Bill Self calls out 'faux pas' of removing players from rosters to fit limit

The biggest overarching story in college sports right now is that of the House Settlement still. One aspect that continues to hold it up, though, as a concern for Judge Claudia Wilken, as well as Kansas’ Bill Self, is that of roster limits and how it’ll affect walk-ons as early as next season.

Self spoke about the House Settlement, alongside Lance Leipold, while at the Otto Schnellbacher Classic. He began by acknowledging that the settlement as a whole hasn’t been too difficult to navigate yet as it still awaits its approval.

“You know what, I don’t know what it’s been a huge challenge,” admitted Self. “Lance is going through it as much as me on roster limits, isn’t that right?”

However, of all the possible mistakes that’s part of it, Self does not like the idea of walk-ons not being grandfathered in as part of the settlement. He, in that way, is in alignment with Judge Wilken, who has sent all involved back to continue work on it until those roster spots are taken care of as part of the settlement.

“Is it a challenge? Yes. What’s, to me, the biggest faux pas of the whole thing is how a youngster that has been in your program could be asked to leave your program because of roster limits and they’re not grandfathered in. I don’t know if Lance feels the same way,” Self said as Leipold next him agreed. “So, as far as putting your best team together? I don’t know that that’s the issue. What the issue is is doing what’s right as a program, and a university and a rules standpoint that doesn’t push kids out that have done absolutely nothing wrong other than want to be at your university.”

Because of that, Self has no plans to determine anything regarding the future of the walk-ons in his program until he’s required to one way or the other per the settlement. That means they’ll remain with the Jayhawks through the summer as they await official word on their spots for next season or beyond.

“They can practice now. We don’t have to decide on our roster until after school starts in the fall. So, yeah, they’re going to practice in the summer,” said Self. “They’re part of us until we know exactly what’s going on. But, I’m hopeful that the rule will be such where they can all still be a part of us.”