[Husker] Husker: Other side of the coin

[Nick Chevance]

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM, Jim J. <jokow at cox.net> wrote:
> Here's an article from the local paper, of the LB whose scholarship was pulled by Husker coaches and what he was told.
> http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2009/01/31/sports/collins/sc_times_trib.20090131.b.pg1.tt31column_s1.2272833_don.txt
>
> Jim Jolkowski

Well, that article is just jam-packed with facts surrounding the
situation.  Doesn't say whether the kid remained in contact with the
Nebraska coaches, though its been suggested elsewhere that his lack of
communication was one other reason for dropping him.  Doesn't mention
that the coaches looked for available scholarships elsewhere for the
kid.  It does mention that he lost weight due to injury and that he
gained the weight back, but doesn't mention whether he gained back the
skills and training that he lost while injured.  Sort of alludes to
the fact that his coach that seems to have started this furor was
fired after last season (lists him as his former coach).  Doesn't
mention that Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals (I believe that's who I heard
it from on the radio - I may have the source wrong) indicated that he
has been looked at for scholarships by the service academies, which is
a source that could be checked.  And it sort of just missed the whole
point that the Husker coaches can't talk about the situation until
after signing day, so while the article says that the coaches said
certain things about why they dropped his scholarship, they failed to
mention that that communication is third hand - somebody (the coach??)
says the Husker coaches said something - and not a direct
communication from Nebraska.

Again, I feel sorry for the kid, but I think there is so much more to
this story that nobody can address until after signing day.  This
article is just so much rumor mongering, and not journalism.  But
since journalism seems to be a dying art anyway, its not too
surprising.

And please - let's drop this whole business -

"There are a certain segment of coaches who have clamored for an early
signing date in November. The reason is, they've too often been burned
by kids who decommit in February. That was an easy measure to support
once, but sorry, can't do it anymore."

That is just so much what you find out in the cow pasture.  Given the
reasons why Nebraska decided not to offer a scholarship, why in the
world would turning him down in November rather than February make any
difference in this case?  There is no suggestion that Nebraska just
now changed their mind.  They changed their mind based on the kid's
performance this last season, but the signing day is February.  Heck,
you could argue the kid got an extra 3 months to show improvement.  I
don't buy this argument at all.

Nick
-- 
"If a million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
Anatole France