[Husker] Husker: Other side of the coin

[Nick Chevance]

On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 2:13 PM, Steve Reichenbach <reich at inetnebr.com> wrote:
> Even if the broadside against NU is over-written and even if there are
> other untold parts of the story, the core of the complaint appears
> true.  NU made told the student it would offer a scholarship and the
> student told NU he would accept the offer.  Then, NU decided it would
> not follow through on its offer.  Evidently, there is nothing more
> binding than the willingness of each party to act as stated, but if NU
> is unwilling to uphold its offers, then what are such offers made by NU
> worth?  Are they now saying to recruits: "We'll make you an offer if
> we still think you're good enough in the spring."?

Yes, I think that's exactly what it says.  Nothing is final until
signing day in February.  And keep in mind that this kid committed in
April of last year.  When did the injury happen?  After the start of
his senior season (according to Husker Illustrated, he had no
defensive stats and half his offensive stats his senior year).  So if
the kid has a season ending injury, let's just say one leg just falls
off in a game, is Nebraska required to take him and put him on
scholarship for 4 years even if he will never see the playing field?

> In that respect, it's really irrelevant what other schools are now
> willing to do and it's irrelevant that many students choose their
> colleges late.  It sounds as if by counting on NU's promise of an
> offer, this student missed out on other opportunities.  As for sour
> grapes, there appears to be a good basis for being sour on NU.  I don't
> feel bad about someone not being good enough to get a scholarship, but
> I do worry if NU is not honoring offers that it has made.

I would agree that he may have missed out on other opportunities.
That's a chance a kid takes when he commits so early (Junior year).  I
just don't see a justification for the sour grapes.  Like the old
saying, Oral agreements are worth the paper they're written on.  Until
the papers are signed in February, its all talk.  Yes, you want
Nebraska to live up to their commitments; we all do.  Its the right
and honorable thing to do.  But I think we do have to be somewhat
realistic in understanding that things happen between the initial
commitment and the signing day.  I think if we look at the commitments
we have now, and the signings coming in on Thursday (I think it's
Thursday), we should see a pretty good record of offering scholarships
to kids who committed. And the same goes to kids we've offered to walk
on.  They'll get a chance to play too.

Recruiting is not about being honorable, though there are ethical
practices to be upheld.  Its about finding talent that will will pay
off for the University - good talent leading to more wins leading to
championships leading to more revenue. And if a talent becomes less
attractive before signing day, then cut him loose and look elsewhere.
And it has to be pointed out that there doesn't appear to be any other
recruits that have taken this kid's place.  They didn't drop him just
to pick up some other player.

Can't wait until signing day.  Then we'll know EVERYTHING!!  8^)

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