Do any of our portal guys return? If so, who are you betting on?

[Domedog84]

The thing I have learned most about a Babers team is how much the leadership/captains matter, if not more, than most of college football.

We rotate game captains - which I hate. The 2018 team had it. Zaire’s teams, flawed and all, had it. Who are the guys that really set the tempo?

I’d love the answers to be Mikel, Rhino and a Pat Davis based on what I see on the field. But that doesn’t always equate to the guys look to outside 3 1/2 hours each week.

If such a group exists and went to the mat for Taj, it’s a no-brainer.

Pat Davis is a tough one for me. Didn’t he abandon our team last year to enter the CFL draft? Do you really think we should welcome him back as a captain? It seems he “contributed” way less on Saturday and the rest of the week than the “cancer” that you obviously know Taj to have been. Tough call.

 

[OburgCuse]

Pat Davis is a tough one for me. Didn’t he abandon our team last year to enter the CFL draft? Do you really think we should welcome him back as a captain? It seems he “contributed” way less on Saturday and the rest of the week than the “cancer” that you obviously know Taj to have been. Tough call.

Think he meant Dakota Davis

 

[Domedog84]

Think he meant Dakota Davis

I know he did and I agree with him on the captains actually. I just think trashing Taj for what he did outside of Saturdays is an odd move. I think we all know the mistakes that Taj made during games, and those are fair to criticize, but unless he has inside knowledge of what Taj did outside of the games, how can we trash him for that? I just do not understand why Babers would send him to media days if he was indeed this horrible cancer to the team.

 

[MadNY3]

Pat Davis is a tough one for me. Didn’t he abandon our team last year to enter the CFL draft? Do you really think we should welcome him back as a captain? It seems he “contributed” way less on Saturday and the rest of the week than the “cancer” that you obviously know Taj to have been. Tough call.

Totally fair. Giving examples of good players but you are right, he may not be it. Just not sure who they are.

 

[Domedog84]

Totally fair. Giving examples of good players but you are right, he may not be it. Just not sure who they are.

I knew you meant Dakota, I was just throwing a little snark your way. I do agree with your point about year-long captains.

 

[All4SU]

I think every kid deserves a second chance. Any kid who hasn’t already blown through both of his chances, who the coaches feel can contribute, could be welcomed back.

The first part is, they may have made a mistake. You give them that chance to atone for that mistake. If they’ve already made the mistake twice, they would be best served by figuring out where they can get a fresh start.

The second part, do the coaches think they can contribute. We know that scholarships are year to year, but if you recruit a kid, you would like to think you already have an idea whether or not they can contribute. I’m not a big fan of just cutting kids year after year just to separate the wheat from the chaff. But once a kid has made the decision to move on, I don’t think coaches have to take them back just because the kid’s plan didn’t pan out.

 

[money3189]

Who would the staff take back if they wanted to return? I'm not sure but the staff makes decisions based on a lot more information than what we have. We dont truly know the relationships they have with the players but its fun to speculate.

 

[JoeSU]

I don't know if any of you are Ted Lasso fans, but I would handle the return of any portal guys the way Jamie Tartt was handled: make them start out on the 2nd or 3rd string and earn their way back on the depth chart (and in the process earn the respect of their teammates). If the player isn't OK with this approach, then its "sayonara".

 

[gmoney44]

If he were to return with his friend YAC, I’m sure we all will be happy.

I wouldn’t want him. He abandoned his team when we needed him the most. His departure probably cost the team a couple games last season. The difference between a failure of a season and a good season. He can go burn down someone else’s locker room.

 

[kcsu]

Who would the staff take back if they wanted to return? I'm not sure but the staff makes decisions based on a lot more information than what we have. We dont truly know the relationships they have with the players but its fun to speculate.

Labroose.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Please come back Taj!

 

[AngryOtto]

I think every kid deserves a second chance. Any kid who hasn’t already blown through both of his chances, who the coaches feel can contribute, could be welcomed back.

The first part is, they may have made a mistake. You give them that chance to atone for that mistake. If they’ve already made the mistake twice, they would be best served by figuring out where they can get a fresh start.

The second part, do the coaches think they can contribute. We know that scholarships are year to year, but if you recruit a kid, you would like to think you already have an idea whether or not they can contribute. I’m not a big fan of just cutting kids year after year just to separate the wheat from the chaff. But once a kid has made the decision to move on, I don’t think coaches have to take them back just because the kid’s plan didn’t pan out.

I thought the scholarships are now guaranteed for four years. That is the risk of the portal. Once the player enters their name their scholarship is no longer guaranteed.

 

[CuseLegacy]

I think every kid deserves a second chance. Any kid who hasn’t already blown through both of his chances, who the coaches feel can contribute, could be welcomed back.

The first part is, they may have made a mistake. You give them that chance to atone for that mistake. If they’ve already made the mistake twice, they would be best served by figuring out where they can get a fresh start.

The second part, do the coaches think they can contribute. We know that scholarships are year to year, but if you recruit a kid, you would like to think you already have an idea whether or not they can contribute. I’m not a big fan of just cutting kids year after year just to separate the wheat from the chaff. But once a kid has made the decision to move on, I don’t think coaches have to take them back just because the kid’s plan didn’t pan out.

Scholarships are for four years.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Said something similar in a different forum recently, but Taj has a kid now. Even up til a few weeks ago I was on the "hell no" for letting Taj back (if he wanted to) team. But life is short, and there's a baby involved. Another human, who is innocent. If it comes down to Taj has changed and wants to come back, or Taj falls off into the abyss of "what a shame," I would hope the Ohana would welcome him back.

Look, I'll try not to be insensitive here or derail this thread... but why? Not just Taj, anyone. I really struggle with this stuff. 18-21yo... just so young.

 

[SUDadx2]

I thought the scholarships are now guaranteed for four years. That is the risk of the portal. Once the player enters their name their scholarship is no longer guaranteed.

Life is not without risk.

For most of these young men, to enter the portal or not enter the portal will be one of the biggest decisions they will make at this point of their lives.

Unfortunately, many will learn the hard way that freedom doesn't not come without personal responsibility; they are free to enter the portal without administrative blocks or having to sit out a year, but the risk belongs to the player and no one else.

The double-edged sword of the transfer portal

In the next few months, a harsh mathematic reality is going to set in that could leave players stuck with no new school and no old school.

www.si.com

 

[phil77]

No thanks to Taj coming back. He left the team mid-season I would never welcome a teammate or player back that did that. If he played all year and then entered the portal and wanted to come back I think that is totally fine and a different situation than leaving mid-season.