benjamins? TT pockets run deep. I started to put this in blue, but part of me believes it.

These state judges are elected. No brainer to rule in favor of local politics.