Big 12 Reprimands Mayfield, KU Captains

The Big 12 reprimanded Baker Mayfield and the Kansas captains who refused to shake his hand during Saturday's coin toss, the conference announced Tuesday. Their actions were in violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct rules.

“Mr. Mayfield’s actions are unacceptable and should not be tolerated,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.  “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.”

Bowlsby also commented on the KU captains, saying:

“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. 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.”