This situation is disgusting and makes me not want to watch college baseball. EPSN+ subscription cancelled!
@anotherparent posted:RJM, you are right about business, and if this were professional sports, no-one would blink an eye. But this is about educational institutions. If a professor said, "You didn't do well on your last test, you're out of my class," I wonder how many parents would accept that? Yes, a college can "cut" you if you fail too many classes, but that's on the student. Colleges are supposed to be about educating young people.
1738Dad I am sorry. If he had 60%, you did everything you could. When he finds a new school, one of their players will bump down. Just be glad he wasn't a covid freshman/sophomore, they are getting cut, too, perhaps even worse for them. For sure the NCAA screwed this up.
Fly996, I think right now they are mostly cutting players who were redshirted this year (i.e. hadn't played and weren't going to play). With such large rosters, many schools have a lot of those.
It's a business for the coach.
@fly996 posted:Wow...is college baseball this ruthless to the point that players are cut based on circumstances out of their control during the middle of a season??? Down right disgraceful!!! NCAA needs to fix this ASAP!!!!
I don’t understand your comment of out of their control. Not the middle of the season. I don’t like it but if you don’t produce in life there is always someone waiting to take your spot.
My heart goes out to anyone impacted like this. My JUCO-bound 2021's last day of high school is today so he has yet to have his heart ripped out like many have. But for me right now, the key is knowing its absolutely possible - if not probable - to happen at some point. Yes, the NCAA sucks but has for years. Yes, coaches cutting kids is ruthless, but it has been for years. Yes, college should be mostly about education, but it's not for everyone and hasn't been for years. You can spend time arguing that the NCAA, coaches and schools are "extra sucky" these days, but I see zero value in spending more than second on it. It's not at all productive.
To be fair, I am largely a "rookie" with all of this since my kid is a 2021, but since his commitment last July, I've continued to be a sponge. I read everything I can get my hands. I visit this site AT LEAST once a day. I talk to every parent with a college player I can. if you do these things - your due diligence - not only should awful cuts not be a surprise, they should be expected when possible. I had a former boss who always said "INspect, don't EXpect" and I think that's critical here. While there are no doubt a few surprises that truly come out of left field, most surprises here don't HAVE to be surprises. Don't sit back and make your own assessment of how things are going for you. If you're not one of those top 20 guys on a roster (hell, be safe and use the top 15), get into the coach's office and ask for the straight dope. Regularly solicit feedback. I think too many kids aren't comfortable with that sort of thing, so they avoid it and hang their hat on "I'll just start working harder and doing better." They commit to "trying harder" and pin the rest of it to hope. If a kid isn't in the future plans, there will be all sorts of signs or at the very least, reasons for suspicion. Say a kid is batting .490 or whatever but has only had 13 plate appearances all season. Look at the 13 PAs, NOT the .490. Don't focus on what you WANT to see; focus on what the coach is looking at. And if you can't figure that out, go ask him.
My son came up short of his dream of playing D1 ball straight from high school. Over the last 10ish months, I've come to understand that it was the best possible thing for him. Because he would have only been "liked" at any of his D1 targets. He was the first offer/commitment in his class at the JUCO he's attending and got really good money. All signs point to him being "loved" there, not just liked. Of course, he has to perform, but that's every kid. I just went back and looked at 2021 class of commits to his top D1 target. My son's "dream." They're currently in the top 25. 14 guys in their 2021 class. Looking through the list, my guess is that maybe 4 of those 14 will be loved - give or take - and be significant contributors to the program AT SOME POINT. Odds are, had my son been offered, he wouldn't have a good shot at being one of those 4. Had he squeezed into their 2021 class, I would be petrified right now. I'd hope for the best - that he puts on a show and becomes loved there - but plan for the worst. Like most parents here, I have incredible faith in my son's abilities. But I refuse to ignore the odds. My guess is that the parents of those 14 commits honestly believe things will go well for their sons at that program. Even though they can't. Not all 14 of them. Not even close. That's reality, not pessimism.
I have a dad buddy who has a 2022 going through the recruiting process right now. He's super smart and grounded and was a 4-year starter at an NAIA. Like my son, his kid has D1 dreams. It's of my opinion, that at this time when considering everything, no more D1 offers/commitments will be going out to kids who will be loved. "Liked" offers are all that's left for most D1s. Sure, there will be some exceptions to this, but considering lots of D1s are already well into their 2023 and 2024 classes, I'd argue it's needle-in-a-haystack-esque. But there are still LOTS of opportunities to be LOVED at every other level of college ball. That's where I'd strongly encourage every uncommitted 2022 to be looking right now. And every transfer. That's what Vegas would recommend and they were able to build a paradise in a desert and keep it flourishing. Consider re-sculpting the dream and basing it on the odds.
Danj has it right. If your son has a good JUCO offer (or really any good offer), take it and run and don't look back. I see a lot of people mention the fall back position of "he will just go to a JUCO". A large number of the kids getting cut from D1/D2 programs will end up at that JUCO. Many of the fall cuts next year at the D1/D2 level will end up at that JUCO. The HS stud who didn't get drafted as high as he was hoping will end up at that JUCO. Oh and don't forget about the 3rd year JUCO kid who stays because his last 2 years playing didn't count against his eligibility. The competition level at JUCOs is so much better than what many parents/kids realize they will be shocked when they have a roster of 50+ kids and their kid is number 48 out of 50 and never see the field. In light of COVID, Transfers etc., JUCO should be a target, not a fall back position or you will be wondering what plan B is next year at this time. Just my opinion that there are still going to be a lot of surprises if you don't go into this with your eyes wide open. Plan for the worst and the rest will take care of itself
@FriarFred " If your son has a good JUCO offer (or really any good offer), take it and run and don't look back. I see a lot of people mention the fall back position of "he will just go to a JUCO". The HS stud who didn't get drafted as high as he was hoping will end up at that JUCO."
Spot on, Fred. There are real stories proving this is not theoretical. Here's one from the heartland. #1 (according to PBR) 2020 player in our state committed to a Big 12 program. Not sure of the exact specifics, but he either decommitted or had his offered pulled late last cycle. Some "gurus" around here were swearing he'd get drafted last summer because he was throwing 97. But in a 5-round draft, he didn't come close to being taken. So he committed to a big time JUCO in Nevada. I just looked and he's thrown 13.2 total innings for them this season. A kid throwing 97 mph at a JUCO isn't pitching very much. Let that soak in for minute before you view JUCO as a "fall back" plan. On a positive note, he has been playing 3B/OF a lot for them and is hitting .339.
@1738Dad posted:So of the 5 kids cut ALL we're out of state. My kids 60% scholarship can fund 3 50% in state kids or 6 25% kids. I bet a lots in schools are looking at the math this way as the money tightens due to covid based budget cuts.
Also learned that they brought in 3 P5 (Virginia, NC) transfers under the new NCAA transfer rules. 2 juniors left the team on there own, 1 was a 2 year starter. Coach has had 3 losing seasons in a row so he's prob in job saving mode. The incoming 2021 class only has 2 kids...so when you combine 2021 And wants now left of 2020 after the cuts only 7kids on the roster will come from 2020/2021.
IMO NCAA really screwed this up between the extra year and transfer rule, and everything exacerbated by MLB draft reduction. College baseball is bursting with talent right now and younger kids paying the price.
He's home now but really crushed. He feels like he never even had a chance.
@1738Dad I remember that call well when my son had just packed up his locker and was sitting in the parking lot. It's hard for a 19 year old to handle. He had 1 week left of school and then he was off to summer ball. Luckily, he didn't have to much time to think about it. Half way through summer ball he signed and committed to his new team. The crazy thing was that the school/coach he signed with was fired one week after he signed. He had to wait over a month to find out who the new coach would be. Turns out, it was a RC that had recruited him in HS was the new coach. The first call he made was to my son to let him know he was his top priority. They remain friends to this day and as a family, we are so grateful that our son was lead by a coach with enormous character. Can't say that about the HC at the DI.
Let your son know that he is not the first kid to be cut and won't be the last. There is life after being cut. My son took the term "DI drop down" as a challenge and decided to be the best drop down he could be. Many of his teammates from the DI got drafted and only two are still playing 4 years later. None of them got there degree once they were drafted.
Have him focus on the next 40 years and if he is lucky enough, he might get to play a little more baseball while he does.
@Go44dad posted:It's a business for the coach.
And a job they don't want to lose. Do you think the coaches are happy?
Every one here was thrilled when the NCAA awarded an extra year. Then they applauded the one year transfer rule. It's just not baseball where this is happening.
It definetly stinks.
Let's blame the real villain.....Covid!
A mistake many kids make is believing it ends with signing their NLI. The reality is this is where the real challenging journey begins.
The NLI just means you go through the next gate to prove you belong on the field at that college. You’re playing musical chairs for playing time. There are thirty-five participants (currently more) who all believe it will be them. The reality is there are only 18-20 chairs. If you’re not sitting in one of them you’re about to go NFL (not for long) even if you’re on the roster. My son’s roommate went from freshman starter to soph platoon player to junior utility man to being told he wasn’t needed as a senior.
@fly996 posted:Even though he's low on the roster, he would still have access to practice, weightlifting, conditioning, team nutrition etc. If the commitment is for one year that should be upheld. The way this sounds is a team could be 1 or 2 games into a season and then cut a player for whatever reason? That's absurd! This is college, not the pro's.
I understand the coach needs to win, but I also assume they are not cutting players during the season and adding replacements to the roster during the season. This just sounds like a way the save the expense of carrying players that the coach now feels cannot help him win...it has nothing to do with improving his chances of winning.
Do you follow college ball?
Just curious.
@RJM posted:A mistake many kids make is believing it ends with signing their NLI. The reality is this is where the real challenging journey begins.
The NLI just means you go through the next gate to prove you belong on the field at that college. You’re playing musical chairs for playing time. There are thirty-five participants (currently more) who all believe it will be them. The reality is there are only 18-20 chairs. If you’re not sitting in one of them you’re about to go NFL (not for long) even if you’re on the roster. My son’s roommate went from freshman starter to soph platoon player to junior utility man to being told he wasn’t needed as a senior.
Imagine if there was a grading system for summer travel teams.
1pt = verbally commit
2pt = sign NLI/get through admissions
2pt = Make it on campus
2pt = make it out of the fall
3pt = being at same school sophomore year
@nycdad posted:Imagine if there was a grading system for summer travel teams.
1pt = verbally commit
2pt = sign NLI/get through admissions
2pt = Make it on campus
2pt = make it out of the fall
3pt = being at same school sophomore year
And how many minus points for claiming a known player as an alumnus who only played one weekend over four years of high school for the travel team?
I dropped in on academy that showed 17u interest in my son. On the wall we’re both Upton names and a couple of names I was familiar with who played at Vanderbilt.
It seemed odd. I knew the Uptons are from the Virginia Tidewater area. I knew the dads of the Vanderbilt players. I played college summer ball with the dads. They lived five hundred miles away.
It turned out this academy grabbed these players to take to PG East Cobb while throwing paying players under the bus.
How many minus points for throwing paying (thousands) players under the bus?
As far as being on the same team soph year it’s on the player. Too many kids choose the reach school because it’s a big name or they fell in love with it as kids. And it doesn’t work out.
@TPM posted:Do you follow college ball?
Just curious.
Yes, I follow college ball. I've probably watched around 30-40 games via streaming this year. What's your point?
@fly996 posted:Yes, I follow college ball. I've probably watched around 30-40 games via streaming this year. What's your point?
Some of your comments. You don't seem to understand why players are being cut at this time. It's not the middle of the season. In D1 baseball the season ends in 2 weeks.
Coaches are having their exit interviews early with those that wont be returning so they can move forward. It's sad but not disgusting.
Did you cancel ESPN+?
@TPM posted:Some of your comments. You don't seem to understand why players are being cut at this time. It's not the middle of the season. In D1 baseball the season ends in 2 weeks.
Coaches are having their exit interviews early with those that wont be returning so they can move forward. It's sad but not disgusting.
Did you cancel ESPN+?
D1 still has regular season games, conference tournaments, Regionals, CWS...many games left to play this year...and yes, I cancelled ESPN+ today
Heading into this weekend only 20% of the season remains. At this point coaches know who isn’t going to contribute. Any player not on the travel roster who hasn’t been reassured about their place next year should be thinking, “I’m outta here.” Or, “This is the right place academically. I’m done with the game.”
@RJM posted:Heading into this weekend only 20% of the season remains. At this point coaches know who isn’t going to contribute. Any player not on the travel roster who hasn’t been reassured about their place next year should be thinking, “I’m outta here.” Or, “This is the right place academically. I’m done with the game.”
Exactly.
According to my understanding, which may not be accurate, once classes end, so does the commitment. Even if the player decides to remain at the school, use of athletic facilities and amenities is off limits.
@TheRightScuff posted:Thanks to those already replied. This site is truly wonderful.
Son was at a low D1 school, and I'm not really comfortable sharing the name at this time. When he signed his NLI, he had a handful of good D3s tell him to stay in touch should anything turn like this, so hopefully two years later that will still be the case at one of those schools.
Was just worried about transfer admissions timing because I thought I had heard a few schools (for non-athletes) had like a April 1 deadline for the fall. Waiting on spring finals, but his first year GPA is likely over 3.5, so hoping that will help with admissions, too.
Thought I'd provide an update. To recap, LHP freshman son was released right after finals from a low D1. Entered the portal and received several unsolicited emails from head coaches and recruiting coordinators by the weekend, including from another low D1, a few D2s, and some Jucos. Son reached out to his top 2 D3s, and one responded immediately with interest. He was invited for a visit following a review of a recent bullpen video, then offered a spot pending successful admission to the school, which came as expected this week.
Couldn't be happier with the outcome. Son is leaving a school where a few other players have voluntarily left the program (2 more since his release) and is now headed to a winning D3 program with great academics.
No regrets. The opportunity was there for him at the D1, but the coach who sent him the NLI to sign had left the school before the fall of his first year, and that combined with the extended COVID eligibility stuff to bloat the staff made it tough to earn innings from the beginning. Son was able to learn though how a D1 team prepares, how it operates, how serious the training (weightroom/nutrition) needs to be, what good and bad communication sounds like, etc. As a "D1 dropdown", those experiences will be invaluable to him.
For parents of '21s/'22s doomscrolling, best advice I'd offer is (1) always go where your is loved not just liked, (2) don't burn bridges with schools your son didn't choose, (3) remember that your son's college grades will follow him everywhere (having > 3.5 GPA opened doors as a transfer; no one cared about old SAT/ACT scores), and (4) pray for good luck because there are just about a million things you cannot control even when everything else goes as planned.
Congratulations! I wish your son the best. Great news!
great news, congratulations!!!
Great plan! Great advice! Congratulations.
I noticed a program that had quite a few in the portal but I also know of a player going into that program. It just goes to show that coaches are looking for young talented players that are stuck behind other young players, for them, the one time transfer rule was a plus.
JMO
@TheRightScuff posted:For parents of '21s/'22s doomscrolling, best advice I'd offer is (1) always go where your is loved not just liked, (2) don't burn bridges with schools your son didn't choose, (3) remember that your son's college grades will follow him everywhere (having > 3.5 GPA opened doors as a transfer; no one cared about old SAT/ACT scores), and (4) pray for good luck because there are just about a million things you cannot control even when everything else goes as planned.
Congrats!
There's some advice implied for D3 parents and players too. You're likely to see some D1 kids like RightStuff's son show up next fall. Better get to work!