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For the most part, I think guys are coming to UAB to be a part of something special. But there are a few who will inevitably do things like this:

Quote:William Johnson Jr., sophomore LB

Johnson Jr. began the season as a Nebraska commit, but just recently flipped to UAB (Conference USA). Because UAB dropped (then reinstated) its program within the past year, it’s eligible to take non-academic qualifiers — the reason for Johnson’s switch.

“If I can get my grades back up, I’m going to choose somebody bigger,” Johnson Jr. said. “But if not, I’ll settle with UAB.”

He added that Nebraska is no longer an option.

Even if that's true (which isn't shocking), saying it is really stupid

Hard to see why there is a grades issue.

(12-06-2015 10:27 AM)UABslant Wrote:  For the most part, I think guys are coming to UAB to be a part of something special. But there are a few who will inevitably do things like this:

Quote:William Johnson Jr., sophomore LB

Johnson Jr. began the season as a Nebraska commit, but just recently flipped to UAB (Conference USA). Because UAB dropped (then reinstated) its program within the past year, it’s eligible to take non-academic qualifiers — the reason for Johnson’s switch.

“If I can get my grades back up, I’m going to choose somebody bigger,” Johnson Jr. said. “But if not, I’ll settle with UAB.”

He added that Nebraska is no longer an option.

This statement may have been made with the thought of playing sooner than later.
While I initially thought..to heck with you mr Johnson. I quickly realized UAB is an unknown as a bigger school to most top football athletes. I hope mr. Johnson can get his grades improved and while doing so come to the realization that when it comes to Academic UAB is the big time..
I believe that is one of the points coach is making his pitch with.
Rebounder2u again, shout out to Attalla..

Just get them here. They will be happy they came. Doesn't bother me in the least.

that is an huge advantage for UAB and he is not the only one thinking like that
get to guy in because of xyz reasons , build nice facility and wins a lot of game and this comment will be a thing of the past

I would imagine that while the eligibility clock stops until 2017 typical transfer restrictions apply if a player leaves. That is, he would still have to sit out a(nother) year at the new school...

(12-06-2015 12:51 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  I would imagine that while the eligibility clock stops until 2017 typical transfer restrictions apply if a player leaves. That is, he would still have to sit out a(nother) year at the new school...

You would think that he would have to sit out and lose a year of eligibility. Let's say he transfers and gets his grades up in the Spring semester. He would still have to sit out the 2015 season, but he wouldn't lose elegibility. If he transfers to another "big" school he still has to sit out 2016 and probably would lose eligibility. Then it would be a no brainer to stay, wouldn't it?

(12-06-2015 10:43 AM)Rebounder2u Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:27 AM)UABslant Wrote:  For the most part, I think guys are coming to UAB to be a part of something special. But there are a few who will inevitably do things like this:

Quote:William Johnson Jr., sophomore LB

Johnson Jr. began the season as a Nebraska commit, but just recently flipped to UAB (Conference USA). Because UAB dropped (then reinstated) its program within the past year, it’s eligible to take non-academic qualifiers — the reason for Johnson’s switch.

“If I can get my grades back up, I’m going to choose somebody bigger,” Johnson Jr. said. “But if not, I’ll settle with UAB.”

He added that Nebraska is no longer an option.

This statement may have been made with the thought of playing sooner than later.
While I initially thought..to heck with you mr Johnson. I quickly realized UAB is an unknown as a bigger school to most top football athletes. I hope mr. Johnson can get his grades improved and while doing so come to the realization that when it comes to Academic UAB is the big time..
I believe that is one of the points coach is making his pitch with.
Rebounder2u again, shout out to Attalla..

I I'm guessing someone who says that publicly really isn't concerned about big time UAB is academically.

Someone has found a loophole in the system and is using UAB. Screw him.

I get a bad feeling about Greg Bryant. Been following his Instagram & don't see a whole lot of commitment there. I wonder if he sticks around.

I'm with ATTALLABLAZE........get them here, and they will be fine.

Get them here and they'll probably be sold. If a kid decides it's not for him or he perceives a better opportunity then more power to him. He'll be wrong but more power to him

Kids choose schools for a variety of reasons that may be solid or not. If he comes to UAB and gets eligible to play, he will likely want to stay. I trust FBHC Clark to choose well too.

I learned a while back that there wasn't much point to worrying about what I can't control. Let Coach worry about it. If they choose not to come or not to stay, well... we'll still play in 2017. The coaches are working hard to find guys who fit.

(12-06-2015 09:38 PM)BlazerHam Wrote:  I get a bad feeling about Greg Bryant. Been following his Instagram & don't see a whole lot of commitment there. I wonder if he sticks around.

I think Greg Bryant will stick with us IF he can get into school at UAB. If not, his career may be over unless he can latch on at a lower division school. I think we are his last FBS hope (once he signs, which I think he will if his grades are close).

It's nice to see these kids posting how they've committed to UAB and all on twitter and instagram, but I don't put faith into anything until they sign the papers and actually register for class. How many times you see kids commit to one school then change they're minds all of a sudden. Most of them have been saying they've been offered, not committed.

I'm liking this Marino kid that we already have and our kicker. We'll see who we have come signing time. Till then, sit back and let the coaches do what they do.

A lot can happen before 2017 even if they do sign.

This is why I've never been able to get into recruiting very much

I hope this kid does not think he is coming to some diploma factory for athletes who are weak students.

(12-07-2015 11:18 AM)Doktyr X Wrote:  I hope this kid does not think he is coming to some diploma factory for athletes who are weak students.

Most of the tricks used by some coaches had nothing to do with diplomas. They had "friendly professors" erect classes only athletes were signed up for (when one inquired about taking such classes you were told they were filled or closed) or they were classes that did not advance the athlete toward a degree (the "basket weaving" classes). The recently imposed APR rules by the NCAA were responses to these exploitative measures.

The most famous example of these tactics was the Coach Bob Haskins NCAA National Championship team at Texas Western (now UTEP) that was written up in Sports Illustrated in its series on the exploitation of Black athletes. In spite of playing four years, most or all of them were not anywhere near graduation because of classes the school had them take to maintain grades / eligibility.

Schools with Athletic Departments with over a hundred million to spend (without independent audits) could still influence professors who like the benefits of additional CASH income and the athletes would have reason to keep it secret.