The UT Rock Has An Important Message For The NCAA

By Cody McClure

Some folks on the UT campus have taken to “The Rock” in trying to send a message to the NCAA.

#FREEBERTO is today’s message on campus as students — and every Tennessee baseball fan for that matter — hope there is a way for talented hitter Alberto Osuna to gain eligibility this season.

Osuna transferred to UT back in January to play his final year of college baseball in Knoxville.

He had previously played two years of junior college ball and three years at North Carolina.

Typically, that would have exhausted his eligibility, but he’s been arguing that his junior college years shouldn’t count, which worked for Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to gain another year of eligibility.

Thus, Osuna entered the transfer portal in hopes of playing another season.

So why did the NCAA rule in favor of Pavia but then deny Osuna? Many are asking. It’s inconsistent.

“As a former Tennessee baseball player, I’m beyond frustrated by the NCAA’s inconsistency,” VFL Jared Dickey posted today on X. “Diego Pavia gets a waiver, but Alberto Osuna doesn’t? Same situation, different rulings.

“The system is broken, and Berto deserves to play. Fix it.”

Last week Osuna was denied on his second effort to gain eligibility.

Knox News reported it was unlikely that Osuna would be eligible in time to play baseball for UT this year “through any potential future legal steps.”

It’s worth a shot though. Nice message. #FreeBerto.

Image: Andrew Fischer

Image: UT Rock live stream