Nick Smith

[zephyr]

_ He would have to pay tuition for the fall and then if a spot was available in January he would then get the scholarship. My whole point is here is a LOUISIANA player who wants to play here and was promised this. _

I think we all understand your frustration. However, please remember that this coach and his staff are hired to win. Coaches will either receive the brunt of the blame or the majority of the fame depending on how his tenure is viewed. In the end, the coach is being held responsible for turning around what is perceived as one of the bottom end programs in the country. People are expecting results and quickly. He sees the need to win now and he's bringing in the players he feels can impact us the most. Notice how he has brought in very few linemen and many of these new recruits are defensive players and skill players. It's not like he went out and signed a ton of guys to replace him although he has brought in 1 or 2. He also wasn't expecting things like a transfer from a high profile QB from a year ago and a rivals all-american RB to fall in our lap. Like I said, things change. Hopefully, Nick will do what Molbert and Amari Williams did last year and Rob Walker did the year before and grayshirt and remain with the program to receive an offer next year. I'm sure it is about timing more than their thoughts on him as a player. He will not be the first grayshirt nor the last. I understand his wishes to look for other options as that is valid and I don't blame him a bit. In the end, I hope he stays and becomes a Cajun.

[JamesTheJeweler]

He would have to pay tuition for the fall and then if a spot was available in January he would then get the scholarship. My whole point is here is a LOUISIANA player who wants to play here and was promised this.

Dude do u expect hud to sign every damn kid from louisisana JUST because he's from louisisana??!! Relax!



igeaux.mobi

[Parrott]

It was mentioned earlier that Smith would have to pay his own way in the fall. The term grayshirt means that a player delays his full-time enrollment until the January after he signs. Some players enroll part-time; some don't enroll at all that fall. Then in January they enroll full-time. For example: Rob Walker and Jake Molbert didn't enroll until January, while Amari Williams paid his own way last fall.

[rhineaux]

_ I can see leadership in a player agreeing to greyshirt for the betterment of himself and the future of the team. _

I agree, Turbine. If a student-athlete is committed to a school and to a coach and has aspirations to help the school and coach become more successful, and the coach asks him to do something to help the program become more successful, then what is the problem? If he was a Sophomore and they asked him to change from OL to DL b/c they thought it would help the program, would he have a problem because he was originally told that he was coming here to play on the OL?

I am sure that he might be feeling some uneasiness because his scholarship for next year may or may not be 100% guaranteed. But if he keeps his head down and grinds, displaying the leadership that Turbine suggests, then he shouldn't have anything to worry about. And, he might eventually find that there are benefits to this situation.

[SlappyCajun]

_ I agree, Turbine. If a student-athlete is committed to a school and to a coach and has aspirations to help the school and coach become more successful, and the coach asks him to do something to help the program become more successful, then what is the problem? If he was a Sophomore and they asked him to change from OL to DL b/c they thought it would help the program, would he have a problem because he was originally told that he was coming here to play on the OL?

I am sure that he might be feeling some uneasiness because his scholarship for next year may or may not be 100% guaranteed. But if he keeps his head down and grinds, displaying the leadership that Turbine suggests, then he shouldn't have anything to worry about. And, he might eventually find that there are benefits to this situation. _

The problem becomes. That in your second example the kid is on a full ride scholarship the whole time. In this scenario, if he stopped looking for another situation after he was told that his commitment would be honored, then it may cost the kid a free college education.

I don't think its that big of a deal, but it is different and not something to be taken lightly.

[moorecajun]

_ It was mentioned earlier that Smith would have to pay his own way in the fall. The term grayshirt means that a player delays his full-time enrollment until the January after he signs. Some players enroll part-time; some don't enroll at all that fall. Then in January they enroll full-time. For example: Rob Walker and Jake Molbert didn't enroll until January, while Amari Williams paid his own way last fall. _

This is a very important point people need to understand about the grayshirt process.

This is a new coaching staff and they were hired to get us over the hump with wins. They have minimal knowledge of the returning players. Who knows how many players will stick it out after the spring? There will probably be openings available for grayshirts in the following year. But the coaches don't KNOW how many players will still be here - they are trying to stock the shelves with the best available players they can.

A grayshirt option is not as good as a full-ride shcolly, but in reality it is just a slight pause in that process.

[wcd35]

Is he eligible for TOPS? Wouldnt that pay the way should he choose to enroll?

[Turbine]

This is a very important point people need to understand about the grayshirt process.

This is a new coaching staff and they were hired to get us over the hump with wins. They have minimal knowledge of the returning players. Who knows how many players will stick it out after the spring? There will probably be openings available for grayshirts in the following year. But the coaches don't KNOW how many players will still be here - they are trying to stock the shelves with the best available players they can.

A grayshirt option is not as good as a full-ride shcolly, but in reality it is just a slight pause in that process.

A pause for the cause.

Feel free to leak this info.
igeaux.mobi

[Red Tide]

It seems that this thread has covered a lot of the misperceptions and innuendo concerning a talented young local player who was literally in the trenches for Acadiana's Championship run. And perhaps blocking the likes of a 3-star Chuck Hunter (DT) of West Monroe who has committed to TCU. We all know the results of that game and celebrate them.

I have a hard time trying to see it only from the "players" perspective of him having to "man-up" and do what is right for the "team." Honoring his OWN commitment is as right as it gets for the team. Also, given that he played in the offensive line and largely went unheralded, I'm sure Nick Smith could teach a lot of us of on sacrificing for the team.

I am so ready TO JUST WIN!! However, I am also tired of the spin of "putting a fence" around Louisiana. Here was a clear chance for Hud to "man up" for his program and his staff by saying I will honor your commitment by giving you my commitment. If we are going to put a fence around Louisiana, we better start by honoring the coaches, players, and parents that have celebrated this university and this town by bringing it championships. To put a fence around louisiana we better start by courting the fence-builders and those are the high school coaches that train these youngsters for the next level. If we don't, we just may be repeating this hiring process again in four years.

Friends have told me that Coach Hud raised nearly $2 million dollars to remodel the coaches offices and move the weight room to the IPC. I think that is great and we need more of it. However, I'm reserving my judgment until I see his handiwork on the football field and more butts in the seats.

I think this recruiting class is shaping up to being one of the greater ones in many years. I just hope that the athletes that are committed to playing on the field are also committed in the classroom. If not, at the end of the day, it is UL that will ultimately suffer. Perhaps that was young Nick Smith's perspective too. . ." I've been qualified, committed, and loyal since June 2010."

The greatest quality in any successful endeavor is the integrity of the mission. Let's hope we have not missed that ideal!!

[duggie85]

IMO, the high school coaches relationships with UL's head coach is irrelevant. If UL is winning, the high school kids will want to play for a winner. Bottom line. No one will remember in 5 years that alot of Mississippi kids and Texas kids were a majority of the first signing class to turn this program around.

Without googling it, I'm sure there are VERY FEW people who actually remember where the kids from Saban's first 2 recruiting classes were from...



igeaux.mobi