http://blogs.theadvocate.com/tigertracks/two-backup-dbs-leave-tigers/ I am guessing this is the usual in and out over the summer.
Is there a "typical" way these departures happen? Do the coaches see that a particular player might not be the best fit for the program and suggest that a transfer could be a good idea? Do the players figure this out for themselves? Are there usually conversations between the coaches, players and their parents before anyting is decided? Or does it all just depend on each circumstance, player, parents, etc? I wish these 2 young men good luck and hope they end up in a good spot and program.
All of the above. The head coach must be vigilant in maintaining the 25 and 85 scholarship limits. If normal attrition did not free up space, then coaches would have to pull scholarships from players, which is rare but not always avoidable. However attrition is normal. There are flunk-outs every semester, there are kids that get homesick for California, and some just get burned out on football. But the main reason for transfers is lack of playing time. Departures at positions where we have a logjam of talent is normal and happens everywhere. I am shocked that we have not lost many running backs in recent years. So when a player is entering his third year or so and is being passed by new guys, conversations develop between coaches and players and they tend to be honest with each other. Coaches will help a guy find a school that works for him.
I thought Jenkins would be pushing for PT this year but that not be the reason for his transfer. Gibson doesn't really surprise me, and I guess neither does Jenkins because there have been rumors for a while, but hoped they were not true. Oh well......next.....
And a dammed shame. Not arguing with ya and only commenting on what you posted cause I know it's a fact of CFB- at least at most programs. If they can at least "place" them, I can live with it. For kids who otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford college I'd like to see a program have some legit way to see their finances through as long as the GPA was a certain level. I know THAT is what a scholarship is far and I know there are some people with very little who find a way to get through college; however, when it's not foreseen and unexpectedly getting the rug pulled, it makes it a bit more difficult. On the flip side, they're still young and do still have a lot of time to figure things out.
I know David's father and actually met David for the first time a couple of weeks ago. According to him, while he was definitely competing and doing well coming out of the spring, the coaches approached him one day and said they didn't think he was progressing enough to realistically see the field and thought it best he transfer. He didn't specify which coaches, and admitted he was very upset. They told him he was welcome to stay on as a walk-on and possibly earn back his scholly, or they can help him find a situation that would help him see the field quicker. He slept on it, then went back and discussed it further with the coaches and his family. As of a couple of weeks ago he was still trying to get into TCU even though he'd lose a year. He's not upset, and is actually excited. All he kept saying was, man I wish y'all could really understand how much talent is back there. It's SERIOUS. He said that secondary will be stacked for years and the top DB recruits are foolish to go anywhere else.
Thanks for sharing that and I'm really glad to hear he seems to have things sorted out. Hell, I'd love to run out of that tunnel suited up just once.
Thanks, everyone. I definitely agree about the importance of continuing the scholarship. If the coaches can help these students land a scholarship in another school, that would have to boost the credibility of the LSU program with future recruits. Not to mention the benefit to the transferring student and his parents.
The NCAA should allow schools to trade players like in the NFL. That way, the colleges can get something for their return on their investment in these players that don't cut the mustard. Oh wait, that's right....they invest hardly anything in them in the first place since the athletes that produce hundreds of millions of dollars don't get paid anything.
