The Big 12 has issued public reprimands of Oklahoma star quarterback Baker Mayfield and the trio of Kansas football players who refused to shake his hand ahead of last Saturday’s chippy contest.
Mayfield and the three Jayhawks have already been stripped of their captaincy ahead of the regular season finale, while Mayfield will also be on the bench to start the game.
“The refusal of these student-athletes to shake an opponent’s hand during the pre-game ceremony is contrary to tradition and inconsistent with common courtesy,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby in a statement.
“The pre-game handshake among team captains is symbolic of good sportsmanship. This breach of protocol is not in keeping with the standards of the Big 12 Conference. I am grateful for the work of the Kansas administration and coaches to resolve this matter.”
Bowlsby added, “Mr. Mayfield’s actions are unacceptable and should not be tolerated. I am grateful for the efficient management of this matter by the coaches and administration of the University of Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield is a truly outstanding competitor and I generally appreciate his style of play and the manner in which he competes. However, the behavior he exhibited on the sideline during the Oklahoma-Kansas game was inappropriate and contrary to our sportsmanship policies.”
This weekend, Oklahoma takes on West Virginia, while the Jayhawks travel to face Oklahoma State.
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Big 12 Publicly Reprimands Baker Mayfield, Kansas Players
