TR, what "process" are you talking aout? Are you refering to a forthright program that completely levels with the kids and gives them the straight dirt from day one? That, I know a little about. I was a walk on DIII player years agost. At least I have some experience to speak from! As for this situation, I thought I was as clear as a bell. If someone has assistants out there ("recruiting") to "pad" a JV team.....at least they could give it to them straight. "Hey....our varsity is filled, but we have a great JV program....want to be a part of it?" If they reply: "no thanks not for me", at least you were honest.
AParent. I was being facicious about it being "illegal". But in answer to yuour assumption of "everyone completes....thats not true with past in this particular program. That was the underlying problem. Your second assumption: "sorry he took it as a guaranteed starting spot " was also with no basis. If you read my post you'd have understood that a JV "team" was sorted at day one. I'm am grateful that so many people have taken the time to read this post. I have this feeling that possibly a good many of players that have every reason be competing at DII, and even DI are getting then messege here. "If you know you should be shooting higher....don't settle for anything else, you might regret it later."
All kids have to earn their spots--nothing is a given--apparently your situation was not "clear as a bell" ==as I said before people hear what they want to hear not what was said
By the way are you infering that I have no experience to spek from?
TRhit
THE KIDS TODAY DO NOT THROW ENOUGH !!!!!
Posts: 21255 | Location: Manchester, CT USA | Registered: December 26, 2002
TR, I think you said I know nothing of about the process. You were wrong.
Dibble. Its either JV or the softball team? If you read the earlier threads....you would have noticed that there have been players that have left this same Louisburg JV team... and are now starting D1. Much of this is repetition. The evaluating skills at Louisburg are suspect at best.
The earlier post is right. Some of the varsity team starters have great experiences at Louisburg. This player I'm speaking of never had any sour feeling s about the school. Nor has he had a critical word towards them. He is young and resilient.
As far as "homework" goes....if there was an "eyesears" post similar to the one I wrote, there is a strong possibility that many kids would have chosen a different experience other than Louisburg. Again, I think this topic will assist in some decisions this year.
I know nothing about this situation but I did look on Louisburg's website just to look around. They are ranked in the top ten pre season poll by Baseball America and right now boast a 14-5 record. And they do have quite a few players on the team. And under Coach Goodwinn, 44 players have left either to other colleges or went pro since 2000.
Posts: 1132 | Location: KY USA | Registered: October 27, 2003
Its funny how people slam people for talking what is true. I know for a fact that Louisburg does the exact same thing to players like he was talking about on here. First, don't let rankings fool you. Louisburg placed the vote for their region with Baseball America, which ends up with them being ranked. Not a real scientific method, but that's how it works. Secondly, they have had 44 players under Godwin go to school or pro baseball, what level? How many went pro? I think maybe 3 (it could be more, but not many more)have gone pro and most of those are FA signees. The only player I know of that has been drafted and signed that played for Godwin was Demetrius Heath, who was a draft and follow who signed after his second year (and was a heck of a player might I add). There may be more that I can't think of but that's all I know for sure that have been drafted and signed out of Louisburg. How many were drafted out of HS and didn't go pro after Louisburg? Louisburg does have some great players, I will not take that away, but most of them were sent to them from other schools. So, those guys are going to play because LC doesn't want to ruin there relationship with those schools. Which is a smart thing to do in my opinion. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours kind of deal. Ask a few players that have been at Louisburg how the money fared. I know of a few that will tell you they packed in a bunch on loans with a small amount of actual athletic scholarship and tell the kids they are getting full rides. This isn't right, in any kind of way. Recruiting does get dirty at times and teams do sometimes stretch the truth. But it seems that Louisburg does this regularly. I don't blame this poster for exposing what is the truth. I imagine if OldVaMan wasn't so nice and polite he could enlighten you further, but he's taking the high road, which says something positive about him. I, for one, think the truth should be known so I am going to tell what I know. One of the main problems is people perceive certain teams to be high and mighty and believe all the hype. Lots of HS coaches do this especially and use that to influence their players to attend these schools. My advice is to listen to all people when they talk about schools, especially if they have been there. They have the first hand knowledge and can usually tell you. I do disagree with one thing though, lots of schools aren't funded fully or at all, so they rely heavily on non-scholarship players to play and play a lot. So, don't depend too much on how much scholarship is given. Look at roster size, that should be the first indicator at how good the chances for competition are. With 60 players on Louisburg's roster how do they pick the best 9 to put on the field? If anyone says they (Louisburg's coaches)don't have an idea who will be on JV and who will be on the actual team is simply lost in the mist. If they don't know who will be on each team then they need to work on their evaluations I think. And lastly, if everyone will remember a player by the name of Elijah Dukes, who signed with Louisburg 3 years ago. He was from Florida, had signed to play football at NC State, then signed with Louisburg after he wasn't going to qualify academically. He was then drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round. Now why is this important? Louisburg's coaches told him they had a football team he could play on as well as playing baseball. Now if I'm correct, doesn't the football team start this coming fall? Did they plan on him being there four years to play football? Or was that just sour grapes from Dukes when he said they told him that? Now imagine what they tell other kids? Would they lie to a player, no way! As for Coach Godwin, I don't know him, or any of his assistants, personally, so I can't say what type of people they are. Although I do find it hard to believe that every player that wasn't happy at a certain school is a "bad kid" as some would have you believe. Ask the coaches at schools about some players that weren't happy there and see what they say. If they throw off on the player every time its probably a good indicator at what the real problem may be. I say to all college coaches, shoot straight with the players, tell them where they stand and stick with it. Don't sign players just so you don't have to play against them. Do what is best for the kids and help them any way you can. Don't be so competetive that you lose track of what is best, and that's helping these kids get educations and maybe a career in baseball following their time in school. Then maybe we won't have smear campaigns going on, but will actually have better people at the end of the whole thing. That's what I think.
Posts: 17 | Location: NC | Registered: October 18, 2003
Just a short note on this being identified as a "smear campaign". It really isn't. It was meant to tip off young players that might be fed a line. If a player is confident about Louisburg...and has been impressed with them....good luck. Your point about (don't recruit a player because you don't want to face him) was another perfect example of such leadings. It's just not fair to these kids. Their college careers are short....they deserve better. As we all know, there are many JUCO's around that are looking for players. Take your time (HS'ers)....allow the perception to play a part in your decision making....and by all means...see if you can talk with some former players from the school to get some hands on imput.
The slamming going on here is what you folks are doing to this school. The rest of us are asking pertinent questions to determine if it is justified or not.
If there is one thing kids can learn from this thread the most important one is to do exactly that - ask pertinent questions.
It is obviousnot everyone has the same understanding of what it means to "compete for a starting spot". It does not matter what any of us think it means, what matters is that the student athlete and the coach are in agreement as to what it means. Beforehand.
These are the types of questions kids need to learn to ask, no matter waht school they are looking to attend.
I dont want to sound out of place, but if a college coach as to pick from a player that he has money invested in(scholarship)or a walk on, he will go with the scholarship player. But i do understand where eyesear is comming from. Some college coaches do tell kids what they want to hear, but usually they make it clear during the recruiting process that no promises are made on starting positions. i my self went to junior college before attending a division 1 program. I was a scholarship player through out my college career. I actually played against louisburg and thought they were a very well run program. There are always going to be bad stories and they should be told, by bashing a certain coach or program doesnt help anyone. You need to listen very carefully when talking with coaches and recruiters.
Posts: 15 | Location: ct | Registered: March 01, 2005
I like the fact that this site shares info like this. However, the delivery could be different. A negative comment about a school should originate in a post maybe by saying something like
quote:
If anyone is looking for information and an opinion on Louisberg College contact me.
The comments, that may very well be true, are not fair to the school that is not here to defend itself. There may be a few unhappy campers, but, there may be 40 guys on the varsity and jv that are happy to be there. Recently there has been some tension on this site as a result of negative and attacking posts. Everyone should sit back and re-read what they write before clicking the "post now" button.
Posts: 4667 | Location: Madison Wi | Registered: January 06, 2003
I am found that when someone "slams" a coach or a school it because they felt their son or a friends son got the short end of the stick---
One can find things to gripe about at nearly every baseball program. I know many programs where I would advise my players not to go but I am not going to come a forum and publicly slam those programs--I talk to the players and their families in private--it is between us.
TRhit
THE KIDS TODAY DO NOT THROW ENOUGH !!!!!
Posts: 21255 | Location: Manchester, CT USA | Registered: December 26, 2002
I would have preferred that things been kept quieter, too. But once something is out there and the debate begins, I think it important to add first-hand experience, if you have it.
Now, it's time to debate the weather. Like, when is it going to warm up?
Of course, it warms up today ... and I can't go to Baltimore to see my son's games. And it's an almost sure rainout tomorrow.
Spring break, 6 games scheduled, 3 games played (if they get today in). Out of 19 games they've played so far, only two were played in weather that could be called under any reasonable standard acceptable.
We've had 10 inches of snow the last two days. I hope it melts quick, my wife left town and put me in charge of her new white puppy, it's amazing how they blend together.
Posts: 4667 | Location: Madison Wi | Registered: January 06, 2003
