Offering scholarship to 13-year old ...

by jeffy on Jul 1, 2009 1:14 PM EDT

is smart.

At least according to Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated.

Perhaps Billy G. should have been a football coach instead :P

I don't know how all of this will play out (and in fact, it isn't clear to me that Kiffin actually did offer a scholarship), but it is fascinating, isn't it, to see how different the perspective can be.

There is some derision of this action on-line, but I'm pretty sure there won't be the outpouring of piousness that was prompted by Gillespie's recruitment of younger players. Gee whiz, at 13 what does any child know of the world? I would say that it is ridiculous for a barely-teenager to be making any kind of commitment. Having adults out recruiting pre-pubescents strikes me as totally outlandish.

Then again, maybe he isn't 13. Maybe he really is 16. And maybe he's a Chinese female gymnast. :P

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

What I want to know is ...

… where is the outrage? Where is Dick Vitale? Where is Jeff Goodman? Hello, Miles Brand — Anyone home?

C’mon, guys, sauce for the goose, for Heaven’s sake …

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 1, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

I have seen some negative comments, but no outrage. No suggestions that the NCAA or any committee or organization of coaches, etc., should step in and end this.

by jeffy on Jul 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Easy, it is not UK

That is why the feigned outrage is not happening.

If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

by btcoop71 on Jul 1, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Why outrage??

Not saying I agree with offering a 13 year old but, all they have really established is a mutual interest. The kid would some day like to play for UT. UT would like to have him on their squad in 2013. Neither party has (or can) sign anything. UT could absolutely recruit over him and the kid could wind up going to another school (the one his girlfriend – which he doesn’t have yet – goes to) in 2013. Publicity, is all that they have really achieved – they could have kept it between themselves without a media event and had the same results. It’s obviously a family thing, which is fine – the kid wants to play for Kiffin – who knows who the coach will be in 2013??

by ukcris on Jul 1, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Tru was referring to all of the

outrage we got here at UK when BCG was recruiting Bball players at an early age…..the media crucified us and has basically ignored this…

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Jul 1, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks ABC

That’s what I meant … it was just a media event. It gave us something to talk about. What was the point of it … just a talking point that’s all. A chance to gig UK.
Nothing was official between UK and Averey … Gillispie leaves and he decommits?? Not really – you have officially commit – then you can decommit – I think(?)

Here’s something I did not know from the Bleacher Report:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/209003-13-year-old-evan-berry-commits-to-tennessee-progress-or-problem
It stated: "How young is too young? According to legislation passed by the NCAA this January, children are considered eligible for recruitment by grade seven. "
By this, It looks like the NCAA has taken a position.

by ukcris on Jul 2, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

This article missed the point

of the NCAA legislation.

First, it was for Div I Basketball.

Second, the intent was not to promote recruitment of children. The term used is “prospect”, not recruit. The aim was, according to the NCAA as follows:

It is intended to prevent Division I men’s basketball coaches from being employed in nonscholastic elite camps conducted for seventh- and eighth-graders and to prevent institutions from conducting camps for that age group.

That is, by classifying seventh- and eight-graders as “prospects”, certain impediments are put in place of coaches.

The above linked article also has the following:

NABC Executive Director Jim Haney had written to the Council about seventh- and eighth-graders being recruited, a practice Haney said the NABC has actively discouraged.

The angst of the NABC came to the fore-front after Gillespie’s offer of a scholarship to Avery. Even though there had been other coaches who had already made offers to even younger prospects, the media did not villify them.

You can wave it off as just being a “media event,” but standards of journalism and fair play should dissuade the media from painting one institution in a bad light while giving others a pass on exactly the same issue.

Media event or not, it’s bad publicity and publicity that isn’t deserved.

by jeffy on Jul 2, 2009 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Bad publicity for UK good for selling papers

Journalists know how big UK fan base is …. why take a gig at a school that has a smaller fan base? The object for them is to sell papers (advertising=$$).
Kinda like a adio talkshow host taking the unpopular view to rasie ratings …
But, I agree if they are going to gig us they should gig all equally.

by ukcris on Jul 2, 2009 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions