I don't think that is enforceable and would be deemed against public policy. Obviously, if the medical team at Florida says that they are not comfortable with giving him a green light, then having him sign a waiver would not absolve the University of liability. In fact, an argument could be made that such an action, in allowing him to play with a waiver and after a professional determination that he shouldn't, would be tantamount to criminal behavior.
Feel sorry for all parties involved. It would seem that KJ is being strung along till he gives up on playing at UF. Meanwhile it would appear that White has had to leave that scholarship hanging for a guy that probably isn’t going to be here to play, yet he can’t really fill it. A decision needs to be made so that parties involved can move on.
I’d assume they could put him on a hardship and give the athletic scholly to someone else if that’s what needed to be done. I don’t think he’s being strung along, I think he’s not ready to fold. He wants to play here if he’s going to play. Once he makes the decision to transition to a hardship, I’d think that’s conceding his career is over. He’s more than earned his scholly for this year, imo. If the medical team can’t get it sorted out by next year and he wants to stay with the team, he could transition to a ga, and I think they let him do that for two more years. That would allow him to work on a graduate degree for free, stay engaged with the team, and possibly transition himself into a coaching career if he decides that’s what he’d like to do. If they haven’t figured out how to clear him yet, I don’t know what they could find at this point to get him cleared, but I’m no doctor. Maybe there is something specific they’re monitoring. At some point, I think some hard decisions will have to be made, but I’m fine waiting as long as Key wants to wait to make them. He’s welcome to stay here as long as he wants, imo. Using an athletic scholly or not. I don’t care.
I mean, I get that if there is some diagnosed problem. A waiver can be seen as some type of proof of negligence, since you were aware of a diagnosed issue and chose to ignore it. Indeed, that would be borderline criminal malfeasance. But if there is no diagnosis from any of the top doctors, at some point you have to ask what is the basis to NOT clear him. A hypothetical waiver is just acknowledging there may be substantial increased risk based on the prior incident, and that you are aware of that risk. That being said, I’m mixed about this and would lean towards taking it very slow. I would say if he isn’t even clear to run and jump, no way he’s suiting up this year imo. Maybe he ramps up his activities under supervision and they go from there to determine his long term decision, but you can’t go from not running and jumping for a year to full go D1 basketball.
A decision has been made, IMO. We and KJ are currently experiencing it. Legal has put the potential litigation numbers in front of the powers that be. The answer was a definitive..... NYET.
I do think Keyontae will play again, it just won't be at UF...perhaps in the Pros. It may become a Scot Brantley type situation.
Remember Scott Brantley. Had major concussion issues and UF would not clear him to play. After his senior year, he was drafted and got Nfl clearance and played a number of years. UF simply may not be willing to assume the risk that something terrible could happen to KJ when his well being was the school’s responsibility.
It wasn’t just Shands. I am too lazy to find the article, but they called in experts from Harvard and otter top places arojnd the country. I believe KJ is being sincere in saying they don’t know, or at a minimum can’t say with any certainty. Just look at the fact that he is on limited exercise coming up on a year later with no other announced surgeries, treatments etc. Which honestly would scare me even more than knowing.
We all remember Scot Brantley and unfortunately, he has pretty severe health issues and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a couple years ago at the age of 60. Really a sad situation.
An informed waiver would absolve the university and coaches from liability. If there is no specific diagnosis by now, there likely never will be one. I still believe they can't find a specific diagnosis. Key wants to play. UF doesn't want Key to die playing basketball. Trying to put myself in both parties position, if I'm Keyonte, I'm saying "f it, I'm playing". If I'm UF, I'm saying " we don't want this guy to die on our watch so he's not playing here unless the doctors give us close to 100% this won't happen again". Experts will never say 100% on anything, so I think it cones down to Key convincing UF to let him play. I would play.
This is America. Personal injury attorneys will tear up your informed waiver, laugh, and throw it in your face.
Doing what happened in Tallahassee is EXACTLY the basis for not clearing him. Can't let it happen twice. And no diagnosis means they don't know how.
Nope, not so. I did this for a living for a long time. Courts will uphold an informed waiver. PI lawyers know this.
I can tell you personally that even the best doctors at Shands or anywhere else can't always find a reason. Spent3 weeks there with years of follow up. Still no diagnosis 25 years later. We know what we think the issue is, but don't know. I feel for KJ. he is in this ether. Been there but my career was not directly linked to an answer.
Probably best that he readjust his sights for a career in basketball. He could pursue coaching but playing is most likely not gonna be an option. It’s not what he wants to hear but that is the hand he has been dealt. Thank God that he has his whole life ahead of him and to do the best with what path he chooses.
Any physicians in this group? If so is there any possibility he suffered an R on T phenomena with no underlying causes? I know about R on T but I don't know if it's generally a symptom of an underlying issue or if its possible to just be a freakish anomaly.
