2009 Scholarship Woes....

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College coach comes out to see kid and notices a different approach in kids game. Also, coach doesn't see same skills shown the year prior. Attitude displayed is concerning.

I don't think that is the case in most reneges. I think most are a change of heart based new players becoming available and Coach feels they are a better shot.
There was a guy I saw signed based on 1 game and it was the best games he ever played. I sat and talked with the recruiter during the game. The guy wasn't offer a renewal and he was finished. If that happened to my son where the coach asked him to tear up the NLI under todays rules we would have torn it up and contacted the colleges we were dealing with and were interested in.
My son's 1st choice finally indicated no offer was coming at the beginning of August. We regrouped and had an NLI within 2 days and son was on campus by the middle of August.
Why get upset? Don't burn bridges and start calling other options. My son was actually enrolled in a D11 with a better offer but it wasn't what he wanted. The coach would only give him an offer after he was enrolled.
You have to suck it up and move on.

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Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:

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College coach comes out to see kid and notices a different approach in kids game. Also, coach doesn't see same skills shown the year prior. Attitude displayed is concerning.

I don't think that is the case in most reneges.

We are not discussing most cases.

We are discussing a situation, withdraw of commitment, that isn't common but evident.

Last year there was a poster who described a withdrawal of an NLI to a top pitching prospect. The college asked the guy to tear up the offer. My point is that it happens to great players and not because they see them under a new light. They only do it if they have a perceived better option or a budget concern. I have seen it and it is not as rare as you think.
I have seen so many players dropped by coaches you would be surprised. Their jobs depend on the team success. I have also seen coaches carry guys who got less than 15 innings over 3 years.
Every year I see US college players come here to play BB because of being cut, scholarships being with drawn before and after playing at the college that recruited them. You can't sue because they will honor the NLI if forced to. You have 2 choices refuse or move on.

I understand both sides to this issue so my comment is purely in jest but....I figured the baseball guys could recognize a kid's potential by seeing 4-5 swings.

More later....

PD
Were those with wood or metal?

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
I understand both sides to this issue so my comment is purely in jest but....I figured the baseball guys could recognize a kid's potential by seeing 4-5 swings.

More later....

Absolutely, you are catching on.

You mention a key word..."potential".

Judging potential is a subjective task.

What happens when potential doesn't equate to what the player becomes?

That's a different subject. When a school makes an offer, aren't they saying that they are willing to take a chance on potential? All freshmen enter school with potential -- there are no certainties. The school's risk is one partial scholarship for one season -- it's really not that much.

I'm arguing both sides, I know. It would be nice for a kid to know beforehand if a school changes their view of his potential.

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Originally posted by Panther Dad:
That's a different subject.

Don't see how, but willing to move on regardless.

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When a school makes an offer, aren't they saying that they are willing to take a chance on potential?

I would say so. So in the case a school makes and offer and recieves a commitment during the summer between Jr./Sr. year. Offer is extended by recruiting coordinator and accepted by player on 1st eligible signing day.

Head coach catches a summer game that the committed player is playing in. Doesn't like what he sees from player and knows he may have a better option.

Now what?

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I would say so. So in the case a school makes and offer and recieves a commitment during the summer between Jr./Sr. year. Offer is extended by recruiting coordinator and accepted by player on 1st eligible signing day.

Head coach catches a summer game that the committed player is playing in. Doesn't like what he sees from player and knows he may have a better option.

Now what?

Perhaps the problem is schools not doing their due diligence before extending offers.

I think about the school that recruited my son. They saw him play a game between sophomore and junior year, at a 2-day camp on campus in December of junior year, and at 4 tourneys the summer after his junior year before extending an offer. He was seen by all 3 main coaches, so no one was in the dark about his abilities or potential.

I would hope that all programs would put this much thought and effort into the recruiting process. Perhaps if they did, there wouldn't be so many "mistakes" or renegs. Especially with the new roster cap of 27 on athletic money, schools need to be very careful as they assess players.

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Originally posted by The Beast:
PD
Were those with wood or metal?

LMAO... I knew someone would post this...

KG -- to quote a great American movie, "it's like Cinderfrickenrella"....a kid is beautiful (can't miss) one day and ugly (better options) another day? There is no "good" answer to this dilemma. Once a coach falls out of love with a kid, why prolong the relationship? Look at the rosters....few kids play 3-4 years at one school.

Some schools won't offer until they are convinced. The competition during the early signing period (and before) is increasing. If they wait....they may lose a kid....if they jump in, they may have "regrets" that lead to the situations we are discussing here.

A few years ago they did look at potential but I think that has become immediate impact Recently. MLB looks at potential more than college.
When you look at how insignificant a BB scholarship is in the over all college budget it makes you wonder what is going on.

A couple of options that come to mind without real thought:

1. Establish a date when this re-evaluation period can end for the schools. Letting a kid know two weeks before classes begin is not fair to the kid. Like someone said, the schools hold all the cards.
2. We have the early signing period, so let's add an ending date, no D1 school can sign kids to an NLI after X date, and all signees have to be posted somewhere, if not already. This gives kids an opportunity to see the roster of said school.
3. If schools can tell kids to "tear up an NLI" give kids an option to back out of them and sign with another school, in the same division up until school starts, or a certain amount of time after X date above.

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Originally posted by Panther Dad:
KG -- to quote a great American movie, "it's like Cinderfrickenrella"....a kid is beautiful (can't miss) one day and ugly (better options) another day? There is no "good" answer to this dilemma. Once a coach falls out of love with a kid, why prolong the relationship? Look at the rosters....few kids play 3-4 years at one school.

Some schools won't offer until they are convinced. The competition during the early signing period (and before) is increasing. If they wait....they may lose a kid....if they jump in, they may have "regrets" that lead to the situations we are discussing here.

You got it.

Always remember $$$$$$$$$$$ changes everything.

What about when the shoe is on the other foot? Let's say a kid goes to a mid-level D1 school for his freshman year and has a decent year. The school is counting on him to be a key player as a sophomore. The kid decides in the summer that he is leaving that school to go to a JUCO with the rather obvious intent to transfer for his junior year to a higher profile program. How many of you are equally outraged when that happens?

Very good point Uncle.
Over the past couple of years, including this upcoming year, there have been some fairly "high profile" players take this route. Not saying it's right or wrong, just agreeing with Uncle in saying it happens.

I think that happens more to guys who are unhappy at the school they are at. I am trying hard to think of someone who was successful and going JC to spend his last 2 years at a high profile D1 and risk not playing. Can't.

There are rules that protect players' scholarships -- with NLI, the schools must honor them. There are rules that protect schools -- kids can't transfer without sitting out or stepping "down", as defined by the NCAA.

Character can't be legislated.

I think the schools AND the players should honor their commitments. Let's remember though....these are one-year commitments. In the case of a kid playing D1, then JUCO, then D1 -- each season represents a one-year commitment. Taking steps to improve one's sitation is......American.

If a coach comes to a player -- at any time -- and says, "we have changed our minds and would like to go in a different direction. We will honor your scholarship but we have no long-term plans for you." -- then it remains the player's decision. A player's decision to D1/JUCO/D1 is most often the result of the restrictive transfer rules.

BobbleheadDoll,
Are you saying that you can't name a kid who was reasonably successful as a freshman who transferred to a JUCO for his sophomore year and then back to a D1 for his junior year? I know a pitcher who was a weekend starter at Sam Houston as a freshman. Left during the summer after his freshman year to go to Howard College. Committed to OU before he threw an inning his sophomore year at Howard. How would you feel if you were the SHSU coaches? Also, there is another thread in this forum about a fairly high profile player from this area who is doing the same thing this summer. I am just saying that the coaches and schools can get the rug pulled out from under them just as much as the players do. The bottom line is the whole college baseball recruiting process is a disaster to all those involved. The university presidents of the NCAA member schools should start with a blank sheet of paper and start over. I guarantee you that Ken has had a college coach tell him, "Well, I like that guy as a 25% guy but not a 40% guy." What other sport does that happen in?

Yes I have tried to think of an example and I can't. Can think of lots who were squeezed out. I can think of 1 who was at a good college and transfered to Texas Long Horns and didn't play much compared to the 1st college. He was a mid round draft selection.
I am sure you can find an example but it is usually an unhappy player even if he was a weekend starter.

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Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
I think that happens more to guys who are unhappy at the school they are at..

You think too much.

It's a disgusting habit I acquired at college. I have tried to minimize it.

BobbleheadDoll,
So what you are saying is that it is acceptable for a player who has made a commitment to a school to "fire" the school if he becomes unhappy with the school but it is not okay for the school to "fire" the player who they have made a commitment to if the school becomes unhappy with him?

I don't like either scenario. Realistically they both occur and the player has to move on. The coach will have no problem moving on.
When my son went to college I always believed in never quiting but after watching 4 years and seeing what goes on. I have changed my opinion. In fact I am amazed at the huge tun over of player who depart before their years are up. Apparently the NCAA is as well. I still strongly disagree with sit rule. I was hard enough to transfer before with just getting a release.
I would not think highly of a player who left simply to better his situation. Remember they had to get a release and still do.

I should add that if a situation becomes untenable and both parties agree via a release, the player should be able to play immediately at the beginning of a new year. The coach still has the power to refuse the release.