You could scour the country asking fans of college athletics everywhere their opinion on the NCAA, and it would - quite understandably - be hard to find folks with good things to say about the organization.
For the last several weeks, Mack Brown and North Carolina have hoped to get news on the eligibility of transfer wide receiver Tez Walker, and on the eve of their game against rival South Carolina the Tar Heels have not heard a decision from the NCAA.
Back on August 8th, the NCAA turned down Walker's waiver request to be immediately eligible as a transfer exemption after he decided to transfer to be closer to family (particularly his grandmother who helped raise him) following an All-MAC season at Kent State.
Walker enrolled at UNC after being in the transfer portal on January 9th. Two days later, on January 11th, the NCAA decided to impose stricter regulations for two-time transfers. He started his career at NC Central in 2020, but ultimately did not play after the season was cancelled by the COVID pandemic.
Eight months later, the NCAA still hasn't made a final decision on his eligibility.
That is unacceptable.
Take a national poll of those familiar with the situation, and even those with no skin in the game can see that Walker's situation is unique on a number of fronts, and that he should have been granted eligibility to play immediately this fall.
Today, Mack Brown released a strongly worded statement directed at the NCAA, showing his support for Walker as the NCAA appears to be dragging their feet into next week (at the earliest) for a decision.
"They say they're about helping kids, but all they've done is add to the very mental health issues Tez has been dealing with that made him want to get closer to home to begin with."
"You can't say you're about helping kids, and then show a total disregard for the kids you're supposed to be helping."
"It's clear they are about the process and not people," Brown added.
See the full statement below.