Another Baseball Defection

[Parrott]

Beyond the in-season story, how can a suspended player be considered leaving?

igeaux.mobi _

Simple. Although Whipple wasn't enrolled in summer school due to playing summer league ball in Kansas, he was expected to be enrolled in school in the fall, according to coach Robe. Thus, Whipple leaves the school/program via transfer. Even if a player quits a team and later transfers to play elsewhere, you could say he is "leaving" one school for another.

Again, Robe told me in all my conversations that Whipple was suspended, and I think I have a proven track record in providing correct information.

Here are a few other examples of similar situations across the country. Note the headlines:

BC quarterback Davis suspended, will transfer
Suspended NU player Incognito leaves school
Suspended player calls it quits at UNM
Ray Small suspended, will leave program

[anhil8tor]

How do these defections affect our APR?

[Parrott]

Depends how the student-athlete was GPA-wise. The NCAA adopted a recent rule that does not penalize programs if a student-athlete leaves one school to play athletics elsewhere, granted he/she meets a number of criteria. The most notable is leaving their previous school with an overall GPA of at least 2.6.

It is my understanding that academics were not a concern with Smith, Benzel, Lackie or Whipple. Unlike basketball, there is the benefit of larger roster sizes. With 35 student-athletes accounting for a possible 140 points (one apiece for eligibility and retention each semester), the team cannot lose more than 10 points. Otherwise the team would fall below the single-year APR requirement of 925. (129/140 is .921.)

[SlappyCajun]

_ Depends how the student-athlete was GPA-wise. The NCAA adopted a recent rule that does not penalize programs if a student-athlete leaves one school to play athletics elsewhere, granted he/she meets a number of criteria. The most notable is leaving their previous school with an overall GPA of at least 2.6.

It is my understanding that academics were not a concern with Smith, Benzel, Lackie or Whipple. Unlike basketball, there is the benefit of larger roster sizes. With 35 student-athletes accounting for a possible 140 points (one apiece for eligibility and retention each semester), the team cannot lose more than 10 points. Otherwise the team would fall below the single-year APR requirement of 925. (129/140 is .921.) _

Josh -

I think one of the APR criteria is that you are eligible and transfer to anothr 4 year school. So, I think anyone who leaves a 4 year and goes to a junior college would be an APR hit, I'm not sure though.

[LifeTimeCajun]

So now the business side of college baseball has hit us locally. i know that it probably happens more at other schools that recruit the best of the best kids. this is probably a little more common, and this is the first time in a while that its happened here. IMO, Lackie and smith's situation is about being name recognition and getting drafted. Whipple is a little different with the suspension and having to sit out a year, but next year is his so called "money" year for the draft so sitting out may affect that. Whats gonna happen when they get drafted in the late rounds(25th or higher) and get offered peanuts and a plane ticket? then what are they gonna do?

[Ballfan]

_ So now the business side of college baseball has hit us locally. i know that it probably happens more at other schools that recruit the best of the best kids. this is probably a little more common, and this is the first time in a while that its happened here. IMO, Lackie and smith's situation is about being name recognition and getting drafted. Whipple is a little different with the suspension and having to sit out a year, but next year is his so called "money" year for the draft so sitting out may affect that. Whats gonna happen when they get drafted in the late rounds(25th or higher) and get offered peanuts and a plane ticket? then what are they gonna do? _

these defections started with Xavier Alexander two years ago and none of them to date have anything to do with the draft..

[LifeTimeCajun]

_ these defections started with Xavier Alexander two years ago and none of them to date have anything to do with the draft.. _

So what are u saying is the problem??

[Parrott]

_ Josh -

I think one of the APR criteria is that you are eligible and transfer to anothr 4 year school. So, I think anyone who leaves a 4 year and goes to a junior college would be an APR hit, I'm not sure though.

No, you are correct. The Cajuns will lose at least one point apiece for losing Smith and Lackie since they're going to JUCOs. Whipple and Benzel could end up not costing the program any points depending on their overall situation.

(The following information is from my APR story in March about the UL men's basketball program.)

"The NCAA amended the transfer rule beginning in 2007-08. Student-athletes who meet the following criteria will earn an automatic adjustment and be a "1/1" in the last term at their institution. That's how the transfer of former UL basketball player Elijah Millsap last year to UAB did not hurt UL's APR in 2007-08.

To get a waiver, student-athletes must:

*Have at least a 2.6 cumulative GPA.
*Be eligible and earn "E" in the last term at their institution.
*Transfer immediately to another four-year school. Documentation is required.
*The committee will develop criteria for considering adjustments for students with less than a 2.6 GPA who meet all of the other defined criteria."

[zephyr]

_ So what are u saying is the problem?? _

I think it would be crazy for us to even try to state what the problem is without talking to those involved. However, I highly doubt that Les Smith and Lackie leaving has to do with name recognition and possible draft status since they are going elesewhere with less name recognition than here. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Turbine]

_ Simple. Although Whipple wasn't enrolled in summer school due to playing summer league ball in Kansas, he was expected to be enrolled in school in the fall, according to coach Robe. Thus, Whipple leaves the school/program via transfer. Even if a player quits a team and later transfers to play elsewhere, you could say he is "leaving" one school for another.

Again, Robe told me in all my conversations that Whipple was suspended, and I think I have a proven track record in providing correct information.

Here are a few other examples of similar situations across the country. Note the headlines:

BC quarterback Davis suspended, will transfer
Suspended NU player Incognito to leaves school
Suspended player calls it quits at UNM
Ray Small suspended, will leave program _

I don't have a problem with the article, I have a problem with the headline.

Whipple "Leaving school” I understand, the newness of "lose" or losing a player from the program I don't.

The facts of the article are spot on even though there is a glaring omission. I know you don't always write your own headline but the program had already lost Whipple. True he (like Justin Gabriel) would have had the chance to earn his way back on the team but nothing is a given. To be fair you did touch on the why's and wherefore's of the suspension in your blog, but in the paper the decision to leave the program leaves a lot of unanswered questions that the uninformed will never think to ask.

In a way it makes it seem like the in-season suspension never happened and the program is in pile on disarray with a spanking new defection.

I tell you what the whole affair seems like to me "You’re Fired" ... "You can't fire me, I QUIT."