Quite the public pot was stirred when, shortly after Wes Lunt announced he was transferring from Oklahoma State, word surfaced that head coach Mike Gundy had severe restrictions on where the quarterback could move.
In addition to the Big 12, Lunt was not permitted, without paying his own way the first year, to transfer to a Pac-12 or SEC school (possibility of meeting in a bowl game); Southern Miss (former OSU offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now the head coach there); and Central Michigan (a future opponent in 2015 and 2016). As it turns out, though, Gundy had a change of heart, albeit a little too little, too late.
Lunt told Channel 1450 in Illinois Monday that Gundy had called his former high school coach to inform him that some of the restrictions -- likely not the Big 12, however -- had been lifted. Originally embarking on the search for a new collegiate destination with a list of five preferred schools, Gundy’s restrictions prevented Lunt from pursuing Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, ultimately settling for a final two of Illinois and Louisville.
According to Lunt, by the time Gundy lifted the restrictions “he’d already lost contact with coaches at other schools in his top five.”
Monday, it was reported that Lunt would be transferring to his home-state Illini. That school has yet to officially announce the player being added to the program.
Despite ending up where he likely would’ve landed sans the restrictions, Lunt still -- and justifiably -- appears slightly upset over Gundy’s actions in the immediate aftermath of his departure.
“It was difficult. I didn’t understand the process, so when they were blocked, I knew I could appeal but it was going to take awhile,” Lunt said. “It was frustrating. I understand the Big 12 . That’s obvious. The others, it was a little frustrating, but that’s part of it and I understand it. It’s all good.”
After sitting out the 2013 season, Lunt will have three years of eligibility remaining.
(Tip O’ the Cap: ESPN.com’s Big 12 blog)