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Boise State Seeks Waiver to Help Homeless Football Recruit

Antoine Turner overcame a lot just to become a junior college football player and Boise State signee. His mom passed away when he was four from cancer, he got caught up in gang activity in New Orleans, stayed in the city through Hurricane Katrina and lost 90 pounds while homeless in California. Turner has one more hurdle to overcome before joining Boise State for summer workouts though:

Unbelievably, Antoine explains that he’s now homeless again. With his uncle living in a government subsidized house, regulations forced Antoine to leave.

That means Antoine will spend the final six week before his arrival in Boise on June 6, staying in motels when he has money, and sleeping in [girlfriend] R’Mya’s car when he doesn’t.

The story on KTVB lead to an outpouring of support from Boise State fans who wanted to help Turner. But Boise State’s compliance office cautioned fans that NCAA rules prevent boosters from simply donating money, goods, or services to Turner. But the school is looking for a way:

Once Mr. Turner arrives on campus for the start of the summer school program, he will be well taken care of–receiving full tuition, room and board, books, fees etc. In the meantime, the compliance office is exploring a potential waiver with the NCAA that would allow us to provide assistance prior to the start of summer school.

Such a waiver could allow Boise State to bring Turner to campus before the start of summer school and provide him with housing and meals. Perhaps BSU might even be able to arrange for Turner to stay with another football player, this time with the blessing of the NCAA just weeks after the Broncos exited probation for their “couch-surfing” violation.


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