We don’t yet know to where Wes Lunt will transfer, but we do know where it won’t be. Reportedly.
According to Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com, Oklahoma State is restricting the quarterback from transferring to Southern Miss as well as any SEC school. Such restrictions would severely limit desirable destinations for Lunt as he had been considering five schools; three of them -- Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt -- are now off-limits because of his former school in general and his ex-coach specifically.
Still on Lunt’s radar are Illinois and Louisville. Lunt either has or will in very short order visit the Illini, who are currently considered the front-runners by default.
A school spokesperson confirmed the head-scratching restrictions to Fowler, and stated it was between OSU head coach Mike Gundy and Lunt when asked why the player would not be released to that set of schools. It’s unclear why Gundy -- ya know, the “I’m a man, I’m 40" rant guy when it came to defending one his players from the sharp barbs of the mean ol’ media -- placed such restrictions on Lunt.
The Southern Miss football program is now headed by Todd Monken, who served as Gundy’s offensive coordinator in 2011 and 2012; the Cowboys and Golden Eagles are not slated to face each other during the regular season at any point over the next nine years. After sitting out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, Lunt will have three years of eligibility remaining; the only SEC school Oklahoma State will face in the regular season during that four-year timeframe is Mississippi State in 2013.
Ironically, Gundy spoke to at least two different schools this offseason about their head coaching vacancies, and would’ve been free to move to those programs without restriction. The two schools he’s known to have spoken with about their openings? Arkansas and Tennessee, both members of the SEC.
Excellent work, Coach Gundy. You and your university and T. Boone should be very proud of the pettiness and double-standards on full display. Stay classy, Stillwater.
UPDATED 6:26 p.m. ET: According to Zach Kerker, sports director at 1450 in Springfield, Ill., Lunt’s high school coach stated that his former player is also restricted from transferring to Pac-12 schools as well as Central Michigan (on OSU’s non-conference schedule in 2015 & 2016). The reason behind the restrictions? “They could play in bowl games,” the coach said.
Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful situation.