What’s going on in the Big 12 and beyond? I expand and explain every Sunday in Postscripts at Heartland College Sports, your home for independent Big 12 coverage.
This week, Olympic sport athletes are losing scholarships, great video from Big 12 basketball media day and Kansas coach Bill Self picks up a side hustle.
File Under ‘Unintended Consequences’
For months, there has been concern among some administrators in college athletes that the House v. NCAA settlement, and the roster limits around it, may lead to the loss to scholarships or roster spots for some points, especially in the area of Olympic sports.
Well, it’s already started.
On Friday, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that colleges have already started to eliminate hundreds of Olympic roster spots as a result of the new limits. Dellenger also reported that recruits that had offers have seen them rescinded. As one might expect, the ones that are already in college are mobilizing to object to the settlement because it means their scholarship goes away.
In perhaps the most comical paragraph in Dellenger’s report — one you could file under “how did you possibly not see this coming?” — “Plaintiff attorneys (in this case House) are “working” with the NCAA and power leagues for solutions, including a transitional period in which those currently on a roster are grandfathered into the system.”
Seriously? How was this not on your radar?
I think the majority agrees this settlement, the roster limits and the revenue sharing are all good things for college sports, especially for student-athletes. But the fact that this wasn’t grandfathered in just shows how the NCAA and the House lawyers still don’t have this right.
By the way, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark was asked about revenue sharing and whether all schools were planning to share at the full amount, which is expected to be around $22 million next year.
“We talk about rev share quite a bit,” he said. “I can tell you that our schools all want to continue to compete at the highest levels, and they’ll do whatever they need to do in order to do that. I can’t sit here today to say that everyone is going to spend up to the cap or not, but we’re going to be competitive.”
Yormark made those comments before Dellenger’s story was released.
Big 12 Media Days Video
It was a great time at Big 12 Basketball Media Days on Tuesday and Wednesday and I’ve got a ton of content coming from it the next couple of months. But, I can’t be everywhere. So here’s some of the best things that I came across that was I wasn’t there for.
I was actually here for this (that’s my semi-balding head at the six-second mark — gotta renew my Hims subscription I guess?) as Iowa State’s Addy Brown was compelled to do her impression of coach Bill Fennelly.
Here’s Kansas State center Ayoka Lee talking about how Coleman Hawkins, a K-State men’s transfer, called her a “fossil” recently. Lee is entering her seventh season of college basketball.
In a Big 12 Media Days first, one player — in this case TCU’s Hailey Van Lith — rebukes a teammate in the name of Jesus for her “sorcery” in quickly peeling a … checks notes … small orange.
The Big 12 mascots hung out with the Gap Goat, the Kansas State women’s defensive mascot (which is now being cared for by senior guard Serena Sundell – she had to explain to the newbies what the Gap Goat is).
That allowed former Wildcats forward Gabby Gregory to make a media days social media cameo — and admonish a rival mascot.
Here’s a great story from Houston coach Kelvin Sampson (who admonished all of us for having our heads in our laptops, i.e., working, at the start of his press conference) telling a great story about one of coaching’s G.O.A.T.’s, John Wooden.
Here’s the aforementioned Hawkins talking about being the only Wildcats player to raise his hand when coach Jerome Tang asked who enjoyed their bus trip to their showcase in Dodge City.
And, finally, so many coaches enjoying each other’s company before the annual class photo.
The regular season starts a week from Monday. Buckle up.
Not from Media Days but …
This video wasn’t from media days but I found it while I was in Kansas City. Here’s a few minutes of Kansas coach Bill Self manning a Wendy’s drive-thru for charity and, well, he brought the snark.
“So you don’t really give a crap what I think do you?” Self asked one customer.
“Are you David Letterman or something?” she answered.
Just give the woman her Frosty, Bill.
The Jamal Shead Experience
Here’s 20 seconds of former Houston and current Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead defending the perimeter in a way that will keep him employed for the next decade.
And Finally, Peace in our Time
Put down the torches and pitchforks, people. Baylor has corrected the camera angle at Foster Pavilion. As you were.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
