[kingaling42]

Hey, if he has his degree and wants to play pro ball I say God bless him. If he decides to transfer and play a year as a grad student elsewhere, I would be interested to know if there were actual academic reasons (seeking a degree we don't offer) or if he just wanted out. I will add this. If JB goes, so much for the theory about recruiting a bunch of JUCO guys because they can't leave.

In order to be eligible immediately without sitting out at another D1 institution an athlete must have already graduated AND be enrolled in a masters/advanced degree program that the former institution did not offer- an athlete cannot simply get out & still be eligible for D1 participation.

It would beg some serious questions if Layer's own players that are playing significant minutes decide to leave the program. If they are other coaches recruits/players- then that stuff happens..

I realize that this is all speculation outside of Evan but when is the last time that this much chatter happened on this board and the player(s) mentioned didn't actually leave??

[BJWilliams]

Im not saying that they should be PH (nor do I think BYD is) but you have to wonder what keeps driving people to leave a place like this every year...

[Sly Fox]

King - 2 Years ago with Jesse.

And for the record, this is just a bunch of purely speculative chatter on here right now. Which to a certain degree is a byproduct of a slow time of the year for the board.

[ballah09]

I hope this all a nasty rumor...butit's amazing tho. possible favorites to possible 7-11 team

[olldflame]

We can't lump it on Layer's head, but you still have to acknowledge the totality of what's happened in the same program within a few years time. Somebody needs to be held accountable to this stuff.

"Somebody" should also be held "accountable" then for the fact that we are 57-41 over the past 3 years and have been reinstated to a full scholarship quota after being penalized for 2 years. I think there is too much hand-wringing over guys leaving. It's more important that the players we have are getting it done on the court and in the classroom, and don't appear to be blatently disregarding the rules; all things which couldn't always be said in the past.

Oh, and BTW, as it stands now, we still only have Evan leaving.

[jcmanson]

We can't lump it on Layer's head, but you still have to acknowledge the totality of what's happened in the same program within a few years time. Somebody needs to be held accountable to this stuff.

"Somebody" should also be held "accountable" then for the fact that we are 57-41 over the past 3 years and have been reinstated to a full scholarship quota after being penalized for 2 years. I think there is too much hand-wringing over guys leaving. It's more important that the players we have are getting it done on the court and in the classroom, and don't appear to be blatently disregarding the rules; all things which couldn't always be said in the past.

Oh, and BTW, as it stands now, we still only have Evan leaving.

Layer is only 34-27. 27-27 against D-1 competition.

[SuperJon]

If these guys are thinking about leaving they need to look at this fact:

Most people who transfer schools don't do nearly as well at the school they go to as they would've at the school they leave.

Let's look at Liberty people who transferred over the last few years. Of all of those, and it's a lot, only two improved and were successful: BJ Jenkins and Seth Curry.

David Dees didn't improve.
Austin Smith didn't improve.
Chris Perez didn't improve.
Patrick Konan didn't improve.

The question becomes do you tough it out and play at a place where you may not be 100% happy and have success or do you go some other place where you may not be 100% happy and not be as successful? The grass always looks greener, but that's normally because the cows have been crapping in that field.

[olldflame]

We can't lump it on Layer's head, but you still have to acknowledge the totality of what's happened in the same program within a few years time. Somebody needs to be held accountable to this stuff.

"Somebody" should also be held "accountable" then for the fact that we are 57-41 over the past 3 years and have been reinstated to a full scholarship quota after being penalized for 2 years. I think there is too much hand-wringing over guys leaving. It's more important that the players we have are getting it done on the court and in the classroom, and don't appear to be blatently disregarding the rules; all things which couldn't always be said in the past.

Oh, and BTW, as it stands now, we still only have Evan leaving.

Layer is only 34-27. 27-27 against D-1 competition.

I was responding to a post about accountability for what has occured "within a few year's time", but do you honestly think we should reasonably expect Layer to have a better record than that with the mess he was left?

[jcmanson]

I was responding to a post about accountability for what has occured "within a few year's time", but do you honestly think we should reasonably expect Layer to have a better record than that with the mess he was left?

No. I’m more than fine with Layer to this point.

[olldflame]

If these guys are thinking about leaving they need to look at this fact:

Most people who transfer schools don't do nearly as well at the school they go to as they would've at the school they leave.

Let's look at Liberty people who transferred over the last few years. Of all of those, and it's a lot, only two improved and were successful: BJ Jenkins and Seth Curry.

David Dees didn't improve.
Austin Smith didn't improve.
Chris Perez didn't improve.
Patrick Konan didn't improve.

The question becomes do you tough it out and play at a place where you may not be 100% happy and have success or do you go some other place where you may not be 100% happy and not be as successful? The grass always looks greener, but that's normally because the cows have been crapping in that field.

I essentially agree with your premise SJ, although I'm wondering how you evaluated whether Konan and Perez improved. Have you been sneaking into practices at Stetson and Vermont?

In the other direction, Minaya struggled after transferring here, but certainly improved this year.

[SuperJon]

I'm talking about where they went. It's not like people are leaving here and going to programs that are better than we are.

[olldflame]

I'm talking about where they went. It's not like people are leaving here and going to programs that are better than we are.

Got it. I think that's generally the case because a lot of guys who transfer are doing it because they don't like the role they have in the program where they are. Coaches at a better program aren't likely to give them what they want either, unless they somehow are convinced that the previous coach has totally misused their talents. I don't think that happens often.

[olldflame]

I think we should also keep in mind that decisions players may make to stay or go are not made in a vacuum. For instance, if JB were to announce he is leaving to play pro ball in Europe, suddenly we have a starting position open at the 4 and Burrus, who is maybe seriously thinking about transferring because he is frustrated about being stuck fighting for minutes as an undersized post player, is looking at his role on the team next year in a totally different light.

[jbock13]

I don't have good sources like some of yall but someone told me JB, Asaad and Burrus are leaving

I don't know if this is true

Hmmm... maybe my joke about us calling up the intramural squad wasn't too far off...

[Schfourteenteen]

"Somebody" should also be held "accountable" then for the fact that we are 57-41 over the past 3 years and have been reinstated to a full scholarship quota after being penalized for 2 years. I think there is too much hand-wringing over guys leaving. It's more important that the players we have are getting it done on the court and in the classroom, and don't appear to be blatently disregarding the rules; all things which couldn't always be said in the past.

Oh, and BTW, as it stands now, we still only have Evan leaving.

Have we officially been given the scholly back? I would assume the penalty would end after this years APR rankings come out in May.

[olldflame]

We have had a full compliment of 13 scholarships the past 2 years.

[Schfourteenteen]

We have had a full compliment of 13 scholarships the past 2 years.

I'm getting old.

[Cider Jim]

And based on "TheRealScoop's" posts it seems as though Gordon didn't want to play Robin to Jesse's Batman. How'd that work out for David Dees?!

As much as we've used it, the Batman/Robin comparison with Blair/Dees (and others) just never gets old.

[Sly Fox]

Guys, the handwringing in this thread is all over nothing. Barring a dramatic turn of events in the next couple of weeks, Evan will be the only player walking away from the team. John & Antwan aren't going anywhere.

[ballah09]

that's great to hear.

[olldflame]

I don't know man. I'm not sure we should take the word of some character who calls himself "Sly Fox" over THE REAL SCOOP.

[jenkins]

theres seems to be a lot of smoke for no fire..i mean assad or carter who cares..but i would hate to lose burrus jb or ogukwe

[Hold My Own]

I agree Sly as of right now Evan is the only player gone. Dont let some angry/bitter individual posting from his iPhone scare you guys.

[BJWilliams]

I don't know man. I'm not sure we should take the word of some character who calls himself "Sly Fox" over THE REAL SCOOP.

I figure youre probably being cheeky or sarcastic here but I think sly has about 23000 more reasons (along with a whole lot more experience and knowledge of things at his alma mater) to be taken at his word and be a lot more credible than our friend TheRealScoop

[jbock13]

I'm not sure. I mean if a guy's name is "The Real Scoop" than he must be telling truth. You don't really think anybody would ever lie to us right?