Who says the NCAA doesn’t have a heart?
Texas women’s basketball star Rori Harmon got to surprise her teammates Thursday with news that the NCAA has granted her a redshirt waiver to make up for last season’s torn ACL injury.
Harmon, a 5-foot-6 point guard, played in 12 games last season as a junior before suffering the season-ending injury during a pregame practice. At the time Harmon went down, most outside observers thought Texas’ goose was cooked. Harmon was leading the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio with 93 assists and 14 turnovers.
But coach Vic Schaefer rallied the troops, and the Horns went all the way to the NCAA’s Elite Eight.
Harmon now effectively has two years of eligibility remaining and plans on returning to her spot as the floor general for the Longhorns. The NCAA essentially considers last year her redshirt season.
“When I was told I was so caught off guard,” Harmon said in a video posted by Texas women’s basketball. “I didn’t really expect it at all, but I truly am so grateful for compliance and the NCAA for granting me that redshirt year.
“I really didn’t think it was going to be done and knowing that they looked at my paper and saw that it was I was worthy of granting that year after looking at some statistics, I was just so grateful to be able to put be put in this position. I always say, let go, and let God, so here we are.”
Harmon admitted she is worried about this season, and “I worry about getting healthy.”
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“And it’s because of you guys, and I'm here that I’m supported, and I feel loved by all the Texas fan bases,” Harmon said. “I’m just glad to be back and glad to be playing in front of a great crowd.”
This shouldn’t have been a surprise. Harmon made it clear last March that she had every intention of coming back, preferably stronger than ever.
“It’s not like I’m going to fall off the face of the Earth and never play again ... I can’t give up” on this season, Harmon said as Texas made its postseason run. “I still had to give my teammates my experience and knowledge and hear my voice.”
Schaefer took to calling her “Coach Harmon” for her sideline presence and for mentoring freshman Madison Booker.
“Rori’s been nothing short of spectacular,” Schaefer told reporters in March. “To have an injury like that is devastating ... And it could have gone one or two ways, and obviously it’s gone the right way. She’s really stayed engaged.”
Now, she’s back as Texas charges into the SEC.
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