OT: Davonte Neal Debacle (Deciding between ND and Arizona)

Submitted by Humen on

Davonte Neal (2012 ATH, ESPN 5*) scheduled his decision for this morning at his former elementary school. The elementary school pulled out all of the stops, including taking 600 kids out of classes to come witness the announcement. The kids were encouraged to chant things like "we're just like Davonte!" The news, of course, was being streamed by at least one state-wide news outlet. 

 

Neal didn't show up to his decision. The kids waited for over an hour before the principal finally disbanded the assembly. Word has come from twitter that Davonte and his Dad were arguing over his decision (it's late February.) this morning. His father wanted him to go to Notre Dame, but Neal wanted to go to Arizona. Neal did not call to cancel. No word has come out of the Neal camp yet, but I find this absolutely disgusting. 

 

Recruiting has become too big. 

 
 
 
 

elaydin

February 21st, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^

The dad sounds like bad news.  Supposedly he was missing for most of Davonte's life, but has recently come back to make things right.  Read into that what you will.

redhousewolverine

February 21st, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^

Sounds like Seantrell Henderson also. This is a frustration about the recruiting process and I wonder about the NCAA (not really since I know they fail in so many ways) and their recruiting rules. Bigger concern is absent fathers; it is a real drag on kids and their futures (possibly biggest understatement of the century).

Humen

February 21st, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^

I don't know who to blame. At any rate, as an Arizona student, I hope Rodriguez rescinds his scholarship offer. I don't want a kid like this at my university. You have to put at least some of the blame on Davonte. He is old enough to be responsible for his decisions, but it's also obvious that there was something missing from his moral education. Even if all else failed, he should have called to cancel the assembly. 

M Wolve

February 21st, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^

Rescind the offer?  How does this warrant such an act?  You have no idea as to what role the father has in this decision and the control that he may or may not have on his son.  Wait for some facts before you label his character next time, please.

Humen

February 21st, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^

The role of the father, as reported by multiple sources close to Davonte, is refusing to sign a LOI to anywhere except Notre Dame. Unless Luke Neal told his son Davonte Neal that he could not leave the house, call to cancel, or do anything to rectify the situation at his decision assembly, then I find Neal blameworthy. In a nutshell, if Neal was compelled and could not do otherwise, then I would consider him immune from moral responsibility. However, this is unlikely, and that is why I have made a judgment of character. Certainly, Davonte could redeem himself, but I am making the claim that he now must redeem himself. 

BiSB

February 21st, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^

Those kids lost an hour of their lives. Davonte Neal is apparantly dealing with a serious disagreement over where to spend the next four years, and is fighting with his (previously absent?) father in the process.

He's 17, so depending on the circumstances I'm willing to potentially cut him a good amount of slack.

CalifExile

February 21st, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^

I blame the principal for taking kids out of class. He's sending a message that success lies in athletic pursuits, rather than academic. Very few of the kids in the auditorium are likely to be successful in life through an athletic related vocation.

PatrickBateman

February 21st, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^

Exactly, I'm sure there is at least one student in that district who is going to attend a TOP university, possibly on scholarship.  Who is the better (and more realistic) student to encourage students to look up to and help to choose the right path, even if the kids aren't going to get a full ride to Princeton, going to college at all might be a huge achievement for some of them. 

BiSB

February 21st, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^

Just last year, Kyle Kalis's dad tied Kyle up, threw him in the back of a pick-up, drove him to Ann Arbor, and dropped him off at Schembechler Hall. He also reportedly threatened to shoot Kyle's dog if Kyle tried to leave Michigan.

[Sources: Bucknuts, 11W]

M-Wolverine

February 21st, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^

For the Principals and teachers who are letting all these kids out of school time to watch some guy say where he's going to college?? I'd be pissed if that was my tax dollars at work. Sorry enough that they let someone out of class to announce, but to pull classrooms full of kids who should be learning to WATCH the him do it? (Or not do it, as the case may be)

Bb011

February 21st, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^

Well if it was only supposed to be a 30 minute thing I don't see why not. It would have been good for the kids to see that and have a good role model. The problem is that he didn't show and was therefore a bad role model....

M-Wolverine

February 21st, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^

...or are 6'7" and 280 lbs!

I'm sure the next time they have a student deciding between Harvard, Yale, and the University of Michigan they're going to take everyone out of class to see where he picks....because that would be something to REALLY set an example for kids. But somehow I'm guessing that's not going to happen.  (And do you really think elementary school kids are getting life decisions advice on what an athlete who used to go to their school does? Or even contemplating such things).

Brimley

February 21st, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^

If the principal truly doesn't mind giving up instructional time for some motivational talk regarding hard work and dedication, I expect there are other and better examples available.  While having an athlete in obviously brings a level of excitement, kids have to know that they can succeed even without a 4.3 40.

Rabbit21

February 21st, 2012 at 12:27 PM ^

Yeah, that sucks and is a troubling sign about recruiting.  I don't know what the fix is in this situation, but someone getting across to him about how many people took time out of their days for him and were excited to see him would be at least a start.  I don't have a problem with taking time to decide, but no-showing in a situation like that without a cancelling phone call sucks.

 

justingoblue

February 21st, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^

Honestly, I don't see what's so improbable about it. USC is going to have one more season before they're destroyed by scholarship restrictions, Stanford is on the decline, Oregon could very well be looking at a coaching change and bowl ban. The Pac isn't going to have any of their current powers in good condition in the next few years, IMO.

Maybe Utah or ASU or UCLA will be around to mop up, but I don't see why it couldn't just as easily be Arizona.

WolvinLA2

February 21st, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^

Even with USCs scholarship restrictions, their classes will be better than U of A. Stanford just signed the 5th best class is the country, so I'm not sure why they're on the decline. And UCLA just hired a new coach who signed a grat class as well. That's before looking at schools like Washington and Cal who are both in better spots than U of A. And there's always Oregon.

Lionsfan

February 21st, 2012 at 1:42 PM ^

I would think that without Luck and Harbaugh most people see Stanford as falling off a little. I mean they've got good players now, and are riding a big wave, but if/when that waves dies can they still compete? And history tells us that Stanford hasn't held consistent success

WolvinLA2

February 21st, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^

But historically, Stanford hasn't recruited like this either. So although I also expect a little drop off, they should still be one of the best PAC 12 teams for a while.

And if we're relying so much on what history has told us, then Stanford still has a lot better of a shot than Arizona to make the Rose Bowl.

kmedved

February 21st, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^

But this nugget from Irish Envy was too good to skip:

"Just stated clearly that Neal wants AU and dad wants ND....come on dad pull the belt out!!"

Something about asking a father to beat a commitment out of his son seems like a very apt summary of the state of Notre Dame Football.

yzerman19

February 21st, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

I wonder if RR is telling him he can play QB like Denard, and ND is telling him Percy Harvin 2.0.  If I'm that kid i pick AZ and Denard all day.  BK's temper tantrums seem to be cancelled out by RR's so the purple face is a non-factor.