NoLongerN

Ya, which is really what surprised me ... he has a lot of better recruits ahead of him to break his way through. My guess is he thinks that the development there will be better and the better players around him will make it easier for him to then shine. That's why he must be thinking [but I don't know]. I was just hopeful we could get a few more prospects in the D Edge position and hit on one [maybe him].

You would have to ask him. It's what he said. It wasn't my opinion. He just seemed enamored by Auburn and getting their attention. It sounded like after he committed to that they stayed in pursuit and that seemed to grab him and show him either his true desires or revealed to him that Auburn actually wanted him more than we did [as he is stating it].

The videos and stuff I read communicated that his heart was toward Auburn as they were the ones who really pursued him to the greater degree. Any links to this thought or were just expressing your feeling/opinion?

I enjoyed the past few thoughts here on how these RB's could "tongue and groove" ... yet, with my view of the OL, I don't see the consistencies and germination coming as I'd like. We will have a struggle as we get further down the road and the B1G wears on us. The quality and depth just isn't there yet. Certainly some good potential and the new OL Coach and focus will help for sure. It does raise the eye brow of curiosity and excitement for sure.

Interesting. Man, I was feeling "gut wrenched" for what he must have felt. We've fallen so far and it would be so tough to hear that story and not be able to do anything about it. I can see him not sleeping that night as well. "It's personal" ... I hope more are hearing that. It's why Iowa beats us ... and we lose.

Hey, thanks @Mavric. That was a nice nugget. My hope would be we could add someone perhaps even better than Williams. Obviously, you and zi know they probably would. You following any leads or prospects you think we might nab to develop? My guess is that the portal will be watched closely especially at that position.

Ya, I was seeing that. That is why I was surprised that some were stating or making it like we had to choose a current commit of this guy over Williams. I am of the view that we get the best rated we can get and in development move the best one to a DE/Edge type. Guess it doesn't matter as Williams has Auburn in his heart.

Thanks @TonyStalloni. I was of the belief that one was for a developmental DE.

I don't "get" this. It would appear we would want and need both.

@funhusker, I'm just seeing this today. It would be strange to me to see moving on from a player as "vindictiveness". The players are all looking out for there best interests ... and that is all well and good. It appears that various schools are aligning themselves to be in particular conferences to put there interests first also. So, I my thoughts go, of the staff bieve it's to their best interest to move on from a player, it seems far that some type of strategy, plan and new type of contract and be made up that instills that we aren't stuck with an underperming player. So, even if worst came to worst, and we needed to get down to 85 players, with the New football world the players wanted ["show me the money"], if the coaches let go of a player they felt needed to go and it served the betterment of the team [even this year], I would have no problem with it. I would find it refreshing and a statement to the players that it's different now on the coach side as well. No one is safe.

I get what you are expressing as well. Even in these "down years", we have been far more respected in the polls then disrespected. 95% have forecasted us to be/do better than what we have/are. That occurs in the B1G and Nationally. Even when we are 3-9, we are considered the "best" of that as well. In the end, I know we are both just wanting to be out of being the doormat. Here's to that occurring.

For me, it just makes us look so weak when we make everything into a conspiracy .... ESPN hates us, the B1G doesn't want us to win, the refs are against us. All that leads us to ... we are a really good team, we are just one recruiting class away, we are one player away. The championship years had no excuses ... we just moved anything that was in the way out of way by force. Today, "there's always an excuse" why we can't get it done, but statistically, we should be 11-1 instead of 3-9. It's laughable.

Well, I guess the services I were following were right.

As they should. Kid is a stud. Wish we could have landed him.

Yep, agreed. Sure could. The part that complicates that is that we have compiled four years of the same stuff ... and then this stats come out and people make it out like it's just one year ... and it's not. If any year could/would/should be 9-3 ... it's this year. For me, I don't think it means anything in terms of "restore the order" ... but at least we won't be the laughing stock that it feels we are. It's so bad, I actually have a new avatar for when we lose to spell Nebraska with a "K". Geez.

Ya, I agree. I mean what the heck is going on with Scott actually having to fire half of his staff, reduce his pay and bring in potentially two possible candidates to replace him? I mean statistically, we could have gone 11-1. We are only one player away. This is a really good team. We love these guys! Heck, Trev should have locked him into a new contract and deal just like the old AD after Scott was 4-5 on his way to a 5-7 season. Scott needs our support, not criticism for his coaching and player development. In all seriousness, ya, run that simulation 5000 times and only get 3-9 twice ... and what I hear is crediting to Frost that he has just had bad luck. I mean, why don't we just throw in that the B1G is scheduling us to lose, the refs won't give us a call and the media is biased and against us. It feels like "cry me a river" and "the lawyer screwed me" instead of the product on the field. What "win" felt good to you? For me, it was NW and the way we ran it and then had no fumbles or interceptions. Yet, it is how the team performed in the tight games where we just seek to find a way to break down and implode. That stuff can't be statistically compiled. It can't even be coached. So, if it is all unfair, and statistically just impossible, how unlucky of Frost to go 4-7, 5-8, 3-5, and 3-9. You would think it would just be a "strange" year. But, it's every year ... and then folks pull out one year, show the 5000 similation and prescribe that it's just an anomaly. Maybe he is the Andy Dufrane of college football and its all just unfair. I suppose that means that 4-8, 5-7 or 6-6 is improvement and with the statistical impossibility that will occur means he will need to get more benefit of the doubt. If it was fantasy football, we'd all be calling this guy an idiot as he claims he should have been in the championship game ... and have won. So, if the statistically anomaly goes away, we will go 9-3 easily and probably upset OU or Michigan and really be the Champs [going 10-2 or 11-1] of the East and play OSU in the B1G Championship and a shot at a Natty. I'm all for it. The schedule is very easy. I'm not believing that will happen and I'm sure even the next season [if we went say 9-3 this year] that we would again go 9-3 or better under Frost. If what I've expressed sounds negative, it is suppose to. I think the days of, "Ah shucks Coach Frost, that was a tough loss. Go get 'em next week" need to be over. It's "WIN BABY WIN" ... or be replaced! I'm finished with putting the red lipstick on the pig. This is "pig" and it's horrid. I'd rather kill the pig and eat the bacon if we get more "statistics" to claim how "good" we are.

Well sure, it would be a fresh air to just "rip a scholarship" away. These kids just up and leave like a fart in the wind when they don't get what they want. YES! It would be wonderful if it happened that way. It won't ... and that's all good. From a "vent" standpoint, if the new elites view [and we see that everywhere now], you can just define your own terms and "get what you can get", then by all means, I would love for this mindset to be reversed even this year on any of these knuckleheads. I'm humored that you are arguing and it appears trying to "trap me", instead of reading what I'm stating/saying. I've made 4-5 posts now on this and you just sort of "needle" what you think I said without really seeing the "bigger picture". Oh well. I do know what you are saying. If you need to "win" something ... okay, you win. It is a forum ... so, it's totally cool to "do you though". I can state my view. For whatever reason, you think I'm stating something I'm not and you really think I'm going to somehow get that down so you have to take 4-5 posts to really try to shake me down and correct me. What gives ... geez. Say, we are actually rooting for the same team ... so, Go Big Red!

I don't know what world you are in. How or why would you change his 4 year scholarship. That would be totally unethical. You say you are talking about "bigger picture", but you are applying what I'm saying to Hickman like what I'm talking about should apply retroactive to his scholarship. Nope, but guidelines have to be worked into all upcoming new scholarships to reflect the "value" that is earned/merited. If you no longer add value or don't perform, the kids gotta be replaced when/if another option is found.

It sounds like you have a view that I have no relational sense or business sense. Where do you read me saying this? Letting go of people and going other directions happens every where in society. Prior, that did not happen when giving a four year scholarship. It all needs to change now.

You have applied my thought to Hickman, which I get. I'm stating the "bigger picture" of where this needs to go to be fair. My opinion is what needs to occur is that a university needs to have its freedom to part ways and be free of it's original commitment as well. So, just thinking "bigger picture", I wasn't advocating your scenario to occur.

He would do great there. Nice pick-up for them if it happens. He's got two good options.

That would have us at 7-5. It's respectable to some I'm sure. I will hope for it.

It sure would be a breath of fresh air and a nice "counter", to strip a guy like Hickman of his scholarship if he doesn't pan out. Everything is now based on money and performance. It's all "real world" stuff now ... as the players wanted. This is the next necessary step in the free market. I would put "options" in any offer moving forward and give a player a set of guarantees based on performance. It's a business now.

^^^ That guy is higher rated as well.

If we could somehow make our way to play OSU, that would be monumental for the program and really excelerate a new birth of inthusiasm. If only ...