DBAT"S POST ON VTD (I CALL BS)

[PDad]

Nice post RWSquirrel. You made a lot of good points, some of which I'd like to comment on.

2. People routinely change their major in college. Sometimes that means they transfer. I would guess that most of the time the new major is also in the current college's curriculum. Why is that possibility the end of the world for a kid who verbals? Certainly nice to avoid if possible. No doubt. Possible to preclude? Nope. That is why I tell my kids to take as many electives as possible during the first couple of years in college. That way if they are exposed to something new and/or if their minds change, then they haven't wasted as much time in classes they'll never use.

Good advice for kids that aren't sure about their major, but for the other kids it would be contrary to your stance on verbals to recommend they explore other options.

Either way, I wouldn't recommend them taking electives over courses required for their major. Some kids change majors because they find something that is more interesting or better suited to them, but most kids change majors after they find out they can't hack it and/or the coursework isn't what they expected. Nothing will be wasted since all the courses they passed for the old major will be counted as electives with the new major.

No kid/parent forces a coach to make an offer though it would be hilarious if they could. No NCAA rules can stop verballing. Only the coaches, realistically, have that power. New NCAA rules, new circumvention techniques. Disagree? What new NCAA rule(s) would end verbals?

You're right that no one can force a coach to make an offer, but they can certainly put pressure on the coach to make one by having another offer in hand.

You’re also right that rules/laws cannot stop an activity; they can only discourage it by making it illegal. The NCAA could pass a rule outlawing making offers to underclassmen, but it wouldn’t stop some coaches from making verbal offers. I’d rather have it above board so players have something in hand, even if it isn’t binding.

Hopefully the rest of us will make informed decisions based on the informative posts of yourself and others.

[justawatcher]

Good advice for kids that aren't sure about their major, but for the other kids it would be contrary to your stance on verbals to recommend they explore other options.

Either way, I wouldn't recommend them taking electives over courses required for their major. Some kids change majors because they find something that is more interesting or better suited to them, but most kids change majors after they find out they can't hack it and/or the coursework isn't what they expected. Nothing will be wasted since all the courses they passed for the old major will be counted as electives with the new major.

Hopefully the rest of us will make informed decisions based on the informative posts of yourself and others.

Don't most of the bigger programs require athletes to take a certain amount of classes towards their major every semester?

[pbj2000]

Maybe instead of taking all electives they take core classes mixed with an elective or two. I don't agree with taking a bunch of electives instead of course classes. Core classes can transfer to any major...electives may not.

[Blind Squirrel]

Okay, all of the responses to the comment I made about taking electives make valid points. I didn't mean a kid shouldn't take any courses in their major in the first 2 years. It was just general advice I gave my kids and I explained why to them. Damn it Scotty, I'm an Engineer not an Academic Advisor.

Please don't tell my kids I steered them wrong on this. It would shatter their illusion of having a perfect father. Or, more likely, they would say it doesn't matter since they don't listen to me anyway. It's rough having kids who are so much smarted than you starting at about the age of 4. Of course that doesn't stop them from asking for money.

John

[TRICKY DICK]

Everything that has been post can be debated.All I am saying is the players are good & play because THEY LOVE THE GAME!!! Lets no loose site of the sport itself!!

Plan A will work
Plan B will work

But botton line, common sense is best used in this process................................

[TRICKY DICK]

To any of the "great minds" that have chimed in on this, I'll do you a favor. I'll keep copies of e-mails, mailings, text messages and phone call records on me at all times, so that you can fact check. Feel free to approach me at any workout/tournament etc. and I'll gladly share that information with you. This would require 2 characteristics that we teach our girls, that you certainly do not have: Courage and Humility. You apparently do have a fast internet connection and nothing better to do.

You may want to research where the big D1's are on their recruiting classes. When Larry Ray(Arizona) and I sat down this August, I was a little suprised where they were at, and who they had coming on campus for unofficial visits. Things have changed. DFW has 2-kids that are 2013's with verbals to the Big 12 right now. So where do you think the teams from last years College World Series are with their recruiting? I have an idea, since I handed out some information to 2 of our players from a WCWS team last Saturday during tryouts. FYI, the school did not attend the winter camp.

It changed everything we do with recruiting, when we start and who we start in the process.

You may want to become a believer sooner than later if you have a kid with the ability to play Major D1 ball, the window for those kids is closing earlier each year.

Keep calling BS, but you're the type who is going to find out the hard way with your own kid.

P.S. I'm glad to have a civil conversation about this with anybody, from any organization. While we want the best for D-BAT kids, we do try and help out some friends at the college level as well. When they contact me about a player, they also tend to ask about other classes and specific needs.

FYI-there is a top 25 team from the Big 12 still looking for a 2012 Lefty Hitter. We didn't carry 2012's in the Fall, so guess what? I'm suggesting kids from other teams.

Mark hear that?? it is crickets??? what time will you be arriving at nationals????? Will you be riding on the college scout bus? Boy I bet you wish you could take all those stupid statements back.

[ScoringPosition]

Wines you have gotten awfully chatty and down right cocky here suddenly. Come to think about you're the only one I hear bragging about being the best and going to be on top of the heap. I don't really know Mark but his posts have seemed straight forward and reasonable so why are you attacking him? What have you done? Have you taken a team to Nationals? You always commit to teams that you'll have them at Nationals but don't the teams pretty much fall apart before the end of the season?

[TRICKY DICK]

Wines you have gotten awfully chatty and down right cocky here suddenly. Come to think about you're the only one I hear bragging about being the best and going to be on top of the heap. I don't really know Mark but his posts have seemed straight forward and reasonable so why are you attacking him? What have you done? Have you taken a team to Nationals? You always commit to teams that you'll have them at Nationals but don't the teams pretty much fall apart before the end of the season?

Oh I love this 12u Glory 2009 ASA NATIONALS.HEAD COACH MR. RICHARD WINES.GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.U WEENIE!