News Article: Alabama Has a Very Few Unhappy Former Players...

[imauafan]

Point #1: If Mr. Kirschman had not played on the same high school team as Tim Tebow he never would have received a scholarship offer to UA or any other SEC school for that matter. He probably should think about that before he starts complaining to the media about being pressured to take a medical scholly.

Point #2: I read the article twice and could not find anywhere that Griffin blamed CNS for him taking a medical scholly. He seems to be upset that he did not live up to his potential more than anything. I fail to see where anything that he says supports the topic of the article.

 

[SavannahDare]

Sour grapes is what I'd say Mr. Kirschman has in his basket.

He should be thankful he wasn't just taken off scholarship altogether. Instead, he has to whine about being put on medical scholarship. Poor baby. He doesn't realize that the medical & coaching staff are doing him a favor while simultaneously making room for someone who can actually play to a high level and contribute to the team in a meaningful way? He's upset because that player isn't him? Even though he's walking around with a bad back? Really?

Come on, man!

 

[CrimsonJag]

Not saying this has anything to do with it or not, but Charlie Kirschman's father took his own life around Christmas. I'm sure he's dealing with a lot of varying emotions since this happened (who wouldn't?).

 

[punchdrunkpanic]

I don't agree at all with oversigning. It's a slippery loophole in the recruiting process. Alabama isn't the only school doing this and in the type of atmosphere that college football exists in I can't blame them for taking advantage of something that is "ok" by the NCAA standards (that might be an oxymoron).

As far as the kids in the article... if they were so broken up about playing, transfer. Give up your free ride and player perks or actually, simply just say no to taking the medical scholarship.

Oversigning is an issue, but this medical scholarship nonsense... please.

 

[derek4tide]

Yellow journalism from the Wall Street Journal....nothing new here....

 

[TIDEnGA]

I'd gladly take those free tickets he continues to receive as well. Somehow he might not find his name on that list much longer. What a poor decision on his part to try to slam Saban and Alabama. And yet he still has his hand out for those free tickets...Geeeeez.

 

[Bama Reb]

Agreed^ Is it just me, or is this more from the entitlement generation?

More garbage being written about our coach and program.

RTR!!!!

Yes, both of those, but when combined with "journalists" who would write sensationalist crap in order to justify their jobs, you get articles such as this.

There's no merit to Mr. Kirschman's claim. He's lucky he got to complete his college education. His scholarship could have been withdrawn because he was no longer able to contribute to the team in a meaningful way. In hindsight, he should have been required to pay for the rest of his education himself. Chances are though that he would have withdrawn from school that very day. And then where would Mr. Kirschman be? Probably working for minimum wage at Walmart.

 

[RedStar]

I don't agree at all with oversigning. It's a slippery loophole in the recruiting process. Alabama isn't the only school doing this and in the type of atmosphere that college football exists in I can't blame them for taking advantage of something that is "ok" by the NCAA standards (that might be an oxymoron).

As far as the kids in the article... if they were so broken up about playing, transfer. Give up your free ride and player perks or actually, simply just say no to taking the medical scholarship.

Oversigning is an issue, but this medical scholarship nonsense... please.

I notice your posting this from the heart of Big 10 Country, a place where the volume on this subject is almost deafening.

Why do you think it's an issue?

 

[RobK]

It's really hard to find the sin in that article. Two of the three players interviewed said it was their decision to make. The other who said he was "pushed" wasn't complaining much. They get their college paid for and free football tickets, for crying out loud! Nothing to see, please move along...

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

I don't agree at all with oversigning. It's a slippery loophole in the recruiting process. Alabama isn't the only school doing this and in the type of atmosphere that college football exists in I can't blame them for taking advantage of something that is "ok" by the NCAA standards (that might be an oxymoron).

As far as the kids in the article... if they were so broken up about playing, transfer. Give up your free ride and player perks or actually, simply just say no to taking the medical scholarship.

Oversigning is an issue, but this medical scholarship nonsense... please.

Is it better to not have all of the scholarships filled? Take a look at Tennessee's roster this year. IIRC, with the transfers, discipline problems and academic casualties, UT has around 76 players on scholarship. Would you rather the institutions have some scholarships go unused or to ask some players to enroll in January?

 

[punchdrunkpanic]

I notice your posting this from the heart of Big 10 Country, a place where the volume on this subject is almost deafening.

Why do you think it's an issue?

Well it's an issue because I only think it's a matter of time before the NCAA shuts that loophole down. I don't agree with oversinging, but I get it. I get why it's done.

Me living in Big 10 country has nothing to do with it. I'd feel the same if I lived back in Alabama.

 

[RedStar]

Well it's an issue because I only think it's a matter of time before the NCAA shuts that loophole down. I don't agree with oversinging, but I get it. I get why it's done.

Me living in Big 10 country has nothing to do with it. I'd feel the same if I lived back in Alabama.

But what is your issue with it?

I stole the following from another thread, but I did write it, and it still fits here:

It doesn't matter how successful you are, you'll always have detractors, and often, the more successful you are, the more detractors you have. CNS has done everything right with this program, yet someone found 1 tiny little thing they could exploit, and they've blown it out of proportion. Oversigning.

It doesn't matter that he's followed the rules, it doesn't matter that he's improved graduation rates and our APR, it doesn't matter that he runs a program that strives to be the best at NCAA compliance, it doesn't matter that off the field issues and arrests have plummeted since he's been on campus, it doesn't matter that he's doubled the number of Alabama athletes in the NFL and it doesn't matter that he's won a National Championship. Someone can do everything right in the world and there will still be someone standing in the background saying "You missed a spot." Oversigning isn't an issue, and the guy that runs the site is as hardheaded as they come.

CNS has run a program the right way. I'm proud that we won the BCSNC, but I'm even more proud of the way we won it, with character, proving that it can still be done.

I'm not suggesting we're perfect, but we are striving for it.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

Someone was bound to use this to manufacture a story against CNS and our program. They would have just taken another angle if CNS had just dropped the kids from scholarship.

I think the reporter found Charlie and got half of an article from him and was probably really disappointed that Jermaine didn't have anything to add. I for one will give Charlie a little break considering the things going on in his personal life. That makes what the author did all that more despicable.

 

[nasatidefan]

Sounds to me like somebody has heard that Buckeye fan on Slimebaum and thought it would make a good, feather ruffling story. The writer really missed the mark to me if he thought it was gonna be a headline grabbing story. One guy with sour grapes and season tickets. Wooo. I bet them vanish soon. Moron.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Any coach coming into a rebuilding effort faces some hard choices. When a program gets into the shape ours was, the roster is loaded down with deadwood. I had wondered how he would handle that, since, if something's not done, the beginning of the recovery of the program would be delayed by years. In the case of Auburn, Tuberville simply cut a bunch of players and there was a big outcry. Saban has gone about it the right way - facilitating transfers for those who could play at a lower level and obtaining medicals for those for whom it's appropriate. Also, some of the transfers were just kids who didn't think they'd see the field. I can think of two of those whom CNS spent a large amount of time trying to talk them out of transferring, but he gets "blamed" for their leaving anyway by people who don't know the facts.

I don't normally comment on players actions, but Kirschman (Cherry man) is the one who made this public. He simply didn't belong on an SEC roster. On top of that he had a perception problem about his own health. All kids that age believe they're immortal and invulnerable. "Put me in, coach, I can play." In the end, he will be grateful to CNS, just as he should be now. However, I understand where he's coming from. He'll grow up...

 

[Bamafan P.T.]

This is a very weak article to say the least. They try to make the problem look like an epedimic in the headline, yet kirschman appears to be the only individual they could find who was TRULY upset.

 

[Bama323]

Any coach coming into a rebuilding effort faces some hard choices. When a program gets into the shape ours was, the roster is loaded down with deadwood. I had wondered how he would handle that, since, if something's not done, the beginning of the recovery of the program would be delayed by years. In the case of Auburn, Tuberville simply cut a bunch of players and there was a big outcry. Saban has gone about it the right way - facilitating transfers for those who could play at a lower level and obtaining medicals for those for whom it's appropriate. Also, some of the transfers were just kids who didn't think they'd see the field. I can think of two of those whom CNS spent a large amount of time trying to talk them out of transferring, but he gets "blamed" for their leaving anyway by people who don't know the facts.

I don't normally comment on players actions, but Kirschman (Cherry man) is the one who made this public. He simply didn't belong on an SEC roster. On top of that he had a perception problem about his own health. All kids that age believe they're immortal and invulnerable. "Put me in, coach, I can play." In the end, he will be grateful to CNS, just as he should be now. However, I understand where he's coming from. He'll grow up...

I agree completely. If anyone is at fault here it is the NCAA. I mean, how stupid is it to only allow 85 scholarship players on a roster, but to allow each school to bring in 25 new players per year. If the NCAA wanted to cut this type of stuff out, they could simply let each school keep 100 players on scholarship (25 X 4) and and then only allow each school to bring in a max of 25 players a year. Voila, problem solved.

 

[RamJamHam]

Well it's an issue because I only think it's a matter of time before the NCAA shuts that loophole down. I don't agree with oversinging, but I get it. I get why it's done.

Well, when the NCAA puts a stop to it then we will stop. But it would be crazy to know that you will have attrition and not plan to mitigate the effects. Just because other schools choose not to plan in the same way doesn't make it wrong for us to do so.

Why is this really any different than Star Jackson transferring? If we have to be committed to an athlete for four years, as some are apparently saying, then do away with the transfer rules and require a four-year commitment for the athletes.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

They've trimmed roster numbers continually over the last few decades, in order to try and level the playing field. It would be more likely that they'd reduce annual signings to 22. And Ram, I said I could think of two he begged to stay. Star would make three...

 

[Im_on_dsp]

I don't agree with oversinging, but I get it. I get why it's done.

I get it too. I've seen enough of Americam Idol. I think it's obvious they just do it for the attention although you have to admit it's kind of funny sometimes.