NCAA says it's received violent threats over backlash from transfer waiver guidelines days after Tez Walker ruling
Posted September 12, 2023 2:47 p.m. EDT
Updated September 12, 2023 6:29 p.m. EDT
Chapel Hill, N.C. — The NCAA is working with law enforcement over "violent and possibly criminal threats" directed at committee members involved in eligibility decisions involving North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker, the organization said in a statement Tuesday.
The statement also called out statements made by UNC officials. Football coach Mack Brown has been outspoken about the NCAA's decision to deny immediate eligibility for Walker, a transfer from Kent State. In one statement, the 72-year-old Hall of Fame coach wrote: ""Shame on you, NCAA. SHAME ON YOU!"
"The DI Board is troubled by the public remarks made last week by some of the University of North Carolina leadership," it said.
Walker's eligibility has been heavily inspected by the association and UNC, with the university recently calling a closed-session meeting between Board of Trustees members to look into possible legal options around Walker's eligibility. Walker, an All-MAC selection at Kent State last year, is among the most high-profile transfer attempts to be denied by the NCAA. His second wavier appeal was denied last week.
"I don't know if I've ever been more disappointed in a person, a group of people or an institution than I am with the NCAA right now. It's clear the NCAA is about process and couldn't care less about the young people it's supposed to be supporting," Brown said in a statement last week.
On Monday, Brown reiterated much of the dissatisfaction within the program toward the NCAA with some pointed remarks. Brown called the ruling "awful," "very poor" and "not fair." Brown said Walker was "really, really distraught" with the NCAA's decision.
The NCAA said it's disappointed with that rhetoric and the Division I Board of Directors have gotten threats over unhappiness from the rulings.
"The NCAA is aware of violent – and possibly criminal – threats recently directed at committee members involved in regulatory decisions," read a statement from board members Jere Morehead and Christopher Pietruszkiewicz. "The national office is coordinating with law enforcement and will continue to do whatever possible to support the volunteers who serve on these committees."
The NCAA also took aim at Brown, saying his comments "directly contradict what we and our fellow Division I members and coaches called for vociferously – including UNC's own football coach."
Brown in December complained about other schools using the name, image and likeness rules to attempt to lure players into the transfer portal.
"We are a membership organization, and rather than pursue a public relations campaign that can contribute to a charged environment for our peers who volunteer on committees, we encourage members to use established and agreed upon procedures to voice concerns and propose and adopt rule or policy changes if they are dissatisfied," the NCAA wrote.
Walker, a junior from Charlotte, has been on the sideline in plain clothes for both UNC victories to start the season.
Walker played two seasons (2021 and 2022) at Kent State before transferring to UNC. He enrolled at North Carolina Central, but the 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Walker never played a snap for NCCU.
Walker is considered a two-time transfer, while UNC argues that he should be considered a one-time transfer and thus eligible to compete immediately.
The 22-year-old committed to UNC in late December and enrolled on Jan. 9.
After Walker was denied eligibility, Brown said, "The NCAA has failed Tez and his family."
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and athletics director Bubba Cunningham, who participated in the board meeting Monday, have also supported the highly-publicized effort to get Walker eligible.
Even Gov. Roy Cooper wrote a personal appeal to NCAA president Charlie Baker, himself a former governor of Massachusetts, on behalf of Walker.
Walker isn't the only transfer player denied immediate eligibility. The NCAA denied Tyler Brown, a Colorado offensive lineman, immediate eligibility for the 2023 season. He's not eligible to suit up for the Buffaloes until the 2024 season. Colorado coach Deion Sanders has also come down hard on the NCAA for that choice, saying "it don't make sense."
The NCAA said 21,685 athletes entered the transfer portal this year. Of those who entered the portal, 3% were multiple-time transfers who would require a waiver to compete immediately for this academic year if enrolled at a new school.
As of now, Walker will not play collegiately in 2023.
Had his eligibility request been approved, Walker would have had a chance to put up big numbers in UNC's prolific offense and help his NFL Draft stock.
Walker now faces a decision of whether to return to college football next season or enter the 2024 draft. Walker would be 23 at the start of the 2024 season.
Former UNC basketball star Tyler Hansbrough also expressed disappointment over the decision on the Sleephawk WorldWide Podcast.
