Big 12 Poised For Change In Wake Of Baylor Player Sex Assault Conviction
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WACO (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby is pushing a new rule that would ban athletes from transferring to Big 12 schools if they have discipline problems at their old schools.
Baylor football transfer player Sam Ukwuachu was found guilty last week for sexually assaulting another student athlete.
He came to Baylor from Boise State in 2013. Boise State's former head coach says he warned Baylor Coach Art Briles about Ukwuachu's problems but Briles says he didn't know the whole story.
Bowlsby says he expects the conference to mandate due diligence and include more than just violent acts in a new rule that will prohibit schools from accepting transfer athletes with past disciplinary issues.
Bowlsby says the structure of the policy being crafted will be similar to one implemented by the Southeastern Conference. The SEC prevents schools from accepting transfers who have been dismissed from another team for "serious misconduct," defined as sexual assault, domestic violence or other forms of sexual violence.
Bowlsby says he expects the Big 12 rule to "cast a broad net" and for schools to look into past discipline problems beyond violent acts.
He added that expects that decisions on transfers will be made by more than coaching staff personnel.
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