'10 FL RB James Potts (MSU Offer)

[Artie Loves Pancakes]

Originally Posted by bpmcgant

Seriously though, how does this happen? If the guy is good enough to get an offer from us I can see him going to a lesser school to get PT, but Buffalo? The kids from Florida, not Cleveland. Maybe he picks FIU so he stays in the warm weather, but Buffalo!?!?! I don't really care either way, it's just weird, assuming he actually does have an offer.

It never ceases to amaze me how people are dumbfounded when a kid goes somewhere else besides MSU... especially a smaller school.

Think about this. You're a very good HS athlete, with quite a few scholarship offers. Some are to Big Ten schools, some MAC, some Sun Belt, maybe even some DIII schools. If you commit to the big BCS conference schools, you know you're stepping into a situation where first off you'll probably redshirt a year. Then, you'll be immersed in an intense position battle with the best players at your position from across the country. You might not see the field for your first 3-4 years at the school, even if you do. And its going to take you 5-6 years to get your degree. Or.... You choose the smaller school, where you probably won't redshirt, competition will be less, playing time will be more, and you can graduate in 4 years if you want. A lot of kids know they realistically won't make it in the NFL, so they see the small schools as far more attractive as a place where they can get an education and play the sport they love for fun... instead of toiling around a much more volatile and stressful place like BCS schools. I have a few friends where this exact situation ocurred. One of my friends was a great HS athlete and had offers in his sport to Duke and Va Tech among others, but chose to go to a Division 3 school where he knew he would be a 4 year starter and he could graduate on time. Everybody's priorities are different.

But the same people who can't understand why a kid would choose Buffalo over MSU probably think its perfectly reasonable that someone like Will Gholston chose MSU over Florida, USC, OSU, LSU, Texas, etc...

[Nals]

Originally Posted by SpartyOnSpartyUp

One of my friends was a great HS athlete and had offers in his sport to Duke and Va Tech among others, but chose to go to a Division 3 school where he knew he would be a 4 year starter and he could graduate on time. Everybody's priorities are different.

But the same people who can't understand why a kid would choose Buffalo over MSU probably think its perfectly reasonable that someone like Will Gholston chose MSU over Florida, USC, OSU, LSU, Texas, etc...

Your friend has some messed up life priorities, or he's fibbing, and just got a couple letters from them.

I don't know of many people who would pay for their D3 education instead of going to Duke on a full ride. Usually they have some messed up view of the world, or they are too afraid of not being the "big man on campus" (in their eyes a failure).

[Artie Loves Pancakes]

Originally Posted by Nals

Your friend has some messed up life priorities, or he's fibbing, and just got a couple letters from them.

I don't know of many people who would pay for their D3 education instead of going to Duke on a full ride. Usually they have some messed up view of the world, or they are too afraid of not being the "big man on campus" (in their eyes a failure).

Nope. At Duke he would have redshirted and probably not been varsity for 2+ years. He wanted to step in right away, start for 4 years, and move on with his life. He didn't want to wait around and then battle for a varsity spot (only 10 weight classes in college). He was a wrestler so there is no prospect of going pro or anything like that. And although there are no D3 scholarships, he got a lot of money through university scholarships given to athletes through loopholes. I'd assume his tuition was 50-70% covered. For the record the kid ended up being All-American in college.

[detroitsportscity]

Originally Posted by SpartyOnSpartyUp

Nope. At Duke he would have redshirted and probably not been varsity for 2+ years. He wanted to step in right away, start for 4 years, and move on with his life. He didn't want to wait around and then battle for a varsity spot (only 10 weight classes in college). He was a wrestler so there is no prospect of going pro or anything like that. And although there are no D3 scholarships, he got a lot of money through university scholarships given to athletes through loopholes. I'd assume his tuition was 50-70% covered. For the record the kid ended up being All-American in college.

I think the point was Free Duke Degree >>>>> Paid for D3 Degree.

[bpmcgant]

Originally Posted by SpartyOnSpartyUp

It never ceases to amaze me how people are dumbfounded when a kid goes somewhere else besides MSU... especially a smaller school.

Think about this. You're a very good HS athlete, with quite a few scholarship offers. Some are to Big Ten schools, some MAC, some Sun Belt, maybe even some DIII schools. If you commit to the big BCS conference schools, you know you're stepping into a situation where first off you'll probably redshirt a year. Then, you'll be immersed in an intense position battle with the best players at your position from across the country. You might not see the field for your first 3-4 years at the school, even if you do. And its going to take you 5-6 years to get your degree. Or.... You choose the smaller school, where you probably won't redshirt, competition will be less, playing time will be more, and you can graduate in 4 years if you want. A lot of kids know they realistically won't make it in the NFL, so they see the small schools as far more attractive as a place where they can get an education and play the sport they love for fun... instead of toiling around a much more volatile and stressful place like BCS schools. I have a few friends where this exact situation ocurred. One of my friends was a great HS athlete and had offers in his sport to Duke and Va Tech among others, but chose to go to a Division 3 school where he knew he would be a 4 year starter and he could graduate on time. Everybody's priorities are different.

But the same people who can't understand why a kid would choose Buffalo over MSU probably think its perfectly reasonable that someone like Will Gholston chose MSU over Florida, USC, OSU, LSU, Texas, etc...

I understand your point. My point was that this kid probably could have gotten what he's getting from Buffalo at a school a lot closer to home and a lot warmer. He's good enough to get an offer from us, but he's having to settle for Buffalo to get the PT and other college things you talk about? Maybe there's a program at Buffalo the kid wants or he's got an uncle on the staff, but otherwise I would have expected him to get what he was looking for in FL, GA, MS, AL or somewhere else close. Thank you for reminding me we are not the center of the Universe though .

[MForce2k]

Exactly what I was going to post (SpartyOn). It's all about what is important to the individual.

Some won't mind riding the bench for three years if it means a NC, and some don't even care about a NC. Some want facilities, others want academics. It's all just a giant collection of things that appeal, or don't, to someone, and everyone is different. I'm just glad that this kid sees something in us and hope that he enjoys his time here. Sounds like he has done, and will do, a lot for us, and I'm REALLY excited to see him play.

[bpmcgant]

Originally Posted by MForce2k

Exactly what I was going to post (SpartyOn). It's all about what is important to the individual.

Some won't mind riding the bench for three years if it means a NC, and some don't even care about a NC. Some want facilities, others want academics. It's all just a giant collection of things that appeal, or don't, to someone, and everyone is different. I'm just glad that this kid sees something in us and hope that he enjoys his time here. Sounds like he has done, and will do, a lot for us, and I'm REALLY excited to see him play.

he's going to Buffalo according to some reports.

[Booyah]

Originally Posted by Coached By Duffy

If MSU takes another RB in this class, I think "the handwriting is on the wall", that Glenn Winston won't be returning to the team.

I think it means the coaches realize they may lose 3 RB's if Winston can't return to form after the knee injury (4 if you include Jimmerson). A position with plenty of depth now looks like we need bodies.

[Booyah]

Originally Posted by mynamebmj

In watching his film...first person that comes to mind (Grand Rapids people this is for you)..is Justin hoskins. Graduated from GR Creston in 04, 6'0...180, 4.4 speed...freak athlete...just needed the right coaching. Unfortunately, he went to ND...had a falling out with Weis when he got there, transferred to CMU and never achieved his potential. I know his film is a small sample, but i feel like under the right coaching ()...he could be a star.

Interesting slant. How about this slant? Hoskins was a good, not great HS running back who went to a school over-his-head to start with, got beat-out, and transfered to a MAC school where he should have started in the first place.

[HoldensHeros]

Originally Posted by MForce2k

I'm just glad that this kid sees something in us and hope that he enjoys his time here. Sounds like he has done, and will do, a lot for us, and I'm REALLY excited to see him play.

He isn't coming here....