Maryland transfer QB Danny O'Brien a Stinkin' Badger; UPDATED 6/11: O'Brien leaves UW

Donate To GopherHole

The rule needs to be changed for all. An athlete can start college with 30 AP credits out of high school like both my kids, redshirt, play 2 years, graduate and transfer to the best fit for him at that moment, and play 2 more years in a "unique" graduate degree program. The Badgers are in the tidy bowl last year without RW. This does not pass the smell test.
 

popeyoung5 said:
The rule needs to be changed for all. An athlete can start college with 30 AP credits out of high school like both my kids, redshirt, play 2 years, graduate and transfer to the best fit for him at that moment, and play 2 more years in a "unique" graduate degree program. The Badgers are in the tidy bowl last year without RW. This does not pass the smell test.
Click to expand...

The problem is, by not allowing this you are punishing kids that really are looking to get into a specific graduate degree. Sure, two high profile players have taken advantage of the rule, but I'd bet the very high majority of kids who use this rule use it legitimately.

Frankly, as long as a kid graduates with a Bachelor degree, I don't see the problem with them transferring period. When I graduated with my degree from the U of MN, we were told that we would be "highly encouraged" to go elsewhere if we wanted a graduate degree. But under your scenario a student athlete wouldn't be able to do that and continue playing. For me, as long as the transferee is accepted into a graduate program and maintains his grades, I really think he should be able to go to whatever school he wants once he graduates. Regardless of whether his previous school offered the same program.
 

Tweet from ESPN:

"Good sign for PSU? RT @rmusselmansc: Former Maryland QB Danny O'Brien is visiting Penn State for the second time today. He is at practice"

Go Gophers!!
 

Lakeville Goldy said:
The problem is, by not allowing this you are punishing kids that really are looking to get into a specific graduate degree. Sure, two high profile players have taken advantage of the rule, but I'd bet the very high majority of kids who use this rule use it legitimately.

Frankly, as long as a kid graduates with a Bachelor degree, I don't see the problem with them transferring period. When I graduated with my degree from the U of MN, we were told that we would be "highly encouraged" to go elsewhere if we wanted a graduate degree. But under your scenario a student athlete wouldn't be able to do that and continue playing. For me, as long as the transferee is accepted into a graduate program and maintains his grades, I really think he should be able to go to whatever school he wants once he graduates. Regardless of whether his previous school offered the same program.
Click to expand...

It's not really punishin the average student at all. There are countless of amount of kids who transfer while getting their bachelor's to pursue a program that isn't offered at their initial school. For instance, I knew a lot of kids who started out at St. Thomas / St. Johns, etc. and transferred to the U to go for Engineering. If that kid happened to play football, he would have to sit out a season. I think eliminating the rule would not punish kids as much as it would treat anyone the same. If you believe that these rules are really in place for academic reasons, the students would still be allowed to pursue their graduate's degree by either waiting a year (and sticking it out at their first school) or by not playing football their last year.

As far as WI doing it, I don't blame them at all. If the U was in their position, I would want them to do it. It's within the rules. However, in a purely philsophical debate, I don't think the rule is effective for its intended purposes.
 


Athletes have little to no control over where they play once they commit. To remove a rule that benefits less than what.... .5%, would be over kill and adding gas to the flame (schools and coaches have far more control than players.) If a kid manages to graduate and still have some eligibility left he should be able to play where he chooses; remember the coaches still have a say if they will accept him.
 

Sportsfan24 said:
Athletes have little to no control over where they play once they commit. To remove a rule that benefits less than what.... .5%, would be over kill and adding gas to the flame (schools and coaches have far more control than players.) If a kid manages to graduate and still have some eligibility left he should be able to play where he chooses; remember the coaches still have a say if they will accept him.
Click to expand...


C'mon, no respected Coach would refuse a kid, that would be like refusing a player who has illness in his family from returning home on scholarship. I mean, what kind of absolute low life would ever stop a player from transferring home when there is illness in his family?

JK
 

So, I need a little clarification. After reading this thread, I decided to go on ESPN.com and check this guy out. According to their web site, he was a soph. last year and was pretty terrible. Is espn incorrect (wouldn't surprise me) or is this just a normal transfer situation and nothing like their guy from last year (can't remember his name...they had a pretty good year, but lost enough games to be completely forgettable). :eek:
 

GopherHomer said:
So, I need a little clarification. After reading this thread, I decided to go on ESPN.com and check this guy out. According to their web site, he was a soph. last year and was pretty terrible. Is espn incorrect (wouldn't surprise me) or is this just a normal transfer situation and nothing like their guy from last year (can't remember his name...they had a pretty good year, but lost enough games to be completely forgettable). :eek:
Click to expand...
He's not a regular transfer, he is graduating this semester. Unless by regular you mean nothing special of a player?
 



GopherHomer said:
So, I need a little clarification. After reading this thread, I decided to go on ESPN.com and check this guy out. According to their web site, he was a soph. last year and was pretty terrible. Is espn incorrect (wouldn't surprise me) or is this just a normal transfer situation and nothing like their guy from last year (can't remember his name...they had a pretty good year, but lost enough games to be completely forgettable). :eek:
Click to expand...


He will be graduating, so he is not a normal transfer.

I do agree that Wilson is better than him (by quite a bit), but O'Brien had a fantastic FR season.

22 TD - 8 INTs - 57 % completion percentage. This was also before the absolute trainwreck that was Edsall's first year at Maryland, last year.
 

Thanks guys...I assumed that we was graduating from all the discussion, but was just shocked to see he was only a sophomore (I'm sure he's been in school for three years though). Must be a smart kid.
 

GopherHomer said:
So, I need a little clarification. After reading this thread, I decided to go on ESPN.com and check this guy out. According to their web site, he was a soph. last year and was pretty terrible... :eek:
Click to expand...


I watched Maryland in their nationally televised game last Labor Day against the Miami Hurricanes. QB Danny O'Brien was awesome, and led Maryland to victory. Just watch the NFL draft next month, and see how many guys get drafted off last season's Hurricane defense. O'brien can play.

He is not the caliber of Russel Wilson (who would be a 1st round draft pick if he were 6'4", and not 5'10" and change) but is NOT transferring to ride the bench and watch for the next two years.
 

dinkything said:
...but is NOT transferring to ride the bench and watch for the next two years.
Click to expand...

Right. He's transferring to pursue a graduate degree that is not offered at Maryland. He doesn't know what degree that is yet, but those things get ironed out after he commits to whatever program.
 



http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/144648165.html

Madison - Former quarterback Danny O’Brien is poised to transfer to Wisconsin, two college football sources told the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.

O’Brien is on pace to graduate this spring and under NCAA rules will be eligible to play immediately.
He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

He visited three schools -- UW, Penn State and Ole Miss.

UW has only two healthy quarterbacks participating in spring practice – Joe Brenann and Joel Stave.

Brenann will be a redshirt sophomore next season. He played in six games last season and completed 6 of 15 passes for 48 yards, with one interception.

Stave, a walk-on from Whitnall High School, will be a redshirt freshman.

Curt Phillips is getting limited work in the spring while trying to come back from multiple knee injuries. The last game in which Phillips played was the 2009 regular-season finale at Hawaii.

Jon Budmayr, who closed last spring as the No. 1 quarterback but never played a down after experiencing nerve problems in his throwing arm, is still out.
 

F This. Now I hate Randy Edsall even more. Did not think that was possible.
 


O'Brien may be fine - I can't say I saw much of him; they were 2-10.

That said, Wisconsin has more issues this year than just QB.
 

Over/Under on how many Badger fans on here in the next few days to discuss...?

Looks like the tally is already at one and the news is barely a few hours old
 



TCF=UnitedWeStand said:
O'Brien may be fine - I can't say I saw much of him; they were 2-10.

That said, Wisconsin has more issues this year than just QB.
Click to expand...

Like what?

Our O-line will still dominate. Ball is back. Everyone that matters, save Fenelus, is back from our defense. Losing Toon will hurt...

I just don't see a glaring point of weakness if O'Brien is serviceable. If he isn't, then we will struggle, but right now we are sitting in a very good position to win the division and the conference for the third straight year.
 


I'm more curious to see who they might get next year. Were they ever in the running for Jeremy Misaoli a few years ago?
 

John Galt said:
Badger2010 said:
Like what? Everyone that matters, save Fenelus, is back from our defense. QUOTE]

That's your issue, you get your whole defense back...
Click to expand...

I will be the first to admit that our defense wasn't great. However, they only allowed 19 ppg last year, which was good for 13th best in the country.

Regardless, our defense isn't a new issue. We dealt with it last year and the year before and we won the conference each season.

I think our offense will take a step back this year and our defense will take a step forward. Hopefully it works out. The thing is, with O$U ineligible to play in the CCG, Penn State is our only big competition in the division...I like our chances there.
Click to expand...
 

Kuato Lives! said:
I'm more curious to see who they might get next year. Were they ever in the running for Jeremy Misaoli a few years ago?
Click to expand...

Next year O'Brien will still be on the squad. We will have more than two healthy QB's (hopefully), so grabbing a transfer QB won't be necessary.
 


Badger2010 said:
Next year O'Brien will still be on the squad. We will have more than two healthy QB's (hopefully), so grabbing a transfer QB won't be necessary.
Click to expand...

...

y13WZ.jpg
 


I'm wondering how Wisky managed to convince O'Brien that Chryst and Bostad WEREN'T the brains behind the operation in Madison?

That had to be a tough sell....
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
I'm wondering how Wisky managed to convince O'Brien that Chryst and Bostad WEREN'T the brains behind the operation in Madison?

That had to be a tough sell....
Click to expand...

They pointed to the success before them...

Our offensive system isn't complex my friend. The blueprint is there for success, and it hasn't changed since Alvarez came in.

Also I'm sure an All-American LT and a Heisman finalist at RB coming back didn't hurt...
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom