Class of 2022 OL Zach Rice (VA) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (4/30/25)

[Irt4su]

I can say that though I can see both sides, I think this kids parents and the poor young ladies parents can hopefully find some relief in that this kid is going to go play under a man who helps boys become men. I don’t see Fran as taking bad kids because they are five stars I see him taking his own faith and leadership in trying to teach these young men that what has occurred is the past and they have a chance to re write their own future. I really believe that Fran can take a kid like this and even bridge a gap if possible between that young woman’s family and rice. I am not an optimistic person but this doesn’t seem like a sleazy coach trying to field a team of criminals to win a game. Sorry for the rant.

 

[Cusefan69]

Signed.

 

[baggerbob]

That is an excellent question. I will give them the benefit of the doubt at first, for sure. Hope this works out great for all concerned. But if I hear things, bad things, yeah, it would

Have to agree, but still he better be a choir boy while here.

 

[RF2044]

I can say that though I can see both sides, I think this kids parents and the poor young ladies parents can hopefully find some relief in that this kid is going to go play under a man who helps boys become men. I don’t see Fran as taking bad kids because they are five stars I see him taking his own faith and leadership in trying to teach these young men that what has occurred is the past and they have a chance to re write their own future. I really believe that Fran can take a kid like this and even bridge a gap if possible between that young woman’s family and rice. I am not an optimistic person but this doesn’t seem like a sleazy coach trying to field a team of criminals to win a game. Sorry for the rant.

This is just a steam of consciousness response to this situation in general, not a shot at your well thought out post.

Rice was on the periphery of a tragic event. Maybe the young lady's parents don't hold him accountable nor responsible for what happened, despite the loss they suffered..

I'm not saying that to trivialize the loss of life nor absolve an athlete because he can do something on an athletic field. I'm just pointing out that this seems more like a guilt by association situation, then rice himself being directly responsible for a tragic outcome.

Understand if others feel differently / don't view things through the same lens. But that is how it seems to me.

 

[Irt4su]

This is just a steam of consciousness response to this situation in general, not a shot at your well thought out post.

Rice was on the periphery of a tragic event. Maybe the young lady's parents don't hold him accountable nor responsible for what happened, despite the loss they suffered..

I'm not saying that's a trivialize the loss of life nor absolve an athlete because he can do something on an athletic field. I'm just pointing out that this seems more like a guilt by association situation, then rice himself being directly responsible for a tragic outcome.

Understand if others feel differently / don't view things through the same lens. But that is how it seems to me.

I truthfully don’t know enough about the story but I do know that we have a coach that I would gladly and humbly turn my son over to to help him become the best he can be if my son was in a position of having this option.

Win or lose I much rather have my kid coached in sport and life by Fran over a more nationally prominent program or a guy like jimmy johnson who let them do coke in the locker room (note I have no idea if this is true lol. That’s just me.

I just simply believe in Fran from what I have seen, read and heard from him.

Everyone has a past not everyone gets to have a future. Whatever the events where and however rice is tied to it, I just hope the best for all. As a fan I’m excited to get talent, as a human I’m even more excited about what these kids are being turned into and the reflection that has on my Alma mater.

 

[David321]

I'm not familiar with the particulars but something to consider; in NYS it is illegal to discriminate against an employee for past charges that have been sealed/ adjudicated etc. Even criminal convictions have to have a "direct relationship" with the job.

Though student athletes are not employees in the legal sense, it's something to be mindful of.

 

[Bulldog04]

So basically cuse traded Pena for Rice, Cook and Pringle and possibly one more. Everyone happy with that trade ? I know I am

 

[David321]

So basically cuse traded Pena for Rice, Cook and Pringle and possibly one more. Everyone happy with that trade ? I know I am

We just landed Ferguson too.

 

[bnoro]

In my junior year of HS, a kid in my grade was racing another kid down a street in our town. Two lane road. One of the guys hit another car head on and died. Other kid ended up going to jail. Horrible situation for all involved.

I wonder if he was a good football player if he would've gone to jail.

 

[tep624]

 

[GoSU96]

I am not denying his future opportunities in life. Just not with me if I was making the decision. And he was part of behavior that cost that girl her life. Please don't minimize that. He was racing with the other guy. If this was just an accident, I wouldn't say a word. It was reckless and someone died. They aren't hurt. They aren't on the disabled list. They will never have children. Walk down the aisle. That matters to me. Now, I have said until I am blue in the face, that it is okay if people disagree with me. But please people, not just you, stop trying to change my mind. I want high standards.

Yep

I think this incident is indicative of why he obviously underperformed his 5 star rating. Hopefully the staff can teach the kid to get out of his own way.

 

[orange79]

Blame Walt Disney

 

[ezbeezy214]

So I’m guessing the starting spots that are most locked are Spoon, Petry and Collins? Then some combo of Pringle, Rice, Miller and Mack fill out the line?

Already old news

 

[GoSU96]

I think so. Joe Cruz and Trev Mack have not proven their mettle very much in real games. The three you list have.

I think Joe and Trev are the ones most vulnerable to getting beat out.

My impression Joe wasn’t awful last year. I could be way off.

 

[tep624]

Ok so all the prior behavior aside...and I'm totally breaking my own CDRW/Braden Davis rule here...

But this kid is the most highly recruited player out of high school that this program has seen since probably Johnny Morant. He was a 5 star recruit at 3 sites, and a 4 star at On3. He was incredibly close to being a 5 star consensus recruit. Had 36 offers and every single biggie you could imagine.

Has 2 years left - if we can get him back on track, man this could be an enormous coup here.

 

[anomander]

With Willis in the backfield he puts the exclamation point on one of the beefiest offensive lines we’ve ever had. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more running the ball this year.

 

[anomander]

I think so. Joe Cruz and Trev Mack have not proven their mettle very much in real games. The three you list have.

I think Joe and Trev are the ones most vulnerable to getting beat out.

I actually thought Joe Cruz was at least serviceable last year in his first season playing a lot. I could certainly see an upgrade but i wouldn’t be worried if he started.

 

[David321]

With Willis in the backfield he puts the exclamation point on one of the beefiest offensive lines we’ve ever had. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more running the ball this year.

Please check out my thread about our running back room. I'm curious how we look other than Yasin.

 

[Atlcuse44]

 

[anomander]

Please check out my thread about our running back room. I'm curious how we look other than Yasin.

I think there are levels and no Yasmin is a huge drop off. I thought they’d actually try to pick up a game ready RB.

 

[David321]

I think there are levels and no Yasmin is a huge drop off. I thought they’d actually try to pick up a game ready RB.

I like him a lot but replacing LeQuint is a huge ask. I agree.

 

[Lester J]

I like him a lot but replacing LeQuint is a huge ask. I agree.

What about Nixon? I really liked him before his injury.

 

[David321]

What about Nixon? I really liked him before his injury.

That's what I mean, the surgery concern. I don't want to derail this thread though, I made one on the main FB board a bit ago.

 

[orangeinohio]

I'll add that this is a pilot / POC for Fran Brown, as well. If he takes on a couple of kids like this, and they turn things around and are disciplined, then it's a sign that the team culture is working and is strong enough to absorb players with checkered pasts like this, on a case-by-case basis. If they don't, it's a sign that this isn't a good approach.

I think the point about a strong team culture applies to all the newbies, whether they have bad events in their past or not. The team roster is completely different than a year ago. They need something to create cohesion/chemistry. DART and FB are hopefully what is going to work.

 

[sutomcat]

I actually thought Joe Cruz was at least serviceable last year in his first season playing a lot. I could certainly see an upgrade but i wouldn’t be worried if he started.

I agree. He was okay when he came in. Just think Petry is more of a lock to start than Joe. Same with Spoon versus Mack.

The battle for starting positions for the OL in the preseason is going to be epic.