The Big 12 voted down a proposal to allow walk-ons to walk-on at another conference school without losing eligibility, and Rick Neuheisel was flabbergasted.
Itās essentially the Baker Mayfield rule, as Mayfield walked-on to Texas Tech and transferred to Oklahoma. The proposal would have given Mayfield eligibility at OU for 2017. Instead now, if he graduates, he can transfer outside the league and play at a new school in 2017.
Why did it fail (via a 5-5 vote)? Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the opposition didnāt want Big 12 schools luring other teamās walk-ons with the promise of scholarships.
āWalk-ons pay their own freight. What are we doing here?ā
Neuheisel said on his SiriusXM College Sports Nation show. āThe fact that Baker Mayfield was a walk-on was an aberration, but weāre going to keep walk-ons from transferring within the conference (without losing eligibility), where itās the easier place to go when theyāre paying their own freight? Thatās crazy. Why would we kick them out of the Big 12? It doesnāt make sense.ā
Neuheisel said he's OK with having the walk-ons sit out the year, as long as they can use their redshirt year for that, rather than losing a year of eligibility.
Itād be one thing if it was scholarship players. Neuheisel understands limits on them, but not walk-ons who pay their own way and, until recently, weren't allowed to be part of activities like training table. Is there really a big market to lure another school's walk-ons? No, and there won't be.
āThe reason they didnāt do it is because (Mayfieldās) a star,ā Neuheisel said. āFive schools are going to say thatās not why, but thatās why. Itās bad for the Big 12. Baker Mayfield is a star, he brings eyeballs to the Big 12. Five schools are saying no to Baker Mayfield, and itās short-sighted.ā
Bob Stoops made the same point in a statement on Wednesday night.
"It only makes sense for the Big 12's rules to be consistent with those of the NCAA when it comes to non-scholarship walk-on student-athletes,ā Stoops said. āYes, today's vote impacts Baker Mayfield, but in reality this is about all student-athletes in all sports at Big 12 schools. Again, I'm disappointed for Baker, but also for anyone down the road who may be negatively impacted by today's vote."
Mayfield also released a statement, but didnāt comment on 2017. He did talk about his āfinal year,ā but he likely meant at OU. The Heisman finalist will be a popular free agent after this season, and the Big 12 will miss out.
Itās essentially the Baker Mayfield rule, as Mayfield walked-on to Texas Tech and transferred to Oklahoma. The proposal would have given Mayfield eligibility at OU for 2017. Instead now, if he graduates, he can transfer outside the league and play at a new school in 2017.
Why did it fail (via a 5-5 vote)? Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the opposition didnāt want Big 12 schools luring other teamās walk-ons with the promise of scholarships.
āWalk-ons pay their own freight. What are we doing here?ā
Neuheisel said on his SiriusXM College Sports Nation show. āThe fact that Baker Mayfield was a walk-on was an aberration, but weāre going to keep walk-ons from transferring within the conference (without losing eligibility), where itās the easier place to go when theyāre paying their own freight? Thatās crazy. Why would we kick them out of the Big 12? It doesnāt make sense.ā
Neuheisel said he's OK with having the walk-ons sit out the year, as long as they can use their redshirt year for that, rather than losing a year of eligibility.
Itād be one thing if it was scholarship players. Neuheisel understands limits on them, but not walk-ons who pay their own way and, until recently, weren't allowed to be part of activities like training table. Is there really a big market to lure another school's walk-ons? No, and there won't be.
āThe reason they didnāt do it is because (Mayfieldās) a star,ā Neuheisel said. āFive schools are going to say thatās not why, but thatās why. Itās bad for the Big 12. Baker Mayfield is a star, he brings eyeballs to the Big 12. Five schools are saying no to Baker Mayfield, and itās short-sighted.ā
Bob Stoops made the same point in a statement on Wednesday night.
"It only makes sense for the Big 12's rules to be consistent with those of the NCAA when it comes to non-scholarship walk-on student-athletes,ā Stoops said. āYes, today's vote impacts Baker Mayfield, but in reality this is about all student-athletes in all sports at Big 12 schools. Again, I'm disappointed for Baker, but also for anyone down the road who may be negatively impacted by today's vote."
Mayfield also released a statement, but didnāt comment on 2017. He did talk about his āfinal year,ā but he likely meant at OU. The Heisman finalist will be a popular free agent after this season, and the Big 12 will miss out.
