Vander Blue de-commits

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MRJ said:
I'm having one of those moments where you look back and realize how far the program has come under Tubby. In fact, I was just thinking the other day, "when was the last time we were legitimately in the running for the No. 1 national recruits in both football and basketball?" I know, I know, it's still early on both of them. But the fact that the Gophers are already mentioned highly by both Seantrel Henderson and Harrison Barnes is pretty fun just to think about. And now if Tubby and Co. get into the Vander Blue mix, it will be quite interesting.

In any case, I like the way you think Madtown!!!:clap::clap:
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I don't know how many scholarships Tubby has to work with next year, but Barnes, Blue or Joseph and Kirk would be a real good year. If they have a fourth, a SG would be nice as well!

Have Henderson on a FB scholarship playing two sports to go with this last outstanding recruiting class and I think they are on their way to the elite 8 if not the final four or more.

I am thrilled that the UofM is in the running for Barnes.
 

calminnfan said:
I don't know how many scholarships Tubby has to work with next year, but Barnes, Blue or Joseph and Kirk would be a real good year. If they have a fourth, a SG would be nice as well!

Have Henderson on a FB scholarship playing two sports to go with this last outstanding recruiting class and I think they are on their way to the elite 8 if not the final four or more.

I am thrilled that the UofM is in the running for Barnes.
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It is kind of a weird feeling to be in the running for two top prospects nationally in both basketball and football. But it's a "good" weird feeling.:D When it comes to basketball, Tubby has really turned up the heat, trying to land a host of guys in the top 30 or so (Barnes, Joseph, Kendrick?, Blue, Prather, etc...)

Personally, I think we have a better shot with Henderson than we do with Barnes. But certainly Barnes is giving the U a serious look. If somehow we could land both, it would be amazing.

Having said that, there's a long way to go. But it's pretty nice to think about anyway!!!:p
 

calminnfan said:
I don't know how many scholarships Tubby has to work with next year, but Barnes, Blue or Joseph and Kirk would be a real good year. If they have a fourth, a SG would be nice as well!

Have Henderson on a FB scholarship playing two sports to go with this last outstanding recruiting class and I think they are on their way to the elite 8 if not the final four or more.

I am thrilled that the UofM is in the running for Barnes.
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We have 3 schollies for the 2010 class. I believe Henderson has already said he is not playing basketball in college.

It's going to be a tricky recruiting year. If we can get one of those top guys to commit, the other dominoes might fall and we could end up with one of the very top classes in the country. If we can't get any of them or the process drags out, at what point do we start offering the next tier (which, by our usual standards, is still awfully good)? Guys like Jacob Thomas and Ricky Kreklow aren't yet ranked in the top 100 but are still very good players. Thomas wants to go here but he's going to have other D-1 schools breathing down his neck if the Goph's want to wait till next season to make a final decision. Do we sign Thomas now and then go after all these other top-30 guys with only two more schollies left?
 


From what I read, Kreklow does look good as a shooter.

What is so different is feeling like the Gophers are actually in the running and having a legitimate chance to land some of the top players in the nation.

It may be dreaming a little, but I actually do like the chance of the Gophers landing Barnes. I think they have a little better chance landing Joseph then Blue, but getting those two and maybe Kirk if actually a possibility.

As for waiting...that is always the question, like in football...should we go for the TD or first down or should we go for the field goal settling for 3 rather then 7? It kinda depends on where the game is at and who you are playing against. Neither is a sure thing, but sometimes it makes more sense. I don't think Kirk is a sure thing either.

Regardless if TUbby is waiting, I think he knows when to hold em and when to fold them.
 

Son of a Badger said:
Heck no! Last time I think I wore it a punt got blocked or something I don't remember I pushed the memory out of my mind....:)
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Although Bronko offered the sound advice, lemme say this: Repressed and blocked memories can manifest into something more sinister such as reproductory dysfuction. So, let it out. Everything will be alright. :)
 

Given the scholloies, I think it would take a bit more time to get the recruiting business done. Barnes may be the last letter of final four for us. So, we need to hold one for him as long as we are in the mix. We probably need a big man, so that is another. One more left. That may not be offered to Jacob right now even if he is a good player. Once Barnes decides, we kinda have to speed up the whole process, I guess...
 

Vander Blue would be great at Minnesota. He's quick, can shoot and seems to be getting bigger every season. I hope Tubby gobbles this guy up!
 



4th Scholarship Possibility

If Blake Hoffarber maintains 3.3 GPA this year, he would be eligible for switchover to academic scholarship (per NCAA rules). That would free up a 4th open scholarship in 2010 class.
 

FoT you've been talking about that academic scholarship for the past two years. I don't think it's legal because if Hoff could go on academic scholly the U would have been able to renue Busch's scholarship.
 

goldygo4 said:
FoT you've been talking about that academic scholarship for the past two years. I don't think it's legal because if Hoff could go on academic scholly the U would have been able to renue Busch's scholarship.
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It certainly is legal. But not required. Busch was a walk-on who got a scholarship for 2 years.
 

Maybe I haven't been around long enough or maybe I'm just forgetting someone at the moment, but the fact that I can't think of a single person who has ever gone from athletic scholarship to acedemic scholarship tells me that that Hoffarber switching over thing is probably never going to happen.
 



I agree gopherontherise. I can't recall a single instance at any D-1 school where someone was moved from athletic to academic scholarship.

FOT, I believe you believe this is true, but I think you have misinformation here. If this was, indeed, possible it would be going on all over the country so coaches could get another stud into his program. There are a lot of scholar athletes with better than 3.3 GPA all over the country. Please site one program where this has been done and I will become a believer. Nothing personal, just a sceptic without evidence.

Thanks,
 

It Is Available

And has been for 2 or 3 years now.

There are VERY FEW athletes (in basketball) with 3.3 GPA for a full year who have already been on athletic scholarship for a full year. Hoffarber is one of them.

Check the www.ncaa.org website for details.
 

OK, I found it. See below. If I read this correctly, it is not as simple as an athlete (Blake for instance) have a 3.3 or better GPA. He would have to qualify totally independent of athletic performance and the award would have to be consistance with other full ride academic scholarships.

So, for example, if Blake has a 3.4 at the U, I doubt that would qualify for a full academic ride as other, non-athletic, students with a 3.4 wouldn't get a full ride with that GPA. I would believe most people with full academic rides are running 3.8's or better and probably have 30 or higher ACT's.

Not a lawyer, so just my impression.

15.5.3.2.2.2 Institutional Academic Scholarships. Institutional academic scholarships that are
part of an institution’s normal arrangements for academic scholarships, based solely on the recipient’s
academic record at the certifying institution, awarded independently of athletics interests and in
amounts consistent with the pattern of all such awards made by the institution, are exempt from an
institution’s equivalency computation, provided the recipient has completed at least one academic year
of full-time enrollment at the certifying institution and has achieved a cumulative grade-point average
of at least 3.300 (on a 4.000 scale) at the certifying institution. (Adopted: 10/27/05, effective 8/1/06
 

TNGophfan said:
OK, I found it. See below. If I read this correctly, it is not as simple as an athlete (Blake for instance) have a 3.3 or better GPA. He would have to qualify totally independent of athletic performance and the award would have to be consistance with other full ride academic scholarships.

So, for example, if Blake has a 3.4 at the U, I doubt that would qualify for a full academic ride as other, non-athletic, students with a 3.4 wouldn't get a full ride with that GPA. I would believe most people with full academic rides are running 3.8's or better and probably have 30 or higher ACT's.

Not a lawyer, so just my impression.

15.5.3.2.2.2 Institutional Academic Scholarships. Institutional academic scholarships that are
part of an institution’s normal arrangements for academic scholarships, based solely on the recipient’s
academic record at the certifying institution, awarded independently of athletics interests and in
amounts consistent with the pattern of all such awards made by the institution, are exempt from an
institution’s equivalency computation, provided the recipient has completed at least one academic year
of full-time enrollment at the certifying institution and has achieved a cumulative grade-point average
of at least 3.300 (on a 4.000 scale) at the certifying institution. (Adopted: 10/27/05, effective 8/1/06
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That's the way I'd read it too.

That said, I'm kind of surprised this even exists, as it does seem to leave open the possibility that less-than-honest coaches/administrators will push the envelope and abuse the rule. Like coaches (Gillespie comes to mind) paying relatives of recruits for "jobs" like speaking at a camp.
 

Or they can target kids with rich parents, like the rich kid at Washington State who gave up his scholarship so they could add another impact player. He wanted to win more then he needed the money. On the other hand, USC did give a full ride to that rich rapper kid, but I think he still kept the money.
 

TNGophfan said:
OK, I found it. See below. If I read this correctly, it is not as simple as an athlete (Blake for instance) have a 3.3 or better GPA. He would have to qualify totally independent of athletic performance and the award would have to be consistance with other full ride academic scholarships.

So, for example, if Blake has a 3.4 at the U, I doubt that would qualify for a full academic ride as other, non-athletic, students with a 3.4 wouldn't get a full ride with that GPA. I would believe most people with full academic rides are running 3.8's or better and probably have 30 or higher ACT's.

Not a lawyer, so just my impression.

15.5.3.2.2.2 Institutional Academic Scholarships. Institutional academic scholarships that are
part of an institution’s normal arrangements for academic scholarships, based solely on the recipient’s
academic record at the certifying institution, awarded independently of athletics interests and in
amounts consistent with the pattern of all such awards made by the institution, are exempt from an
institution’s equivalency computation, provided the recipient has completed at least one academic year
of full-time enrollment at the certifying institution and has achieved a cumulative grade-point average
of at least 3.300 (on a 4.000 scale) at the certifying institution. (Adopted: 10/27/05, effective 8/1/06
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Correct. The 3.3 GPA is a bare minimum requirement.
 

WanderingGopher said:
That's the way I'd read it too.

That said, I'm kind of surprised this even exists, as it does seem to leave open the possibility that less-than-honest coaches/administrators will push the envelope and abuse the rule. Like coaches (Gillespie comes to mind) paying relatives of recruits for "jobs" like speaking at a camp.
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Very few athletes meet these qualifications. I'd guess 1 or 2 (tops) per team, IF that many.
 

I am confused. Are we implying that the University could pull some strings to get Blake a full-ride for his academic work?

I was in 4 of Blake's classes this semester, and though I do not know how he fared, or what his GPA is, if it is really somewhere in the 3.3-3.5 range, and he does get an academic full ride, I will feel very very cheated. I currently have a 3.8, and I did get a 31 on my ACT (in reference to TNGophfan thoughts on what a full ride for merit would take), and I get, at most, 2000 dollars a YEAR for my academic scholarship.

I am not trying to imply I am the only one who has this "issue" (or whatever you'd like to call it). But, I am saying that I would be highly surprised if Blake would get a merit scholarship, though he is an intelligent guy and this is in no way a personal attack on him. Just statistically, I am certain there are many students who are as well qualified, or better so, who get nothing near that.

Maybe I'm wrong, or crazy, about this. But it just wouldn't really seem right to me.
 

JDGopher said:
I am confused. Are we implying that the University could pull some strings to get Blake a full-ride for his academic work?
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The U should not and will not do such a thing, so no need to worry. :)

Blake may have an amazingly hard time to receive a full scholarship based "soley" on academic merit that is considered as "institutional." Besides, it is hard to imagine Tubby would architect recruiting based on some remote possibility. If it happens, Blake's academic scholarship will be a great bonus. Nevertheless, it probably is not a factor that can influence the recruiting process at this point.
 

Out of curiosity, does anyone know Vander Blue's stats regarding 3 pts and FT? I understand he is a long shot, but...

The following, albeit not his highlight clip, is a youtube link to a game Blue played in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0COd5wNRYs

From 2:30 on, Blue, #22, is highly visible in the clip.
 

GoFerit said:
Out of curiosity, does anyone know Vander Blue's stats regarding 3 pts and FT? I understand he is a long shot, but...

The following, albeit not his highlight clip, is a youtube link to a game Blue played in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0COd5wNRYs

From 2:30 on, Blue, #22, is highly visible in the clip.
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Vander's shooting was much improved in his junior year from his sophomore year. He only made 8 3s all season as a sophomore, but shot almost 40% on a much larger sample size this past season. That figure includes 7-10 in the three games at state. I believe he was also in the neighborhood of 75% on FTs last year. He is a capable shooter, but is definitely more scorer than shooter at this point.
 

GoFerit said:
The U should not and will not do such a thing, so no need to worry. :)

Blake may have an amazingly hard time to receive a full scholarship based "soley" on academic merit that is considered as "institutional." Besides, it is hard to imagine Tubby would architect recruiting based on some remote possibility. If it happens, Blake's academic scholarship will be a great bonus. Nevertheless, it probably is not a factor that can influence the recruiting process at this point.
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It's a legal and perfectly legitimate option per NCAA rules. Enacted in 2005, effective in 2006.
 

JDGopher said:
I am confused. Are we implying that the University could pull some strings to get Blake a full-ride for his academic work?

I was in 4 of Blake's classes this semester, and though I do not know how he fared, or what his GPA is, if it is really somewhere in the 3.3-3.5 range, and he does get an academic full ride, I will feel very very cheated. I currently have a 3.8, and I did get a 31 on my ACT (in reference to TNGophfan thoughts on what a full ride for merit would take), and I get, at most, 2000 dollars a YEAR for my academic scholarship.

I am not trying to imply I am the only one who has this "issue" (or whatever you'd like to call it). But, I am saying that I would be highly surprised if Blake would get a merit scholarship, though he is an intelligent guy and this is in no way a personal attack on him. Just statistically, I am certain there are many students who are as well qualified, or better so, who get nothing near that.

Maybe I'm wrong, or crazy, about this. But it just wouldn't really seem right to me.
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Work on your LH jumpshot and you may well qualify for academic scholarship per NCAA rules.
 

JDGopher said:
I am confused. Are we implying that the University could pull some strings to get Blake a full-ride for his academic work?

I was in 4 of Blake's classes this semester, and though I do not know how he fared, or what his GPA is, if it is really somewhere in the 3.3-3.5 range, and he does get an academic full ride, I will feel very very cheated. I currently have a 3.8, and I did get a 31 on my ACT (in reference to TNGophfan thoughts on what a full ride for merit would take), and I get, at most, 2000 dollars a YEAR for my academic scholarship.

I am not trying to imply I am the only one who has this "issue" (or whatever you'd like to call it). But, I am saying that I would be highly surprised if Blake would get a merit scholarship, though he is an intelligent guy and this is in no way a personal attack on him. Just statistically, I am certain there are many students who are as well qualified, or better so, who get nothing near that.

Maybe I'm wrong, or crazy, about this. But it just wouldn't really seem right to me.
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JD,

Don't lose any sleep over this one. FIrst, while I don't know the process for sure, I'd bet that in order to qualify someone under the academic rules, you'd have to have pretty convincing evidence that the person would be eligible for an academic scholarship. I'm sure the NCAA will look VERY carefully anytime that rule is used, so there's no way a school like the U is going to try to slip something past them. Second--and congrats on the excellent score and GPA by the way--the U doesn't give many full ride academic scholarships, and those that do get them are mind-blowingly smart. I know people with 34's and 35's who didn't get full ride academic schollies. I don't know Blake, but nothing I've read puts him in that category. So I can't see how he would be remotely qualifed under that rule.
 



Friend Of Tubby said:
Work on your LH jumpshot and you may well qualify for academic scholarship per NCAA rules.
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I think you are mostly just trying to reiterate your point of the legality of the scholarship, so I assume the reiteration of mine won't be too redundant.

Blake is intelligent, and obviously cares about his academic work, and it shows with his results. That being said, there are many students who receive no semblance of merit-based scholarship for having very good marks (and I am not referring to myself- there are many students whom I know personally with better marks, etc).

He deserves credit for being a dedicated athlete with great grades, etc. But, he is already on a scholarship. Give that merit money to other students.

But yes, in reference to your point, it does certainly appear to be legal. I am merely saying I would disagree with it, if they pursued it. But, I highly doubt they will, so it seems like a rather mute point.
 

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