Kevin Coble Not Returning to NU for Sr Season
Northwestern's 2010-11 season took a major hit with the announcement that senior Kevin Coble, who missed last year with a broken foot has decided to forego his senior season and will graduate in December 2010.
"We wish Kevin nothing but the best in his future endeavors," Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said in a statement. "We want to thank him for his contributions to the program over the past four years."
Coble ranks 14th in NU history with 1,203 career points and led the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding in each of his three seasons.
Some reaction:
mikerothstein To me, what makes Coble's decision to stop playing at NW more surprising is he clearly had a post-NW future with basketball.
umhoops Kevin Coble to forgo senior season. Huh?
[Edit: Indiana Wolverine points out in a post below that Coble's decision is likely related to his mother's fight against breast cancer.]
either had or has cancer which may have factored into his decision. Best of luck to him in his endeavors, seems like a bright guy from hearing him speak on BTN. Awful blow for a Wildcat team that should have had a real shot at the NCAA's this year.
...the perspective. Now his decision makes more sense.
I found the article concerning it online from about 7 months ago if anyone's interested. I just found the story fascinating and sad as well but looks like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3140517
Are they ever going to catch a few breaks at a time? This year was looking better-than-usual for them. They might still do well.
EDIT: I just saw some key information in the post above mine. Poor guy.
at an 8th place finish in the B10 just got that much better. Woo Hoo!
Edit: In light of Indiana Wolverine's post, I realize my celebratory reaction was in poor taste.
damn good player who was a lot of fun to watch ... either way it sounds like he will do something positive with his life
It's never easy to make a choice to forego (or at least put on hold) your future prospects to care for an ill parent. I really respect the choice. It will be the challenge of a lifetime for him, but I'm sure he will have absolutely no regrets.
I can relate. I had a job in Chicago right out of college, but I moved back home in Atlanta not even two years later to take care of my mom who had ALS. Toughest 4 years of my life. I effectively put my career on hold during that time, doing just enough to keep my job, but not enough to advance, in order to make sure I could be home to be the primary care-giver almost every day from 6pm-8am. My dad was pretty burnt out (emotionally, physically, mentally), so a lot of the burden fell on me. Totally glad I did it, though. I would have hated myself if I had missed those last few years of her life. My one great sadness is that she passed away a month to the day before my daughter, her first grand-daughter, was born.
Well at least he will have a degree from Northwestern, which in many cases, we can agree is better than a U-M degree.
This is bad for NW, before this decsion I thought they were a lock to go to the big dance and maybe be the third best team in the big ten next to MSU and Purdue. In the end I wish him and his mother best of luck in there fight against cancer.