Jared Ward addresses the media

PROVO, Utah-- In light of the recent reinstatement of Jared Ward's eligibility, Ward and cross country head coach Ed Eyestone addressed the media Wednesday in Legacy Hall. Below are notable quotes from each interview. 

Jared Ward

"I’m just excited to return with my teammates and have an opportunity to compete at nationals. I got a call from BYU compliance a couple hours ago that said the NCAA had decided to reverse their decision and reinstate my eligibility. I got so excited at the opportunity or thought that I could potentially be competing at nationals and that the NCAA was willing to look at the case again. I’m grateful to the NCAA for reopening the case and I’m just excited to come back and play one more time."

"I really am just excited to join my teammates. The university and my coaches and teammates have been behind this all the way and so supportive. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything, I only feel like I’ve just recently got something back."

"Coach Eyestone had put together a marathon training plan for me and I ran a marathon about a month ago. I think he has done a good job in recent weeks transitioning that marathon training back into 10k training. I wouldn’t be prepared to say I am as fit as I maybe would have been with an entire season focused on this as the pinnacle of the season, but I feel all right about where I’m at."

"It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions, but really a learning experience and an opportunity to be grateful for so many people who’ve been behind it all the way, primarily family and friends, my wife, BYU compliance and my coaches and teammates."

Coach Ed Eyestone

"I was ecstatic. I was pulled out of a meeting. It was our athletic director that pulled me out and I knew they had come to a decision. He did a pretty good job of keeping a straight face so I was prepared for the worst, and then when I got a fist-bump from him I knew it was a good day, and it has been a great day for BYU track & field and cross country."

"I think the NCAA made a fair and a consistent decision, particularly in light of recent developments. I am very happy with the NCAA, in fact my faith is renewed in the NCAA because they took a difficult concept and they made they right call on this one. I’m just grateful they took another look at it. Certainly the fact that there was a recent precedent allowed them to reexamine that case. I think when they had all the information they made the right call."

"Jared’s a great athlete. I expect him to rise to the occasion. He’ll be one of our team leaders and we are certainly a stronger team with him than without. I think he was 14^th at the NCAA’s last year; he was an All-American. I think he could improve on that position."

"Let’s remember we were a very strong team going into nationals without Jared Ward. We certainly felt like we had the horses to get the job done and be a podium team, top four team, and with Jared Ward we are that much stronger. I think at least now we are in the conversation of teams that certainly deserves to be on the podium, and maybe a top two or top three team. When you’re that high, you hope things fall your way and anything can happen."

"Jared will run tomorrow just so he can get his cross country legs back under him. There was consideration of just having him wait and go full tilt, but there is something to be gained by getting the spikes on and running in a cross country race."