[Husker] Leon Jackson leaves

[jonlists at cbsol.com]

husker-bounces at tssi.com wrote on 08/10/2006 04:30:49 PM:

> Folks,
> 
> I am REALLY disappointed that Leon is leaving; much more so than I am 
with
> Beck.  I really feel like his potential - and his time - were wasted. 
It's
> a shame.
> 
> Beyond being a great athlete, Leon seemed to be very much the team 
player,
> as evidenced by his willingness to switch positions for the team. Twice.
> Also, I remember a picture from the Alamo bowl of he and Lucky holding a
> trophy (?) and screaming their heads off after the game.  Meaningful for 
a
> couple of reasons:  1) I don't think he got to play, and 2) Lucky is his
> competition at IB.  So, he just seemed classy.
> 
> Plus he plays the NCAA 2007 video game..

> 
> If this becomes the norm, I'm a little less enthusiastic about the way 
we're
> recruiting.  It seems like a business - literally, this feels like
> a consulting, "up-or-out" kind of model.  I guess it works there, but I
> don't know if that's ideal for a university.
> 
> And while I think his response was immature, I think Beck got
> 'up-or-out'-ed, too.  The coaches, IMHO, do play games with the depth
> chart.  There is NO WAY that you should vault past two others on the 
depth
> chart, burn your redshirt to play in two games, then come back and find
> yourself 4th again.  The coaches already made you 2nd.  What changed?
> 
> <rant>
> And yes, I think Dailey got hosed, too.  They wanted him out.  Welcome 
to
> 4th on the depth chart.  Not only very cheesy, but also passive 
aggressive.
> Boo!
> 
> But that's old news, I know.
> </rant>
> 
> The point is that it feels like we're becoming a business, a pro team, 
and
> players are now getting managed out, and it's sad.  Or maybe I've been
> naive?
> 
> It seems almost irresponsible to have 3 sophomores and 2 juniors vying 
for
> one position, especially when only one can be on the field at a time. 
You
> know at least 3 people are going to hate the outcome.
> 
> One can argue that Leon shouldn't have signed; I'd counter that maybe we
> should withdraw the offer?  Let the kid flourish someplace else.  Show 
that
> you have his best interests at heart.  And don't make headlines during 
peak
> recruiting season for 'yet another 4 star athlete leaving your program
> early'.  That can't be good for your image.
> 
> Again, maybe I'm being naive...
> 
> GBR!
> ~m
> [[snip all else}

Dailey didn't get hosed. Have you seen this guy we have now... uh, Zac 
Taylor? Do you really think that Dailey would have had a chance at 
starting over Taylor? 
Beck..... do you think Beck is above Ganz, below Ganz? Davis? Taylor? 

I don't think you're being naive, but I do think you're thinking that a 
player commits to a school and stays there, maybe like a guy commits to a 
job and stays, and neither one may be realistic anymore. 

One can argue that Leon Jackson should have signed to find out whether or 
not he fit in at Nebraska. He did. He won a bowl game. That's not a waste 
of tame, it's a learning experience. He may not get much playing time at 
Nebraska, given that we have a bunch of backs. Maybe he'd get playing time 
at TCU, and maybe that's what he wants (TCU just an example here, not a 
rumor thang). 

Is that so bad? 

Put the "it's a business" thing from another perspective. You're a coach. 
You can do all you want about recruiting the best talent, but you can't do 
a thing about maturity, about academics. Did Callahan know that Beck was 
going to be a basket case? That Leon Jackson wouldn't be the best? No. So 
you get as many guys as you can at the positions you need because you 
really don't know what's going to happen. You can make educated guesses, 
but that's all they are, is guesses. You going to disappoint Nebraska fans 
with that and LIVE to see another day? I don't think so. We're pretty 
damned fickle last I checked. Do whatever you want, but win, baby! 

Where is it irresponsible to ask 5 guys to come in and try to play at a 
position, and tell them that maybe only one might get it? It's not like 
they don't know that. And who the hell told sophomores they'd play? You're 
worried about sophomores? What about the guys who are seniors who are 
still on the team and don't even see the field much? You only worried 
about the ones that show up in NCAA 2007 or what? (ok, that's a bit rude, 
you get the point, right?) 

Bottom line - Leon Jackson leaving is disappointing, but probably the best 
thing for him. Wish him the best and best wherever he decides to go. 

Jon Johnston
Creative Business Solutions
IBM, Microsoft, Novell/Suse and Sophos Consulting
952-544-1108
http://www.cbsol.com
Blog:http://bingo.cbsol.com