[Sly Fox]

I believe Devine may be at his 4th school in 4 years. And considering his personal issues, he's not exactly a model of consistency.

How do you think the nation's top RB from South Florida wound up in Morgantown? Think.

[RagingTireFire]

How do you think the nation's top RB from South Florida wound up in Morgantown? Think.

Plane ride?

How about he wanted to play in a spread offense that has a habit of playing freshmen and turning them into Heisman candidates right away? Just a thought.

[Fireman]

Hey Sly;
He is a true freshman, graduated (by the skin of his gold teeth) in 2007. Lost a sure win in Florida HS Regional playoffs with a late 4th quarter stip-fumble with the defense picking up the ball for a 80 yard TD. Oops.... cried on the locker room floor like a baby.

From same high school as Deon Sanders (FSU & Dallas Cowboys). Sanders trried to help him. But some kids do not reconize help when it is staring them in the face.

Devine not even smart enough for FSU. Chris Rainey (Lakeland HS / UF) is a downhill, explosive runner.

From another blog site, more than a year ago.

"The answer is the most explosive player in Florida H.S. history.. Many are scared off by his troubled past.. He is only 18 years old and already has a daughter.. Here is an excerpt from an arcticle.

Devine never knew his biological father and his mother died from an illness in 2000. He used to live with his grandmother but has been residing with friend Robert Harlow for the last three years, Devine's cousin LeDondrick Rowe said.

"(Sanders) wants to be there for me and get me away from all this negative stuff," Devine said. "He wants to show me the right way, to show me things I haven't seen yet."

Sanders said he's not attracted to Devine because of his football skills.

"I'm attracted to this kid because Steve DeShazo, a former (North Fort Myers High) principal, called me a couple years ago and wanted me to help this kid in life," Sanders said.

"Who is going to get this kid prepared to take the SATs, ACTs? I haven't heard that. I've just heard what this kid can do on the field, and I don't like to hear that because that means you care more about the talent than the child."

Devine said he'll talk to his grandmother some more and make a decision before the school year.

"I think it will be better for me," said Devine, who visited Sanders in Dallas a few months ago. "We have a father-son relationship. He already went through everything I went through."

WVU vs LU:
Horse-shoe team tackling. He is crazy quick then fast. He dances too much. Defense must stay home and he will cut back to you. We will be watching.

[Fireman]

June 11, 2005 -- Prosper's Deion Sanders has contributed financially to the local Eagles' athletic program, and now he may make a difference on the field - by adopting a promising running back from a Florida High School who has a troubled background.

The 37-year old Sanders is in the process of adopting 17-year old Noel Devine, a standout 5-8, 170-pounder from Sanders' former high school, North Fort Myers, which also produced Jevon Kearse. Devine will be a junior this fall.

According to reports, Devine never knew his biological father and his mother died from an illness in 2000. He used to live with his grandmother (Bert Lee) but has been residing with friend Robert Harlow for the last three years, Devine's cousin LeDondrick Rowe said. A former principal at North Fort Myers contacted Sanders two years ago and made the plea for Sanders to consider rescuing Devine.

"(Sanders) wants to be there for me and get me away from all this negative stuff," Devine said. "He wants to show me the right way, to show me things I haven't seen yet."

If the University Interscholastic League approves Devine's application for a hardship waiver of the athletic parent residence rule, Devine will suit up for 2A Proper and coach John Pease this fall. Devine has sub 4.4 speed and already benches nearly 350 pounds.

Last fall, Devine (1,105 yards and 11 TDs on 121 carries as a freshman) rushed for 365 yards and six TDs on only nine carries in a 42-22 victory over Fort Myers Riverdale HS. He scored on runs of 14, 59, 28, 68, 90 and 66 yards and tallied 249 yards in the third period. Devine was pulled in third quarter and finished 11 yards shy of a county record of 376 yards set in 1996 by former Cape Coral Mariner and Florida Gator star Earnest Graham.

"My wife would tell you all through our life together that I've talked about adopting a child and giving a kid a chance who otherwise wouldn't have one," Sanders told The Dallas Morning News. "It's about giving someone an opportunity to have a chance in life."

In addition to working through legal hurdles in Fort Myers on Friday, Sanders also announced at City Halls in Fort Myers a financial pledge and plan to improve local neighborhoods and to build affordable housing in the city.

Devine is regarded as one of Florida's top sophomore running backs, along with Lakeland's Chris Rainey and Jevon Pugh from Naples.

http://texasfootball.com/05blue_0611.html

[Sly Fox]

You left out the part where Noel stole Deion's car to drive himself to the airport to fly home and then abandoned the car on the curb in front of the terminal at DFW.

I'm not even going to tell all of the stories I was hearing about Noel a year or two ago. Suffice it to say the spread offense had very little to do with Noel's college choice.

[RagingTireFire]

I don't know where you're going with all that, Sly. You're either casting aspersions on WVU or describing a fantastic amount of restraint on the part of the Florida schools which, thanks to the Willie Williams diaries, we know simply doesn't exist.

By the way, bonus points for anyone who knows where Willie Williams is currently enrolled.

--------

(There's actually a new graduation rule by the NCAA that is soon going to nullify the benefit of prep schools, making them nearly obsolete for athletic purposes. The rule has something to do with graduation rates being applicable only to four years, or something like that, which would take away the fifth year. I'm not sure.)

The only way that rule would make any sense is if they eliminate redshirting altogether and just give everybody five years to play.

[phoenix]

I'm just trying to figure out what possible benefit playing Liberty has for to 'Neers. They already play Marshal every year (which for WVU is a cupcake game) -- why do they need another one? This is going to hurt their strength of schedule reputation, and there are plenty of people just waiting for something like that to rule out WVU from national championship contention.

I figure when this is made official, WVU fans are going to be hot. Which will result in a beating for LU.

[Sly Fox]

It makes sense for them the same way it makes sense for all of the BCS powers to pad their non-conference schedules with cupcakes. The way thre BCS is set up you are better to beat nobodies than to lose to other powers. That's why Penn State is facing Coastal Carolina in their opener this fall and the Florida Gators are scheduling Charleston Southern.

[RagingTireFire]

the Florida Gators are scheduling Charleston Southern.

Actually, it's the Miami Hurricanes scheduling CSU. Florida's '08 patsy is The Citadel.

[Cider Jim]

They already play Marshall every year (which for WVU is a cupcake game) -- why do they need another one?

(fixed it for you)

WVU is required by law (of the govenor) to play Marshall something like 7 years in a row; Marshall football has fallen on hard times of late, but they were nationally ranked in DI-A not too long ago and had won serveral bowl games in a row until Bobby Pruett left to retire and then later take an assistant coaching job at UVa.

[BJWilliams]

I don't know where you're going with all that, Sly. You're either casting aspersions on WVU or describing a fantastic amount of restraint on the part of the Florida schools which, thanks to the Willie Williams diaries, we know simply doesn't exist.

By the way, bonus points for anyone who knows where Willie Williams is currently enrolled.

--------

(There's actually a new graduation rule by the NCAA that is soon going to nullify the benefit of prep schools, making them nearly obsolete for athletic purposes. The rule has something to do with graduation rates being applicable only to four years, or something like that, which would take away the fifth year. I'm not sure.)

The only way that rule would make any sense is if they eliminate redshirting altogether and just give everybody five years to play.

Last I checked he was at Louisville, I saw his on the Miami Hurricanes site, unless that was where he was before Louisville and they never switched him

[SuperJon]

By the way, bonus points for anyone who knows where Willie Williams is currently enrolled.

Glenville St.

[BJWilliams]

If that's the case then we will see him in Williams Stadium this fall (the boys will have fun with that Im sure)

[phoenix]

They already play Marshall every year (which for WVU is a cupcake game) -- why do they need another one?

(fixed it for you)

I can't believe I did that Thanks.

[jmdickens]

I'm just trying to figure out what possible benefit playing Liberty has for to 'Neers. They already play Marshal every year (which for WVU is a cupcake game) -- why do they need another one? This is going to hurt their strength of schedule reputation, and there are plenty of people just waiting for something like that to rule out WVU from national championship contention.

I figure when this is made official, WVU fans are going to be hot. Which will result in a beating for LU.

There opener for the 2008 season is Villanova which I believe is D1-AA, so what is your point??

[LUMU11]

Legitimately impressed Jon knows Williams is at Glenville St. Surprised someone outside WV would know that. Anyway, the WVIAC has never seen a guy with that kind of athletic ability, however, there's nothing for Williams to do there except get in trouble seeing as Glenville is in the middle of nowhere, but that may work out in his favor. God Bless the guy, he needs some help.

[RagingTireFire]

By the way, bonus points for anyone who knows where Willie Williams is currently enrolled.

Glenville St.

Ding ding. Frankly, I'll be surprised if he's eligible to play against us in the fall. Then again, it's the WVIAC so maybe not.

[SuperJon]

Legitimately impressed Jon knows Williams is at Glenville St. Surprised someone outside WV would know that. Anyway, the WVIAC has never seen a guy with that kind of athletic ability, however, there's nothing for Williams to do there except get in trouble seeing as Glenville is in the middle of nowhere, but that may work out in his favor. God Bless the guy, he needs some help.

I'm just that amazing. You should know that.

[thepostman]

come on, you used google jon...dont try to hide it!

[SuperJon]

No I didn't. Just so happened to have a conversation about it earlier this week while at work.

[Rocketfan]

No I didn't. Just so happened listen in to a conversation while i was working as the football secretary.

Fixed.

[SuperJon]

No I didn't. Just so happened listen in to a conversation while i was working as the football secretary.

Fixed.

Think what you want. That doesn't matter to me.

[Rocketfan]

No I didn't. Just so happened listen in to a conversation while i was working as the football secretary.

Fixed.

Think what you want. That doesn't matter to me.

It was just a joke...you and your boy both are way to serious.

[SuperJon]

What are you talking about? My boy? Who?

[thepostman]

you know...your boy BJ...come on man...you should know this!