Former Okie St. QB Gets Waiver to Play for UofH

[MrMustang1965]

HOUSTON -- Former Oklahoma State quarterback Al Pena has received a waiver from the NCAA that will allow him to play football at Houston this fall.

Pena graduated from Oklahoma State in May but had a year of eligibility left. He had planned to take advantage of a rule that allows graduating seniors to transfer without having to sit out a year, but the NCAA rescinded the rule in January. Pena needed a waiver.

"We thought it was a good case. We welcome him and we are glad to have him in the program," Houston athletic director Dave Maggard told television station KRIV.

Pena was a backup last season, but did not play. In 2005, he completed 89 of 179 passes for 1,102 yards in seven games with eight touchdown passes.

[RGV Pony]

HOUSTON -- Former Oklahoma State quarterback Al Pena has received a waiver from the NCAA that will allow him to play football at Houston this fall.

Pena graduated from Oklahoma State in May but had a year of eligibility left. He had planned to take advantage of a rule that allows graduating seniors to transfer without having to sit out a year, but the NCAA rescinded the rule in January. Pena needed a waiver.

"We thought it was a good case. We welcome him and we are glad to have him in the program," Houston athletic director Dave Maggard told television station KRIV.

Pena was a backup last season, but did not play. In 2005, he completed 89 of 179 passes for 1,102 yards in seven games with eight touchdown passes.

he's from down here in the valley somewhere, if I recall. I'm not sure if SMU will ever figure this out, but valley kids are easily impressed, and SMU would do well to pursue the few D1 guys they have. So far, Ole Miss and NT have early committments from valley kids this year. Last year, Houston signed an OL, Kansas got a LB, and UTEP got a QB. Arguably the best RB in the state last year will be an Aggie in the fall. Meanwhile, I've run across a few kids here and there that got non-athletic type scholarships to the hilltop and talking to them and their families you can tell that SMU was their top choice after getting the scholarship offer...even in comparison to other schools that would seem more attractive.

[Stallion]

SMU offered him out of high school.

[mustangfan01]

Pena is from Leander/Austin.

[RGV Pony]

Pena is from Leander/Austin.

you're right...he graduated from Leander. He started out at Rio Grande City (an '06 article):

Local college football news
Posted by: Oscar Gonzalez Jr.

Was trying to keep tabs on some local college players when I saw that Oklahoma State had their annual scrimmage on Friday. While four quarterbacks were played, only two were mentioned on the OSU Web site and neither of those two were of former Rio Grande City QB Al Peña.

I wouldn't read much into that, though. Peña, the son of Hidalgo athletic director/head football coach Jorge Peña, did well when he filled in last year for the Cowboys. Hopefully he'll get some more playing time this year.

[mrydel]

Since the NCAA is in such a good mood for waivers, maybe this bodes well for the one we want for the Minnesota transfer. Now......everyone hold your breath.

[SWC2010]

What a ridiculous decision to rescind a rule that pays tribute to real student-athletes.

What is Grad rate in Big XII FB-- less than 20% (on time). You're only talking about a couple of players per team, most of which are not playing or they wouldn't be wanting to move around.

For the life of me, I do not understand how the ncaa gets away with different sets of rules for FB & BB vs soccer, hockey, etc.

Grant Teaff & his cronies run the ncaa like the ole Plantation Days.

[MustangIcon]

Although I'm sure we'd all be happy with the NCAA if we were in the same situation. Losing a 4 year starter at QB and filling in with a guy who has legit Big XII experience that is. Hopefully Serge will be eligible as mrydel pointed out.

[PhirePhilBennett]

Big 12 experience:

??????????????


PASSING G Att Cmp Int Yds TD Lg Pct
2004 5 11 7 0 94 1 34 63.6
7 of 11 for 94 yards

2005 7 179 89 13 1102 8 56 49.7
89 of 179 for 1102 yards (ok)

2006 DNP??

[MustangIcon]

Big 12 experience:

??????????????


PASSING G Att Cmp Int Yds TD Lg Pct
2004 5 11 7 0 94 1 34 63.6
7 of 11 for 94 yards

2005 7 179 89 13 1102 8 56 49.7
89 of 179 for 1102 yards (ok)

2006 DNP??

In'05 he started 5 or 6 games including a 150 yard 2 TD, 0 INT game vs Texas and a 350 yard 4 TD 2 INT game vs Baylor mixed in with a couple awful performances as well. DNP in '06 because Bobby Reid is a much better QB. But still, point is the guy is a redshirt Sr. that started half a season in the Big XII

[PhirePhilBennett]

Big 12 experience:

??????????????


PASSING G Att Cmp Int Yds TD Lg Pct
2004 5 11 7 0 94 1 34 63.6
7 of 11 for 94 yards

2005 7 179 89 13 1102 8 56 49.7
89 of 179 for 1102 yards (ok)

2006 DNP??

k

In'05 he started 5 or 6 games including a 150 yard 2 TD, 0 INT game vs Texas and a 350 yard 4 TD 2 INT game vs Baylor mixed in with a couple awful performances as well. DNP in '06 because Bobby Reid is a much better QB. But still, point is the guy is a redshirt Sr. that started half a season in the Big XII