Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where I give you three takes from the Big 12. It was a jam-packed week full of exciting news, but several things caught my attention over the last few days.
The Big Ten and SEC Did the Right Thing
Normally, I would come here and rip the Big Ten and SEC a new one, which I may end up doing later, but for this topic, for once, they did the right thing. While it still is not a done deal yet, everything in the Protect College Sports Act is something I think was needed.
We need guidelines and rules in college athletics, and this will help provide them. From money to limiting transfers and eligibility, this was a bill that should have been done and passed years ago. Never in a million years did I think the Big Ten and SEC would be on board with the bill, but maybe they finally saw the light.
It’s hard for conferences to agree on anything anymore but if we want to save college athletics from becoming the wild west (like it has been), then all of us need to agree. I just hope others see it that way too.
Don’t Be Mad at Sam Leavitt
Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt finally broke his silence last week on his decision to transfer to LSU. He mentioned that LSU is the best place for him to be when it comes to playing in the NFL.
As mad as some people are at him, it’s hard for me to blame him because he’s not wrong. Pairing up with Lane Kiffin is a quarterback’s dream, and LSU has been a football factory for the NFL for decades.
On top of offering him a bath tub full of crawfish and money, it would be hard for him or anyone for that matter to say no. Leavitt did some great things in Tempe, and while it sucks that he’s gone, it’s hard for me to sit here and criticize his decision to head to Baton Rouge.
We Don’t Need the Class of 2022
Just when I thought we were making a little progress, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction this past Friday requiring the NCAA to restore eligibility for athletes from the high school Class of 2022.
The timing couldn’t have been any worse, considering we are less than a month away from kickoff and most rosters have already been set. Did we need to bring back the class of 2022? No.
Some schools will benefit from this for sure, but it will also leave some schools scrambling to figure out numbers and scholarships. I guess good for the athletes for getting one more payday, but it just feels like this wasn’t necessary at all.
