Alison Horne Returns To Softball Program

NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso and the OU compliance office announced Friday morning that Alison Horne had passed a pair of NCAA wavers and was cleared to begin collegiate competition for the softball team.

Horne originally sided a National Letter of Intent in the fall of 2002 and joined the program at the beginning of the 2003-04 school year. She was stricken with a breathing disorder that kept her from competing. Horne chose to return home to her native Fayetteville, Ga., and seek medical attention while residing with her parents.

She enrolled at the University of Georgia in the spring of 2004 before eventually returning to Norman during the summer of 2004 with her breathing ailments diagnosed. Horne has a vocal-cord disfunction and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, both of which she treats with medication.

Horne's Complete Bio

Before Horne could play for Oklahoma, NCAA clearance was required due to her enrollment in Georgia.

“We all thought that her career was done because we couldn't figure out her breathing ailment,” said Gasso. “She returned to Norman on her own accord because she really loved our program. She had the courage to come back and ask me for a second chance with the team. She felt like we could make it work. That was a very big step in my eyes. Since that time we have done everything we could do to make it happen.”

“She will have an impact offensively for us. Defensively, she is a little rusty but she'll work her way into the lineup because she has a big stick.”

Horne was an elite high school recruit that was courted by southern powerhouses LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee and Georgia. The 5-11 utility player will battle for position time in both the infield and outfield this season. In high school she saw action at short and second while being a two-time Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year. She hit .430 while slugging at a .630 rate as a senior.

Oklahoma hosts the OU/Nike Classic this weekend and will open the home season on Friday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Sooners will play Lipscomb in the opener of the twin bill and Creighton in the nightcap.

This weekend's OU/Nike Classic is setting up to be one of the biggest softball weekends of the year. Head coach Patty Gasso's OU career record is 499-166-1 (.749), which leaves her one shy of her 500th victory. She distanced herself from the previous Sooner coaches a long time ago. In fact, the next closest in career wins is OU administratior Marita Hynes, who went 256-189 from 1977-84.

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University of Oklahoma Athletics

Alison Horne Returns To Softball Program

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