Nick Smith

[zephyr]

_ 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!! _

So, you're saying that we shouldn't bring the best possible players into this program? Hud did mention he wants to put a fence around this state. However, he did also say that this year's class would likely be filled with a lot of MS players due to past relationships while recruiting them. Things throughout this process have changed. I'm sure Hud didn't expect to see a Terrance Broadway come to transfer and players the caliber of Qyen Griffen and Alonzo Harris floating around. Again, you are not telling Nick that he is not wanted in this program, you are asking him to delay the scholarship until the next class where many more will be available. Also, Hud likely knows there may or may not be attrition after the spring if some of the current players don't buy into what he is doing or like his work demands. There will be scholarships available and Nick would be in line for one. In the same breath, Hud also visited a lot of state high schools shortly after being hired and made an impression. He offered Hollier and Eugene immediately while the previous staff had not visited once. I'd suspect that the question Hud is asking himself is do I go out and sign a dynamic playmaker who can make an immediate impact or a lineman who will need a redshirt year and likely a couple of years before he is ready to contribute? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt first.

[JamesTheJeweler]

So, you're saying that we shouldn't bring the best possible players into this program? Hud did mention he wants to put a fence around this state. However, he did also say that this year's class would likely be filled with a lot of MS players due to past relationships while recruiting them. Things throughout this process have changed. I'm sure Hud didn't expect to see a Terrance Broadway come to transfer and players the caliber of Qyen Griffen and Alonzo Harris floating around. Again, you are not telling Nick that he is not wanted in this program, you are asking him to delay the scholarship until the next class where many more will be available. Also, Hud likely knows there may or may not be attrition after the spring if some of the current players don't buy into what he is doing or like his work demands. There will be scholarships available and Nick would be in line for one. In the same breath, Hud also visited a lot of state high schools shortly after being hired and made an impression. He offered Hollier and Eugene immediately while the previous staff had not visited once. I'd suspect that the question Hud is asking himself is do I go out and sign a dynamic playmaker who can make an immediate impact or a lineman who will need a redshirt year and likely a couple of years before he is ready to contribute? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt first.

Thank you for bringing some sanity to this thread zeph! Puutting a fence around the state doesn't mean he's only gonna recruit louisisana kids!!! People need to put their personal feelings aside here. This happens when coaching staffs change people!! He offered other kids from louisiana (including 2 other acadiana high) that went elsewhere, do you want to hammer those kids for going somewhere else?? He was asked to basically delay his scholarship. NICK chose to go elsewhere! Frankly, I want the best possible recruits here, whether they are from here or not. Some people need to BREATHE and pull their panties out their _____!!!



igeaux.mobi

[beavis11]

I think Hud is doing Smith a favor. He probably wouldn't have offered him to begin with, so by gray-shirting him, he will honor the commitment - just on his terms/ time table !!!

[JamesTheJeweler]

I think Hud is doing Smith a favor. He probably wouldn't have offered him to begin with, so by gray-shirting him, he will honor the commitment - just on his terms/ time table !!!

Exactly!
igeaux.mobi

[Red Tide]

_ So, you're saying that we shouldn't bring the best possible players into this program?

Nope. That is not what I'm saying. Is the issue winning at any cost or building the program into a powerhouse?

I'm just careful about all the hype and spin before we have won a single football game. the same thing happened with Baldwin and then with Bustle. And, yes, I want to find the best players that can play in the system but I want to make sure that the reputation of the program eventually sells itself regardless who the coach is. That's what integrity will do. There are also a lot of players in this state and surrounding states that will not give a second look to UL because of the "state of the program". Hmmn??

So, by your logic, if we have marginal players already in the program, "Do we pull their scholarships because we have better kids coming in and need the room?" I'm just like everbody else and want Hud to succeed but I want the program to succeed more.

I will agree that he is bringing in some top notch players. I hope they reach the field to showcase how good they really are. Qyen Griffin played on arguably the best high school team in the country and was Mr. Football in the state of Mississippi. Why didn't Ole Miss, Miss St, or Southern Miss offer him? If it's grades then their silence is deafening. My greatest hope is seeing him breaking tackles in Cajun Field but I am very cautious about putting the cart before the horse.

It's like buying your son a brand new super truck but he's not allowed to drive it! Let's see if they make it on the field first.

[Cajunsmike]

_ 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. _

He also could work hard academically and qualify for TOPS. Now, I am not sure if TOPS covers part time students. I think you only go part time if you go the greyshirt route.

[Parrott]

He also could work hard academically and qualify for TOPS. Now, I am not sure if TOPS covers part time students. I think you only go part time if you go the greyshirt route.

Grayshirt is enrolling part-time or not at all. Delaying full-time enrollment until the following January.

[zephyr]

_ Nope. That is not what I'm saying. Is the issue winning at any cost or building the program into a powerhouse?

I'm just careful about all the hype and spin before we have won a single football game. the same thing happened with Baldwin and then with Bustle. And, yes, I want to find the best players that can play in the system but I want to make sure that the reputation of the program eventually sells itself regardless who the coach is. That's what integrity will do. There are also a lot of players in this state and surrounding states that will not give a second look to UL because of the "state of the program". Hmmn??

So, by your logic, if we have marginal players already in the program, "Do we pull their scholarships because we have better kids coming in and need the room?" I'm just like everbody else and want Hud to succeed but I want the program to succeed more.

I will agree that he is bringing in some top notch players. I hope they reach the field to showcase how good they really are. Qyen Griffin played on arguably the best high school team in the country and was Mr. Football in the state of Mississippi. Why didn't Ole Miss, Miss St, or Southern Miss offer him? If it's grades then their silence is deafening. My greatest hope is seeing him breaking tackles in Cajun Field but I am very cautious about putting the cart before the horse.

It's like buying your son a brand new super truck but he's not allowed to drive it! Let's see if they make it on the field first. _

So, you say turn down a possible impact player when you could ask someone to grayshirt and who likely needs to development time? There is nothing wrong with it. Hud promised him nothing. He said he would honor the commit and he's not breaking that. He's simply asking him to delay full time enrollment until next spring for which his scholarship would count for that year.

Hud is not doing anything wrong so I think we need to stop with the "Win at all costs" mantra and quit overinflating what it is. There is a difference between bringing in the guys that YOU think will help this program win and win quickly versus bringing in kids who need time to develop. He has never been shy about this and Cajun T has noted repeatedly that this staff is looking to bring in kids who can contribute now. If you look at the comments of those who have pledged so far, nearly everyone of them mentions that fact that the staff has told them that they can come in and possibly play now if they work hard. Additionally, he has also asked Broadway to possibly redshirt even if he is granted his waiver. Where is your bleeding heart for him? He did not transfer to have to redshirt if eligible.

[Red Tide]

_ So, you say turn down a possible impact player when you could ask someone to grayshirt and who likely needs to development time? There is nothing wrong with it. Hud promised him nothing. He said he would honor the commit and he's not breaking that. He's simply asking him to delay full time enrollment until next spring for which his scholarship would count for that year.

Hud is not doing anything wrong so I think we need to stop with the "Win at all costs" mantra and quit overinflating what it is. There is a difference between bringing in the guys that YOU think will help this program win and win quickly versus bringing in kids who need time to develop. He has never been shy about this and Cajun T has noted repeatedly that this staff is looking to bring in kids who can contribute now. If you look at the comments of those who have pledged so far, nearly everyone of them mentions that fact that the staff has told them that they can come in and possibly play now if they work hard. Additionally, he has also asked Broadway to possibly redshirt even if he is granted his waiver. Where is your bleeding heart for him? He did not transfer to have to redshirt if eligible. _

For all intents and purposes, your remarks are true. You and I have a different meaning as to the "how" it goes down. If a recruit is committed and qualified, why not just redshirt him? He gets a year to develop AND you honor his committment by funding his scholarship. I'm just saying.

As far as coaches saying that a high school kid can come in and work hard and play right away, that is the standard issue response that all coaches tell kids at all universities when they want a recruit. I have seen enough recruiting to know that the only thing bigger or faster than a recruits measurables are their egos.

All I know about Broadway is he transferred to be closer to his family because of illness in the family, hence the request for a hardship waiver. I take him at his word which is his bond. I just hope that the NCAA sees it the same way. That's where "my" bleeding heart is for him. I'm just glad he is a Cajun.

[anhil8tor]

Just my opinion here....


When a new coach is hired... all bets are off. That new coach and new staff most definitely have a different ranking system and what was good for one might not be a proper fit for the other. I like the kid... and had he wanted to come to UL he had a scholarship coming. Say what you want but its a business and you have to run it as such. There are no "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" after its all said and done.

Good luck to you Nick.