BlueinOK

February 7th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^

It's ok...They have a 2-star backup with a chip on his shoulder because he has been disrespected all his life for being a State fan. He is going to come in and be the perfect guy for Coach D to build into a winner. WE DON'T NEED STARS OR RETURNERS! The Spartan way! 

Joined: 12/06/2009

MGoPoints: 15029

jmdblue

February 7th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

... I know there are a couple of you... we see a few talented kids retire every year, and frankly I'm surprised we don't see it more often.  The workload is intense as is the risk to one's health, but  there also seems to be a problem in many locker rooms.  There were the rumored racial issues in our locker room under Hoke. Clearly the Sparty locker room is on fire.  We had the truly ugly bullying issues in the NFL a couple years back.   I can see where the game might not be much fun if there are enough asshole around.  

How close to kids get to quitting?  I'm guessing it's damned hard for many to stick it out.

Joined: 12/01/2010

MGoPoints: 8655

PeterKlima

February 7th, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^

You put up with assholes at work.  On these boards.  At family gatherings. In fraternities.  On an intermural team.  As a regular at a gym.

Especially, where a group of guys hang out together a lot.  Usually the bonds outweigh the negatives that happen when people get on each others nerves.

Don't be a snowflake.  Kids are not leaving because locker rooms are like anyplace else.

Kids are not that weak and sensitive, are they???

Joined: 08/24/2008

MGoPoints: -313

jmdblue

February 7th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^

And I'm equally sure you would recognize that if you knew me (or my kids for that matter). My contention is that P5 college football is a damned tough enterprise and that adding serious locker room issues to the mix wouldn't help.

Joined: 12/01/2010

MGoPoints: 8655

dennisblundon

February 7th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^

To answer your question there are times it's really hard but the games make it worth it. Getting up in the morning for conditioning while it's still dark out sucks. Spring ball really sucks. I mean really really sucks unless of course you're going to Rome. I never understood how the guys who were never going to play stuck it out.

Joined: 02/23/2010

MGoPoints: 9613

Lee Everett

February 7th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^

I quit football twice in high school.  The first time was after freshman year when we went like 1-8 and we had a Brian Kelly-esque coach.  I came back junior year and we won the D2 state championship.  The second time, senior year, my doctor wouldn't pass my physical because I kept fainting during summer conditioning because I had mono, then our second-year coach wanted me to play guard rather than wide receiver once I was finally cleared to play.  If he hadn't phased out tight ends, I could have started there as a 6'3" 215 lb guy, but alas.

Maybe I'm weak sauce.  I wanted to play my familiar skill position, I wanted to play on a winning team, and I wanted to play for a coach I respected.  Two out of the three wasn't enjoyable enough to justify the time investment. Coach shrugged it off, the team moved on, and I didn't have to resentfully drag myself to practice every day.  

Any time that I hear a person walk away from the game, for whatever reason, (Ricky Williams to smoke pot, Pat Tillman to join the military, Michael Jordan to play baseball, etc.), I just have to remind myself that there's something that they'd rather be doing, and I could relate.

Joined: 07/07/2016

MGoPoints: 1596

BlueinLansing

February 7th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^

more kids don't walk away from the game.  D1 football is having a full time job while attending school and often taking classes you aren't very interesting in taking.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23532

Lee Everett

February 7th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^

Exactly.  There are so many small factors that can add up and just make the team, the school, or the sport completely unenjoyable.

We understand when a kid might choose a scholarship at Duke over one at, say, Ohio State.  We understand when a kid greyshirts to play at Alabama rather than having a full scholarship at USF.  We understand when a kid could chooses to focus on being a baseball pitcher rather than a football quarterback.

We understand it when a kid transfers because of a coaching change, or a position switch, or a diminished role.  We understand when someone wants to go closer to home. 

Those little value judgments and preferences are easy enough when considering recruitment and retention.

Oftentimes we don't understand why someone would choose to just walk away entirely, because it's something WE wouldn't do.  Playing football for Jim Harbaugh?  At the University of Michigan?  Living that lifestyle?  Coming out of it with a degree and no debt?  Sign me up, right!? College isn't for everyone, the demands of playing a college sport aren't for everyone, and football isn't for everyone.

There have to be so many kids that are told that college, a free education, capitalizing on their talent, are all things they HAVE to do if they are able, and are unhappy for following someone else's plan for them.  

Joined: 07/07/2016

MGoPoints: 1596

M Ascending

February 7th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^

RCMB has some comments that this may be related to the "Reschke debacle."  Apparently, Lukusa had posted some racist diatribes on his Twitter account that had been allegedly directed at him.

No way to know if this is true, but the timing is interesting.  If that's the case, I fully understand his decision.  If you can't be comfortable in the lockerroom and with your teammates, what's the point of playing.

Joined: 09/14/2016

MGoPoints: 21521

Champeen

February 7th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^

So what is there starting OL going to consist of now?  This has got to be shaping up to be a horrible OL - and thus, horrible year again for them.

 

are they even going to have 1 single average OL starter?

Joined: 04/07/2011

MGoPoints: 15079

Sam1863

February 7th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^

"I'm definitely not passionate enough about football right now to have my life revolve around it." In all seriousness, I have to respect a guy with this kind of self-awareness. A lot of people wouldn't be this honest with themselves. At the same time, he's what - 20 years old? It's not hard to imagine that one day, maybe not that far from now, he'll stop and think, "Shit - what did I do? What was I thinking?" Kid, you've probably got a lot of life left - but only a small window for this opportunity. If this is really, truly not something you want to do, then respect to you for recognizing it, and more power to you. But for your sake, I just hope you're not wrong.

Joined: 04/27/2014

MGoPoints: 29195