Alabama tells NCAA they support eligibility waiver for Daisha Simmons
Alabamahas announced that it told the NCAA Tuesday that they support a waiver to allow transfer Daisha Simmons to play this season for Seton Hall.
ESPN's Mechelle Voepel first reported the news.
Alabama had previously blocked Simmons' transfer, which would have postponed her final year of eligibility until 2015-16. Simmons graduated from Alabama in May and transferred to Seton Hall to be closer to her brother, who has end-stage kidney disease, and to pursue her MBA.
At 23 years old, Simmons did not want to delay a possible professional career another year, as her mother is currently working two jobs and is dealing with chronic arthritis.
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It is now up to the NCAA to decide if it wants to review Simmons' situation again and decide if she can play this year.
Alabama defended its original decision in the statement by athletic director Bill Battle, explaining that Simmons did not initially tell them about her family's health issues. Simmons claimed to refute this on Tuesday through e-mails she provided with SB Nation.
In his statement, Battle also said that Alabama was "not the lone determinant in Simmons' ability to gain a waiver allowing her to play this season," and said inconsistencies by Simmons "greatly hindered" the school's ability to assist her.
On Monday, University of Alabama president Judy Bonner had announced she would not lift the block and that the matter was closed. But according to Voepel, the school had been in discussions "the last few days" about Simmons.
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Voepel said she spoke to Crimson Tide women's basketball coach Kristy Curry on Tuesday, who told her Alabama realized they were "taking a beating" on this. Media and fans have criticized the school for blocking Simmons' transfer.
Simmons' legal counsel filed a Title IX complaint against the University of Alabama on Monday.
- Molly Geary
