Mike Leach fed up with repeat award winners as WSU QB Luke Falk is denied again in Burlsworth

PULLMAN – For the last two seasons, Washington State quarterback Luke Falk has been sent to a banquet in Arkansas as a finalist for the Burlsworth award, which is given to college football’s best player who began his career as a walk-on.

And for the past two years he has watched as Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield was given the Burlsworth Trophy. Because the two quarterbacks are both juniors, it could happen again next year, too.

Well Mike Leach, Falk’s college coach, is getting tired of the routine. At least, he did not like seeing his quarterback finish as a runner-up in consecutive years.

“I’m kind of wondering if that thing is even worth the trouble, the same people show up every year,” Leach said. “Same people show up every year, they hand it out in the same order every year. It’s more like a reunion.”

Of Mayfield, the two-time winner, he said, “I like the guy, but next year I’m going to be sitting on the edge of my seat just holding my breath. Oh my gosh, I wonder what will happen?”

The Burlsworth Trophy is meant to be given each year to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. The award has been given out annually since 2010. It remains to be seen weather or not recurring champions will be a common ocurrence; Falk and Mayfield are the only players to be named finalists more than once.