A Real Conversation About Your Child and Athletics


SU Jag 79 said:
Okay ... explain Brett Favre at USM ... not exactly a powerhouse at the time. What about Big Ben at Miami-Ohio? Not a big name school. Hell, WE know about those schools because of those guys NOW. And how do you explain the Big State U kids who get cut in favor of a directional school player? The school matters, but that is far from the most important thing. If you can play the game, the NFL will seek you out, period. If that's the case and this is who I think it is, how did Tavaris get his shot? Why would any kid come to Georgia State when Tech and Georgia are right there?

Your point makes little sense.
Click to expand...


Brett Favre came out when a lot of schools that were non big time powers were getting good players. Plus USM had already sent a bunch of players to the league. Brett also beat Florida State during their glory days. Big Ben at Miami of Ohio was playing at the FBS level as well. Plus it is kind of hard not to recognize a 6'5 Qb slinging that rock. LOL. But again those 2 examples were not highly recruited players either. I think Big Ben was asked by some schools to play TE. Same like McNair was the leading interceptor in Ms history when he played. He was recruited by most to play DB. Big fast DB with hands. Bobby Bowden was on him hard. He didn't need a Qb because he had Charlie Ward at the time. Even though Mac was a better Qb eventually.

As for the kids getting cut in the NFL after competing with a smaller school kid. It is called heart and determination. Some of the big school kids get spoiled and think they should be in the NFL or NBA because everything has been easy for them. Just don't have a work ethic. So they get beat out by the smaller school player who has always had to prove himself. Some of the big school players also look better than they do because they are playing with so much talent. Like some of those highly regarded Alabama draftees. Some will flame out because some of them are not as good as the scheme Nick Saban put them in. Some will struggle because in the NFL, you go against talent that is better than any year in the SEC. Some will not be as hungry as that kid from Troy or UAB who may beat them out.
 



CEE DOG said:
Run Ray Ray run. Jump Pookie, jump!!!!
Click to expand...

Stop instigating Cee and add your real two cents in this. LOL. I know you got a serious opinion on this subject. Ray Ray and Pookie gone run at a HBCU or a PWC. LOL. As MD said, we got to get some gold teeth players to win.
 
Both sides make valid points and correct, stars will be stars. There is a reason that Mathis, Driver, Mcnair made it (I won't go back any further than Mcnair). I think many athletes make into the league based on talent and size. Those, our schools have no problem putting in the league. Some get in there based on a system, those we are not putting into the league.
 
JR said:
A lot of those kids have no clue about HBCUs. Seriously. I talked to regular students in Minneapolis who have no clue about many HBCUs. They may have heard bits and pieces of this. Like I said, I think most of you think like a HBCU grad/ parent that you are. Those kids come from different type households where the single parent in most cases is hoping to cash in on their kids stardom. A lot of these blue chip kids do not have that kind of guidance that you provided your daughters and you best believe no kid when they are highly recruited is going to go call some school to come visit. They don't even do that with the big schools. You hear kids say all the time, that such and such didn't recruit me. I will use the Steelers WR Antonio Brown. He was on NFL network during the season and talking about how no school but Central Michigan recruited him. So that's how he ended up there. Everyone wants to feel wanted. I would feel the same way. Especially if you are a blue chip kid. Antonio Brown was not a blue chip kid so he probably should have been calling folks. LOL. But if you are Lebron James or Kobe Bryant coming out of HS and can't play in the pro's right away, you already know those kids are not going to call your schools. But if I am a basketball coach at Southern. I put in the call to Lebron or Kobe just to see. I wouldn't waste a lot of time on the kid if they are not showing interest. But our schools got to stop being lazy expecting kids to call them. The least you can do is send a letter with your card and some information.

I know we don't have big recruiting budgets but we still can do some things to recruit. The only folks I have a heartburn with is when you have a HBCU grad who will not let his kid even visit his alma mater or another HBCU during recruiting. I would at least do that as a parent. Like TBF says all the time, at least have the hat up there when you are picking the school. But for a blue chip kid to have to call some school to reach out to them is crazy to me. I don't care if it is a PWC or HBCU. I wouldn't be begging for any school to take a look at me if I am a blue chip kid that everyone knows about. What's worse is when our schools know we have an alum who has a kid that is highly touted but don't reach out and take for granted that the kid or the parents should reach out to them. You best believe those big schools do not take that for granted just because the kid has parents that went there that those parents will do the calling. They will reach out to make sure that kid keeps them in mind and try to use their parent being an alum as leverage.

BTW, the NFL has become less and less impressed with FCS level talent. Even the PWC FCS schools are not getting kids drafted like they used to. It has become more and more about FBS ball. Every year it looks like the FCS schools are getting less and less drafted players unless they land a kid like the Janoris Jenkins kid that ended up at North Alabama because he got kicked out Florida. The system is started to slight the small schools even if they are PWCs.
Click to expand...


Maybe it's true that some kids have not heard of HBCUs (I kinda find that hard to believe, but oh well).

Again, it's my mentality that if a highly recruited blue chip kid wants to play for a particular school, he'll go after that school and not wait for them to come to them. There's a chance the school may not go after them, and the opportunity may present itself. It's just like anything you want in life, anything worth having in life.......you go after it! You don't wait for it to come to you.

Yes, you hear kids say all the time that certain schools didn't recruit them; okay, so they didn't recruit them, but again, how many times do they pursue that school? It may seem like begging to some, but I guess that's the mentality of some. If you don't take some kind of initiative and make a move, then it's not really in you to play for the school you profess to have an interest in playing for. Too many Black parents say "Well, an HBCU didn't recruit my kid and he/she would have liked to play for them" but there's no mention of if the kid pursued the HBCU, and most likely it's because they didn't want to play for them anyway. And that's okay, too. Most kids go where the money is and better facilities are, and if that's the ultimate deciding factor, so be it.
 
96lioness said:
Maybe it's true that some kids have not heard of HBCUs (I kinda find that hard to believe, but oh well).

Again, it's my mentality that if a highly recruited blue chip kid wants to play for a particular school, he'll go after that school and not wait for them to come to them. There's a chance the school may not go after them, and the opportunity may present itself. It's just like anything you want in life, anything worth having in life.......you go after it! You don't wait for it to come to you.

Yes, you hear kids say all the time that certain schools didn't recruit them; okay, so they didn't recruit them, but again, how many times do they pursue that school? It may seem like begging to some, but I guess that's the mentality of some. If you don't take some kind of initiative and make a move, then it's not really in you to play for the school you profess to have an interest in playing for. Too many Black parents say "Well, an HBCU didn't recruit my kid and he/she would have liked to play for them" but there's no mention of if the kid pursued the HBCU, and most likely it's because they didn't want to play for them anyway. And that's okay, too. Most kids go where the money is and better facilities are, and if that's the ultimate deciding factor, so be it.
Click to expand...

Staying on the subject of bluechip talent we are talking 4 and 5 star talent...why would I seek out an HBCU when I have the nations top schools in a particular sport coming after me? Now the regular athlete who doesnt have schools coming for him can do that but he can come to an HBCU walk on and play for a team! But kids today attend the schools that shows them the most interest...And like JR stated most of these big time athletes arent even sent a letter of interest from an HBCU...we are getting kids like that anymore....

When all of our prospective HBCU's coaches decides that they are thru with excuses and go after GREAT TALENT no matter what race then will u see more blue chippers attending HBCUs....a total change in administration and mindset needs to be made in the HBCU community!
 
The Founder said:
I know on the smack board we talk a lot stuff about crap to get a laugh, to joke, etc... So let's be serious for a moment.

If you had a son who was a blue chip QB, 6'5'', 225 pounds, runs a 4.4, 3.5 GPA, 25 on the ACT, very disciplined, and you are not trying to pimp your child out for money from a school. Would you still send him to your HBCU for sake of tradition and your love for that school; or would you encourage him to attend a top university?
Click to expand...

It depends on his or her field of study... I have two grandkids (sister/brother) who show athletic promise and are really good students (She scored Advanced in ELA/Math, Mastery in Science/Social Studies...He scored Advanced in ELA, Mastery in Math/Science, Basic in Social Studies). Yes, I took the opportunity to brag...but I'm a grandparent so that's permissible. Anyway, I still talk up Grambling to them so that they will know about my alma mater...also their mom and dad (my son) alma mater. I would love for them to attend GSU and would not discourage them from attending any HBCU because I know of the quality education they can obtain there on the undergraduate level. However, when they tell me what subjects they like and what they want to do... I tell them about schools with strong GRADUATE programs in that area. I'm trying to instill in them early that they are gonna need advanced degrees to really have a seat at the table. That's not to say they can't get there with a Graduate degree from and HBCU, but I'm talking graduate school at Stanford or Ivy League if possible.

My oldest granddaughter has pretty much made up her mind that she's attending Southern, will become a Nurse Practicioner and will live in the BR area (she says Zachary.. she attends High school there). My second granddaughter (mentioned above) says she's gonna live in New York because she wants to go to Broadway Plays but only if her Dad will come live with her. My grandson says he's gonna be a veternarian because he loves animals and is gonna own lots of horses when he finishes playing in the NBA (lol). I just want them to be able to achieve all their dreams and I honestly think that they can whether they attend an HBCU or not. It's all about finding the right place for "you" and if Grambling (or Southern, or Howard...where a family friends swears he's gonna take my grandson) is "their" place, I'm all for it.
 
I am glad some of you get it I refuse to sit here and do a thesis on this topic...I didn't hit all my points because I did not want to do a paper but I see a few of you get it and truly understand how this thing is going and works...hey lion96 just so you and others know I took my superstar to the HBCU's and again I will qoute one coach when he said "this kid is big time" and proceed to back off...again I say it is not only the white man that is misusing our athletes it is also the hbcu's and even some of their own parents...with that I am done on this topic!
 
JSUDMJ2004 said:
Staying on the subject of bluechip talent we are talking 4 and 5 star talent...why would I seek out an HBCU when I have the nations top schools in a particular sport coming after me? Now the regular athlete who doesnt have schools coming for him can do that but he can come to an HBCU walk on and play for a team! But kids today attend the schools that shows them the most interest...And like JR stated most of these big time athletes arent even sent a letter of interest from an HBCU...we are getting kids like that anymore....

When all of our prospective HBCU's coaches decides that they are thru with excuses and go after GREAT TALENT no matter what race then will u see more blue chippers attending HBCUs....a total change in administration and mindset needs to be made in the HBCU community!
Click to expand...


Why would you as a 4 or 5 star talent seek out any school. If you are that type of blue chip athlete, the schools know who you are. They all get the publications and such. If I was advising a kid, I would use that to eliminate the contenders from the pretenders. If you are highly recruited you are being bombarded by many schools. Say you are a blue chip kid from Jackson, Ms and you have USM, MS State, and Ole Miss offering you scholarships and then you have Tenn, Alabama, LSU and say FLorida and Miami all offering you a schollie along with smaller FBS level schools and some FCS schools. But for some reason you wanted to play at Florida State growing up. But Jimbo Fisher and his staff don't even send you a letter. But you know they have film on you and obviously they know what their rival schools like Florida and Miami are recruiting as well. Why would you call them up or contact them to get them to pay attention to you? Same for say JSU. If you are a kid that is playing in Jackson Ms and everyone knows you are a top prospect. Hell it don't cost JSU one damn dime to go visit that kid or contact that kid when it is legal to talk to the recruits. Hell, you should be the first one to offer a scholarship in their Junior year if they are that damn good.

One thing I liked about ole Shine Wyatt at BCU when he coached there. He would go after a few big name recruits who he knew would sign with Florida or somebody. But he said he did that just in case something doesn't work out or the kid has a change of heart. At least the kid knew Shine and BCU was interested in him play there. You might not spend every moment trying to recruit kids you think may sign with a big school due to our budgets. But you can at least send letters to these kids. Hell I would make my admin assistant that I assume most coaches have, craft a form letter within NCAA guidelines and send it to these kids. Especially with your region. I would have a nice packet sent to the kid and parents or guardian. We all know some coaches will try to restrict some schools based on their selfish reasons. But you can get around that if you want to. Now if the kid tears up the letter or does not respond. That is on him. At least you did reach out. There is no reason why any big name kid in Baton Rouge unless they got grade issues should not be contacted by SU's staff. Same for any of our schools with players close enough to reach out too. We have to get the word out there that we have interest and not just when you get in trouble at the FBS level school and need to transfer. That seems to be the only time we reach out or in their case they finally reach out to HBCUs.
 
JR said:
Why would you as a 4 or 5 star talent seek out any school. If you are that type of blue chip athlete, the schools know who you are. They all get the publications and such. If I was advising a kid, I would use that to eliminate the contenders from the pretenders. If you are highly recruited you are being bombarded by many schools. Say you are a blue chip kid from Jackson, Ms and you have USM, MS State, and Ole Miss offering you scholarships and then you have Tenn, Alabama, LSU and say FLorida and Miami all offering you a schollie along with smaller FBS level schools and some FCS schools. But for some reason you wanted to play at Florida State growing up. But Jimbo Fisher and his staff don't even send you a letter. But you know they have film on you and obviously they know what their rival schools like Florida and Miami are recruiting as well. Why would you call them up or contact them to get them to pay attention to you? Same for say JSU. If you are a kid that is playing in Jackson Ms and everyone knows you are a top prospect. Hell it don't cost JSU one damn dime to go visit that kid or contact that kid when it is legal to talk to the recruits. Hell, you should be the first one to offer a scholarship in their Junior year if they are that damn good.

One thing I liked about ole Shine Wyatt at BCU when he coached there. He would go after a few big name recruits who he knew would sign with Florida or somebody. But he said he did that just in case something doesn't work out or the kid has a change of heart. At least the kid knew Shine and BCU was interested in him play there. You might not spend every moment trying to recruit kids you think may sign with a big school due to our budgets. But you can at least send letters to these kids. Hell I would make my admin assistant that I assume most coaches have, craft a form letter within NCAA guidelines and send it to these kids. Especially with your region. I would have a nice packet sent to the kid and parents or guardian. We all know some coaches will try to restrict some schools based on their selfish reasons. But you can get around that if you want to. Now if the kid tears up the letter or does not respond. That is on him. At least you did reach out. There is no reason why any big name kid in Baton Rouge unless they got grade issues should not be contacted by SU's staff. Same for any of our schools with players close enough to reach out too. We have to get the word out there that we have interest and not just when you get in trouble at the FBS level school and need to transfer. That seems to be the only time we reach out or in their case they finally reach out to HBCUs.
Click to expand...

I concur! Our staff at JSU have let plenty of talent pass and go to Ole Miss, Southern Miss, and Miss State!
 
JR said:
Why would you as a 4 or 5 star talent seek out any school. If you are that type of blue chip athlete, the schools know who you are. They all get the publications and such. If I was advising a kid, I would use that to eliminate the contenders from the pretenders. If you are highly recruited you are being bombarded by many schools. Say you are a blue chip kid from Jackson, Ms and you have USM, MS State, and Ole Miss offering you scholarships and then you have Tenn, Alabama, LSU and say FLorida and Miami all offering you a schollie along with smaller FBS level schools and some FCS schools. But for some reason you wanted to play at Florida State growing up. But Jimbo Fisher and his staff don't even send you a letter. But you know they have film on you and obviously they know what their rival schools like Florida and Miami are recruiting as well. Why would you call them up or contact them to get them to pay attention to you? Same for say JSU. If you are a kid that is playing in Jackson Ms and everyone knows you are a top prospect. Hell it don't cost JSU one damn dime to go visit that kid or contact that kid when it is legal to talk to the recruits. Hell, you should be the first one to offer a scholarship in their Junior year if they are that damn good.

One thing I liked about ole Shine Wyatt at BCU when he coached there. He would go after a few big name recruits who he knew would sign with Florida or somebody. But he said he did that just in case something doesn't work out or the kid has a change of heart. At least the kid knew Shine and BCU was interested in him play there. You might not spend every moment trying to recruit kids you think may sign with a big school due to our budgets. But you can at least send letters to these kids. Hell I would make my admin assistant that I assume most coaches have, craft a form letter within NCAA guidelines and send it to these kids. Especially with your region. I would have a nice packet sent to the kid and parents or guardian. We all know some coaches will try to restrict some schools based on their selfish reasons. But you can get around that if you want to. Now if the kid tears up the letter or does not respond. That is on him. At least you did reach out. There is no reason why any big name kid in Baton Rouge unless they got grade issues should not be contacted by SU's staff. Same for any of our schools with players close enough to reach out too. We have to get the word out there that we have interest and not just when you get in trouble at the FBS level school and need to transfer. That seems to be the only time we reach out or in their case they finally reach out to HBCUs.
Click to expand...

This is why Stump had those big name recruits on campus for Junior Day last month. Some have already committed to LSU but they know SU ain't ignoring them.
 
jag4life said:
This is why Stump had those big name recruits on campus for Junior Day last month. Some have already committed to LSU but they know SU ain't ignoring them.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Stump is being proactive. Makes sense to me. I like how he handled that.
 
JR, I know you remember in the 80's when S.U. had Dayton OH, Flint Mi etc on lock for basketball. Now them kids go to Dayton,Cleveland State(ex Norris Cole), Miami of Ohio and so on. I'm sure they saw those kids shining and made an efforts to keeps that next generation home. We (SWAC) can and need to do the same. Doesn't have to be 5*'s. Just start small.
 
ravel74 said:
JR, I know you remember in the 80's when S.U. had Dayton OH, Flint Mi etc on lock for basketball. Now them kids go to Dayton,Cleveland State(ex Norris Cole), Miami of Ohio and so on. I'm sure they saw those kids shining and made an efforts to keeps that next generation home. We (SWAC) can and need to do the same. Doesn't have to be 5*'s. Just start small.
Click to expand...

Yep. We had all those areas on lock. Just like we had S Florida on lock too with those kids like the Faulkner brothers, James Lee, Johnny Hankerson(does that last name sound familiar) etc..

One thing I liked about coach Jobe was he did not mind talking to alums who would help. I can remember several conversations with him and he was accessible by phone and would call you back if you had a kid you thought SU should take a look at. Coach Cador is like that too. You give him a name and he usually follows up on it.
 



PV had alot of Flint athletes in the 90s for hoops....Flint has dried up now and the success those kids had from there caused alot of teams up north to keep them home....but they're not as good anymore
 
DallasCowboyGirl said:
I am glad some of you get it I refuse to sit here and do a thesis on this topic...I didn't hit all my points because I did not want to do a paper but I see a few of you get it and truly understand how this thing is going and works...hey lion96 just so you and others know I took my superstar to the HBCU's and again I will qoute one coach when he said "this kid is big time" and proceed to back off...again I say it is not only the white man that is misusing our athletes it is also the hbcu's and even some of their own parents...with that I am done on this topic!
Click to expand...

DCG, most folks have not really dug deep into our real issues and stop blaming the white man or think everybody thinks the white man's ice is colder because a kid goes to one of those schools. I am sure you did your due diligence to see what was the best fit for your son under the circumstances that were presented to you as parent and him as a future student athlete. I know when the time comes if mine is an athlete or not, we will do our research as well to where is the best fit. If it is Southern or any other HBCU then that is cool, if it is not then it will be okay as well. Because as a parent you have to feel like you did your homework and your kid made the best decision with the information they have. Their success in the classroom is going to be up to them and not what school they go to. If they are an athlete, then they will have to work hard no matter where they go. Nobody is going to give them anything or hold their hand. You have to earn it. Whether it is a HBCU or PWC. It's business and not personal.
 
the band fan said:
PV had alot of Flint athletes in the 90s for hoops....Flint has dried up now and the success those kids had from there caused alot of teams up north to keep them home....but they're not as good anymore
Click to expand...

Yeah Flint is so bad now economically. You wouldn't want too many kids from that area that are remaining. Most have had a lot off the court issues due to the environment there now. Heck it was bad in the 80s. Just worse now. If there are any one who are good and can play with some decent grades, they end up with Izzo or with that brother at U of Detroit.
 
in all reality though, if a kid has BCS offers on the table and he has not publicly expressed on going to a HBCU or sat down and told the HBCU coaches when they came through their schools, its best to move on quickly and get someone who can help you

I talk with coaches who recruit all the time, the coaches recommend the kids who can play on our level or are mid-to-low D-1.....they turn around and see the BCS type kids and in some cases will speak to them....but the BCS kid has to show interest also if they really want to attend an HBCU...
 
DallasCowboyGirl said:
I am glad some of you get it I refuse to sit here and do a thesis on this topic...I didn't hit all my points because I did not want to do a paper but I see a few of you get it and truly understand how this thing is going and works...hey lion96 just so you and others know I took my superstar to the HBCU's and again I will qoute one coach when he said "this kid is big time" and proceed to back off...again I say it is not only the white man that is misusing our athletes it is also the hbcu's and even some of their own parents...with that I am done on this topic!
Click to expand...


DCG, just so you know, I'm aware you took your son to some HBCUs.....if I'm not mistaken, I believe you listed Southern and Texas Southern as some of them. And to refresh your memory, when you announced his decision, I believe I posted that I was very happy for you and your son (because I commented on how you don't look old enough to have a college-age son). I am still very happy for him and again, wish him nothing but happiness and success.

I simply answered the question posed by Founder and gave my responses, as others did. I may have been in the minority, but that's ok, too.
 
jsupop33 said:
Founder, every school in America pimps their players. It is a business. Yall can chill with that HBCU's care more about black athletes bullshat because that is exactly what it is. I and every other athlete who has played in the SWAC in the past 20 years can testify that it is a business. Tradition may be the only argument that is valid but don't for one second think that Comegy, Cole, Doug, Jones or Lefleur's homeboy cares anymore about their players than Miles, Saban, etc. It is all a business, some schools just write bigger checks than others.

I would even argue that PWC's are more accommodating for black athletes academic wise than HBCU's. At JSU, we had players who were engineering majors who literally had to choose between being at football practice or being in class because the only time many of their core classes were offered was at 3 or 4. Compare that to some schools who will ensure that every class is offered at a time when athletes are not in practice and give them priority on enrollment.

In the end, it is his choice. My parents did not select where I went to school and I will not select my son's school if I am not paying for it.
Click to expand...

Thank you before it even starts.
I'm late to this thread so by the time I read to page #2, I's sure the "they stealing our athletes" or "HBCU grads must make their kids go to HBCU's" crap will be in full force. Just wanted to give you the thumbs up for the truth before I start shaking my head at the comments that are sure to be posted here. :lol:
 
JSUDMJ2004 said:
HBCU are their own worst enemy....but as usual someone from this forum will make an excuse that its the white man fault! :smh: :lol:
Click to expand...

I wonder who's fault it is that over half of HBCU have APR issues. Look like HBCU's pimp the hell out of the BLACK ATHLETES that we do get because they damm sure not graduating.

People on this board overlook that glaring fact but act a fool about PWC's doing the same thing or steering their athletes towards BS majors that won't amount to shat after their playing days are over.
 
JR said:
Stop instigating Cee and add your real two cents in this. LOL. I know you got a serious opinion on this subject. Ray Ray and Pookie gone run at a HBCU or a PWC. LOL. As MD said, we got to get some gold teeth players to win.
Click to expand...

And a lot of those Ray Rays and Pookies that people clown for going to PWCs are the same type that flunk the hell out at a HBCU.

Now whats the difference. :noidea: :lol:
 
I have read every post in this thread and some get it and some just want to make excuses and cover up the same bullshat that happens to athletes at HBCU's that they will roast a PWC for doing.

Take the 1920's blinders off.
HBCU's use athletes just as bad as PWC's. If I were a 4 star kid, why would I only look at or consider HBCU's when every school in the country is looking at me. Why would I turn down a schollie at Ohio State where their Intramural sports, NOT THE VARSITY SPORTS, facilities, training table, etc., are 1,000,000 times better than every HBCU facility in the nation combined.

Not to mention, 95% of HBCU degreed programs are limited. Most of these real student athletes don't even consider HBCUs because HBCU's can't even offer the major the kid wants to major in. We basically have the basics. Engineering, Medical, and LAW are our "EXOCIT" 3. :smh:
 
Last edited:
JSUDMJ2004 said:
The main culprits are HBCU institutions...the administration in the athletic dept, the lack of fundraising that leads to athletic facilities, the piss poor coaching, the LACK of NURTURING (there goes that word) for HBCU athletes in comparison to PWIs (Talk to an HBCU athlete and listen to their views)....Look at the negative "we cant do attitude" on this board most of the views on this board this is how most HBCU pres and admins think...What would a Blue chip athlete gain by going to an HBCU? Some of you guys views are from 1980's..
Click to expand...

You have hella' vision and understanding. :bowdown: :clap:

If I were in a hiring position @ PV, I'd try to swing you there to help build that thing up. Great understanding. :tup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top