mebisonII
04-17-2010, 03:35 AM
What's everyone think of Jamie Pollard (IA St. AD) and his rant about the "kids these days". I don't disagree with him (I don't think anyone does from what I've read), but by the end you expect to hear "Get off my lawn!".
Certainly we share your frustration, disappointment and even anger about the transfers in our men’s and now even our women’s basketball programs (women have now lost all four of their recruits from last year despite having Elite 8 and Sweet 16 teams). I can assure you both Coach McDermott and Coach Fennelly are concerned and trying to figure out how best to combat it. Part of Coach McDermott having two coaching vacancies is a direct result of his wanting to try and address the issue.
However, it also helps to keep our transfers in perspective. My peers and I continually discuss the epidemic around the country in the sport of basketball. In the past two years over 500 men’s basketball players have transferred from a Division I team to another program. That number is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately if a kid’s world is not absolutely perfect (in their mind), they run from the problem rather than deal with it. Makes you wonder if it is the first signs of our society’s change in our early education program (no longer give kids grades – everybody passes; can’t keep score, everybody has to win; if you do not like something, have mom or dad complain on your behalf). Personally I wonder how that generation is going to survive in the real world when mom or dad or AAU coach are not there for them during their first job interview or first job evaluation. The bottom line is life is not a video game, you can’t just hit reset if you do not like your initial score.
Here are several links that clearly help put our transfers in perspective. Doesn’t solve the issue but perspective on this issue is important.
First Link (SEC Transfers)
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100414/ARTICLES/100419770/1136?p=all&tc=pgall
Second Link (List of over 300 transfers in 2008)
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=667122
Third Link (more on 2008 transfers)
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1146&CID=942701
Thanks again for your support. One way or the other, we will get basketball fixed.
Go Cyclones!
Jamie Pollard
Certainly we share your frustration, disappointment and even anger about the transfers in our men’s and now even our women’s basketball programs (women have now lost all four of their recruits from last year despite having Elite 8 and Sweet 16 teams). I can assure you both Coach McDermott and Coach Fennelly are concerned and trying to figure out how best to combat it. Part of Coach McDermott having two coaching vacancies is a direct result of his wanting to try and address the issue.
However, it also helps to keep our transfers in perspective. My peers and I continually discuss the epidemic around the country in the sport of basketball. In the past two years over 500 men’s basketball players have transferred from a Division I team to another program. That number is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately if a kid’s world is not absolutely perfect (in their mind), they run from the problem rather than deal with it. Makes you wonder if it is the first signs of our society’s change in our early education program (no longer give kids grades – everybody passes; can’t keep score, everybody has to win; if you do not like something, have mom or dad complain on your behalf). Personally I wonder how that generation is going to survive in the real world when mom or dad or AAU coach are not there for them during their first job interview or first job evaluation. The bottom line is life is not a video game, you can’t just hit reset if you do not like your initial score.
Here are several links that clearly help put our transfers in perspective. Doesn’t solve the issue but perspective on this issue is important.
First Link (SEC Transfers)
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100414/ARTICLES/100419770/1136?p=all&tc=pgall
Second Link (List of over 300 transfers in 2008)
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=667122
Third Link (more on 2008 transfers)
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1146&CID=942701
Thanks again for your support. One way or the other, we will get basketball fixed.
Go Cyclones!
Jamie Pollard