Ward committs??????

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Big Play

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He committed to Tennessee State. According to Scout.com
 


huh....

Not exactly the type of school I had guessed he would end up at....
 

Face it, we can't compete with the Tennessee States' of this world

when it comes to offering their student /athletes places to line dance. Either that or a historically black university.
 

Tennessee State is an historically black university.
 


50poundhead

Pretty sure Norman Dale just said that. But thanks for repeating it.
 

There is something more behind this, a 4 star RB doesn't just end up at Tenn St., are we sure he was able to get into top schools?? I know numbers were thrown out there about his score, but I just feel they may not be accurate.
 

Wish him well, and let him go. He did what he felt was the best for him no doubt. We don't know why and we don't have a need to know. I hope he does well and I hope he graduates and gets his degree. Life is good!
 

JMO, but reading his quotes around the internet, this player was too risky to bring into the program for many schools.
I am glad he didn't land here.
 



I think I would care more if he played a position other than RB. I know depth and competition are good things but do we really need another Young RB?? The answer is no. With Eskridge, Salomon, Whaley, Lipscomb, Bennent, and apparently Hoese on the goal line I think that is enough depth. Gimme some more D-line help. Good luck Trabis.
 

go4fan, while I agree that it's not wise to spend a ton of schollies on 1 position, all the guys you list at RB are potential talent. We've seen a little bit of Eskridge and Salamon, and those guys are OK so far (maybe they'll get better as they get stronger and more used to the college game, but they didn't have superstar talent right out of the box). And we know Duane Bennett is pretty good, but he's also coming back from an ACL, which is no sure thing.

Whaley and Lipscomb look like they have a lot of talent, but we haven't seen 1 snap from either of them in a college game. So, yes, if Ward was going to be a high talent and good student, I would've very much liked to see him join us.
 

4starrecruit said:
Wish him well, and let him go. He did what he felt was the best for him no doubt. We don't know why and we don't have a need to know. I hope he does well and I hope he graduates and gets his degree....QUOTE]

Agreed; and down there if he applies himself he may have a chance.
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Handsome Pete said:
Easy come easy go. But I must say something does not smell right here. Doesn't seem like we know the whole story.
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1. By all accounts he was a very talented football player.
2. He had trouble qualifying academically.
3. Minnesota was one of the D-1A schools (I'm NOT going to use "Bowl Championship) interested in him.
4. He doesn't go to the "U" or any other D-1A school.
5. He goes to Tennessee State a school that probaly has lower academic standards. His stated reason he can play right away.
6. He's to young to go the Shon Greene - Iowa route of getting in, not going to class and then heading to the NFL in your Junior :D year.

That may not be the whole story but it's probably enough.
 

Elephant,

I agree with you about the potential talent our RB's have but would adding one more RB with potential talent help especailly one who has trouble in school? I don't think so. I never wanted him and I am happy he is not with us. Save that schollie for next year.
 

This one's pretty obvious to me

Supposedly this kid had major programs interested in him, correct? Yet he doesn't end up at one of the major programs, he ends up at Tennessee State? That tells me the major programs wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole, for whatever reason. Usually that "whatever" reason is one thing. ... extremely poor academics and/or test scores. That major programs wouldn't touch him is saying something because we all know the nature of major-college football and basketball.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Supposedly this kid had major programs interested in him, correct? Yet he doesn't end up at one of the major programs, he ends up at Tennessee State? That tells me the major programs wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole, for whatever reason. Usually that "whatever" reason is one thing. ... extremely poor academics and/or test scores. That major programs wouldn't touch him is saying something because we all know the nature of major-college football and basketball.
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Well, we know its not test scores. The scores reported for him were solid.
 

GoAUpher said:
Well, we know its not test scores. The scores reported for him were solid.
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The scores were reported straight from the kid's mouth, so thats assuming he just didn't tell those media people one thing and another had really occurred. I don't think anyone (other than universitys and test score centers) know what he REALLY got???
 

sonnygarcia said:
The scores were reported straight from the kid's mouth, so thats assuming he just didn't tell those media people one thing and another had really occurred. I don't think anyone (other than universitys and test score centers) know what he REALLY got???
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Fair enough. I choose to trust that the kid wouldn't just lie outright (and its only fair to note that there is no proof that he did).
 

GoAUpher said:
Fair enough. I choose to trust that the kid wouldn't just lie outright (and its only fair to note that there is no proof that he did).
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If you search your memory, you may come-up a friend or two who could have possibly fudged when they told you their ACT or SAT scores...or GPA...or bowling average..or golf handicap...

Just a thought.
 

Or the size of the fish that got away!!!!!!!!!!
 

Iceland12 said:
If you search your memory, you may come-up a friend or two who could have possibly fudged when they told you their ACT or SAT scores...or GPA...or bowling average..or golf handicap...

Just a thought.
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I'm not disagreeing that this is possible or even likely, but I'm not going to assert anything here without something to back it up. I think it is terribly suspicious that he ended up at Tennessee State after all of this but it could also be that some of his HS credits are suspect, etc. This is why I try not to hypothesize about the situations these kids are in...I know nothing about them and you have no idea whether your assumptions are reasonable. Good luck to the kid.

In the meantime I think I'll head over to the bowling alley and see if I can match the 300 I rolled last night. ;)
 

I shot par at golf once last summer...when I hit par, I quit...between the 4th and 5th holes.
 

lawrence21 said:
Pretty sure Norman Dale just said that. But thanks for repeating it.
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I thought Norman was asking a question and I wanted to change his "or" to my "is." Wasn't trying to be a smarty-pants.
 

You have to think it was test scores. I mean if the kid had off the field and outside of the classroom issues that were so scary not a single D-1A team would touch him then I honestly don't think Tenn. St. would touch him either. I mean I have never really heard of Tenn. St. before so maybe football is big there? But I don't think they'd reach a hand out any sooner then a D-1A program. And if the kid did have major problems I think it would be fairly easy info to come by. So I am guessing its A)test scores (is there anyway the public can actually find out the scores?), or B)a really odd case where the kid actually wants to go to that school.
 

Tennessee State University has had TONs of NFL players (Too Tall Jones, Claude Humphries, Joe Gilliam just to name a few)) and one of the winningest programs in NCAA history. Do some research before you knock a University. Education at TSU is great and the city is second to none.

It is odd that a player like Ward would come to a 1AA school. I get that. If you look at their roster, it is full of big time D1 transfers that got into trouble at a major University. MAYBE???? this kid sees the bigger picture. He may understands (or had somone to tell him) that a smaller school will be better for him in the long run. TSU had the #16 pick in the NFL draft last year and will have 3 drafted in April this year.

The Coach at TSU is a no-holds-barred guy. coached J. Peppers at UNC and teaches kids how to be great people as well as great players. TSU is glad to have him, but DO NOT knock a school you know NOTHING about. Look up the history, you may be impressed.

Good luck to the Gophers next season.
 

peaygolf89 said:
Tennessee State University has had TONs of NFL players (Too Tall Jones, Claude Humphries, Joe Gilliam just to name a few)) and one of the winningest programs in NCAA history. Do some research before you knock a University. Education at TSU is great and the city is second to none.

It is odd that a player like Ward would come to a 1AA school. I get that. If you look at their roster, it is full of big time D1 transfers that got into trouble at a major University. MAYBE???? this kid sees the bigger picture. He may understands (or had somone to tell him) that a smaller school will be better for him in the long run. TSU had the #16 pick in the NFL draft last year and will have 3 drafted in April this year.

The Coach at TSU is a no-holds-barred guy. coached J. Peppers at UNC and teaches kids how to be great people as well as great players. TSU is glad to have him, but DO NOT knock a school you know NOTHING about. Look up the history, you may be impressed.

Good luck to the Gophers next season.
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Good points. I'm not sure about this, but I think TSU could be considered a historically black school. One of the benefits of that is knowing how to teach/ mentor someone on how to succeed in life when the hand you are dealt isn't necessarily a strong one. Hopefully with a staff that will challenge him in all areas and peers that will challenge him in a good way as well the young man will succeed.

Cheers!

Go Gophers!!!
 

btowngopher said:
You have to think it was test scores. I mean if the kid had off the field and outside of the classroom issues that were so scary not a single D-1A team would touch him then I honestly don't think Tenn. St. would touch him either. I mean I have never really heard of Tenn. St. before so maybe football is big there? But I don't think they'd reach a hand out any sooner then a D-1A program. And if the kid did have major problems I think it would be fairly easy info to come by. So I am guessing its A)test scores (is there anyway the public can actually find out the scores?), or B)a really odd case where the kid actually wants to go to that school.
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So at what point in this post did I knock TSU??? Or were you referring to some other post? You admitted it would be some what odd for a kid rated highly like that to not go D1A out of H.S. I admitted I knew nothing of TSU and asked if they were a big football program.
 

peaygolf89 said:
Tennessee State University has had TONs of NFL players (Too Tall Jones, Claude Humphries, Joe Gilliam just to name a few)) and one of the winningest programs in NCAA history. Do some research before you knock a University. Education at TSU is great and the city is second to none.

It is odd that a player like Ward would come to a 1AA school. I get that. If you look at their roster, it is full of big time D1 transfers that got into trouble at a major University. MAYBE???? this kid sees the bigger picture. He may understands (or had somone to tell him) that a smaller school will be better for him in the long run. TSU had the #16 pick in the NFL draft last year and will have 3 drafted in April this year.

The Coach at TSU is a no-holds-barred guy. coached J. Peppers at UNC and teaches kids how to be great people as well as great players. TSU is glad to have him, but DO NOT knock a school you know NOTHING about. Look up the history, you may be impressed.

Good luck to the Gophers next season.
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With all due respect, people are free to knock any school they please on a discussion board. For example, Tennessee State sucks about as bad as Austin Peay golf- another team no one knows or gives a sh*t about.

I'm sorry we lost Trabis Ward, but would have been a lot sorrier if he had picked a competitor in a BCS or similarly-esteemed conference. All the best to Ward.
 

STPGopher...thanks.

Handsome Pete and btowngopher.....ouch. That hurt.

btowngopher...not a post about you.

I never said who or pointed out anyone. I was just making an observation as a whole. Handsome Pete.....There are alot of people who care about "mid-major" schools....not you of course, but many. I never hacked on UM. I just said that MAYBE, TSU was the best fit for this kid. Just because a small, HBCU, D1AA school does not play against the big boys and get beat up 9 yrs out of 10 like ....some, mean they are not important and relevant.

Take it easy on me......I was not disrespectful. Hey...I love Tony Dungy, Barber and Maroney. Saw UM in the Music City Bowl several yrs ago and pulled hard for them.
 

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