NCAA denies Savage's hardship appeal

Former Cardinal O'Hara High School and Rutgers University quarterback Tom Savage said Monday that he has been denied an NCAA hardship waiver that would have allowed him to return to Rutgers and be immediately eligible.

Savage had transferred from Rutgers to Arizona after the 2010 season, his sophomore year. He had to sit out the 2011 season because of the transfer from Rutgers. He will look into an appeal, he said, but if that fails, he would have to sit out another season. It is his understanding that he would have just one season of eligibility remaining at any scholarship program, at any level.

"Honestly, I would make the same decision over again," Savage said, regarding leaving Arizona and applying for a hardship waiver. "Even with the outcome of the waiver."

Savage said he needed to come back to support his family, that he is "being 100 percent honest" that this wasn't related to Arizona bringing in a new coach with a different offensive system.

"I'm not going into why - that's all personal stuff," Savage said.

He said he will consider all options.