Class of 2015 OLB Shyheim (Shy) Cullen (MA) Signed LOI

[Bambrewer]

Did you inform him that he's got a built in Cuse fanbase before he even sets foot on campus?

Actually yesterday a kid from his school came up to him and said he was at a wrestling meet somewhere in New York and some kids came up to him and said you go to the school Shy cullen does don't you. And the kid said yeah how do you know shy and he said we don't know him we just know he is a great linebacker and is gonna play for syracuse. Shy was pretty excited about that.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Thread, will you marry me?[/quote]

As I gave "birth" to this thread I want to know what kind of Dowery you are offering.

 

[ImperialOrange]

None of the other schools have made an offer. When I asked him yesterday what the other schools had said to him he said they all say the same thing. Have a good fourth quarter report card show us you can get your GPA up and we will offer you as soon as we see you can do it. I don't blame schools for not risking an offer on shy. At this point he is very grateful to syracuse for taking chance on him when others are waiting. He is killing it this quarter after his iep was put in place at the end of third quarter so we expect offers to come at the end of June.

So pretty much other schools didn't take their time to do their homework like the Cuse coaches presumably did?

 

[CuseLegacy]

I think it is more like Erv and Jonathan Thomas' situation that schools are unwilling to take a chance until they see improvement in grades. Our coaches are willing to take the chance.

 

[Bambrewer]

I think thru conversations with shy and the coaches at his school. They see he is a good kid who has been thru a lot and given the recent changes for shy in school that he can do it. His grade jump in the last 2 months since the changes were made have been remarkable to say the least. Even some of the schools we had visited a few months ago the first thing I would say to them was if shy doesn't make the GPA what are you willing to do for him. I wasn't convinced he could make eligibility but after the last midterm report I believe shy can make it happen and be eligible without preping or junior college. Now he just needs to kill the sat and act. Both of which he is taking the 2 weekends before camp on the 21 st

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think it is more like Erv and Jonathan Thomas' situation that schools are unwilling to take a chance until they see improvement in grades. Our coaches are willing to take the chance.

It's a calculated risk IF the coaches take the time to actually learn about the kid behind the highlight reel. Seems it was the case with Shy as well as some commits from last years class.

Simply put, if a kids grades aren't ideal take an extra minute to ask 1) why? and 2) are they working to improve them? If you have faith in a kids character then it's truly not that much of a risk. If you're not certain, you wait to offer. As it pertains to this young gent's recruitment you would only have to ask as much as was shared in this thread to know it was never a case of lack of effort or desire.

The fact that other coaches haven't leads me to believe they are looking at him as a football player vs the entire person. The fact that our coaches presumably asked enough to know makes me feel better about our coaching staff whom I already loved. Who wouldn't want to play at SU, for these coaches, in this system? Maybe someone that only wants to major in football and skate by on their classes but we, as fans, are not really missing those guys anyway.

I love having a team full of players that you can cheer for off the field as well as on it. I don't miss the GRob era where guys were out of shape, going out all the time, opening hookuh bars, etc. Marrone righted that ship in a hurry and Shafer is taking it a step further. The guy loves his players and wants them to succeed in all facets. Who isn't on board with that?

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think thru conversations with shy and the coaches at his school. They see he is a good kid who has been thru a lot and given the recent changes for shy in school that he can do it. His grade jump in the last 2 months since the changes were made have been remarkable to say the least. Even some of the schools we had visited a few months ago the first thing I would say to them was if shy doesn't make the GPA what are you willing to do for him. I wasn't convinced he could make eligibility but after the last midterm report I believe shy can make it happen and be eligible without preping or junior college. Now he just needs to kill the sat and act. Both of which he is taking the 2 weekends before camp on the 21 st

Fun fact about Head coach Shafer. May have been when he was our DC prior to HC but he has stated that when recruiting a kid he doesn't just ask coaches and teachers whom he knows will be trying to sell the good and gloss over any bad with kids. He tries to talk with the lunch workers, janitors, etc. to see how the kid acts towards someone they have nothing to gain from. Although it seems simple I thought that was very astute way to learn about a kids integrity and believe it as a reason we have the type of players that we do.

 

[cuseinchina]

It's a calculated risk IF the coaches take the time to actually learn about the kid behind the highlight reel. Seems it was the case with Shy as well as some commits from last years class.

Simply put, if a kids grades aren't ideal take an extra minute to ask 1) why? and 2) are they working to improve them? If you have faith in a kids character then it's truly not that much of a risk. If you're not certain, you wait to offer. As it pertains to this young gent's recruitment you would only have to ask as much as was shared in this thread to know it was never a case of lack of effort or desire.

The fact that other coaches haven't leads me to believe they are looking at him as a football player vs the entire person. The fact that our coaches presumably asked enough to know makes me feel better about our coaching staff whom I already loved. Who wouldn't want to play at SU, for these coaches, in this system? Maybe someone that only wants to major in football and skate by on their classes but we, as fans, are not really missing those guys anyway.

I love having a team full of players that you can cheer for off the field as well as on it. I don't miss the GRob era where guys were out of shape, going out all the time, opening hookuh bars, etc. Marrone righted that ship in a hurry and Shafer is taking it a step further. The guy loves his players and wants them to succeed in all facets. Who isn't on board with that?

The other version of this says that when you are in a position of need you take what you can get to improve regardless of risk and hope for the best.

I like your version better and for the most part think it's correct.

 

[ImperialOrange]

The other version of this says that when you are in a position of need you take what you can get to improve regardless of risk and hope for the best.

I like your version better and for the most part think it's correct.

I think the other version is what HC Marrone was somewhat forced into doing early on. We're pretty well past that at this point and haven't had any recent on campus horror stories re: players as result. If anything it's been the opposite as in very talented players being forced to perform in the classroom to earn the right to be on the field with Funder, and Foy.

 

[Bambrewer]

Fun fact about Head coach Shafer. May have been when he was our DC prior to HC but he has stated that when recruiting a kid he doesn't just ask coaches and teachers whom he knows will be trying to sell the good and gloss over any bad with kids. He tries to talk with the lunch workers, janitors, etc. to see how the kid acts towards someone they have nothing to gain from. Although it seems simple I thought that was very astute way to learn about a kids integrity and believe it as a reason we have the type of players that we do.

That would be a good thing for shy. One of the favorite stories in Lowell this year was about a teacher in the hall trying to keep another student in line and the kid was giving her a pretty hard time . Shy walked up put his arm around the kid and said I think it would be a good idea to stop and listen to that teacher. The kid looked up at shy turned around said yes mam to the teacher and did as she asked. The teacher didn't even know who shy was before that day. They all love him. The lunch ladies always come out after lunch and give shy more food as lunch ends. He volunteers with the police dept and does the DARE program during the summer where he does the exercise and sports program for kids in the 5 th thru 8 th grade. This kid is just a real good kid

 

[ImperialOrange]

That would be a good thing for shy. One of the favorite stories in Lowell this year was about a teacher in the hall trying to keep another student in line and the kid was giving her a pretty hard time . Shy walked up put his arm around the kid and said I think it would be a good idea to stop and listen to that teacher. The kid looked up at shy turned around said yes mam to the teacher and did as she asked. The teacher didn't even know who shy was before that day. They all love him. The lunch ladies always come out after lunch and give shy more food as lunch ends. He volunteers with the police dept and does the DARE program during the summer where he does the exercise and sports program for kids in the 5 th thru 8 th grade. This kid is just a real good kid

So at this point it's pretty obvious why the coaches felt confident in offering him when others were hesitant. Potentially good piece of mind for you and your wife as well that, if/when Shy chooses SU, he will be with lining up with other young men that hold themselves to similar standards as himself.

 

[jr4750]

That would be a good thing for shy. One of the favorite stories in Lowell this year was about a teacher in the hall trying to keep another student in line and the kid was giving her a pretty hard time . Shy walked up put his arm around the kid and said I think it would be a good idea to stop and listen to that teacher. The kid looked up at shy turned around said yes mam to the teacher and did as she asked. The teacher didn't even know who shy was before that day. They all love him. The lunch ladies always come out after lunch and give shy more food as lunch ends. He volunteers with the police dept and does the DARE program during the summer where he does the exercise and sports program for kids in the 5 th thru 8 th grade. This kid is just a real good kid

Having heard all of your wonderful stories about your son, its hard to figure how he isn't being sought after by every school. All these life lessons and the struggle he is going through to become eligible will only allow for greater success and a more adept appreciation of the game, as he grows older. He screams future Captain to me!

 

[Bambrewer]

So at this point it's pretty obvious why the coaches felt confident in offering him when others were hesitant. Potentially good piece of mind for you and your wife as well that, if/when Shy chooses SU, he will be with lining up with other young men that hold themselves to similar standards as himself.

It is one of my greatest worries when he is away at school. We sit and watch a football movie and they show some kid drinking and driving and I just look at him and say that will never be you. Or we will be watching sports center and hear of some kid stealing crab legs and I will just look over and say that is never an option for you. Or we will be talking over dinner about past graduates of Lowell who lost their scholarship over missing school and I say I will have to kill you if that is you. He just laughs and says you know better. But it's still in your head that if the wrong kid is his roomate it could all be lost. The only thing I feel assured by is shy isn't afraid to be the one to say no. He will be out at a party with the team and things will start to get crazy and I'll get a call saying come pick me up I'm walking home. But where he goes and the values the coach will instill in the team is a huge part of this choice

 

[wfschrec]

It is one of my greatest worries when he is away at school. We sit and watch a football movie and they show some kid drinking and driving and I just look at him and say that will never be you. Or we will be watching sports center and hear of some kid stealing crab legs and I will just look over and say that is never an option for you. Or we will be talking over dinner about past graduates of Lowell who lost their scholarship over missing school and I say I will have to kill you if that is you. He just laughs and says you know better. But it's still in your head that if the wrong kid is his roomate it could all be lost. The only thing I feel assured by is shy isn't afraid to be the one to say no. He will be out at a party with the team and things will start to get crazy and I'll get a call saying come pick me up I'm walking home. But where he goes and the values the coach will instill in the team is a huge part of this choice

Just tell him that a few thousand people from syracusefan.com will show up at Skytop if anything goes awry and it should be fine

 

[weedsportwarriors]

That would be a good thing for shy. One of the favorite stories in Lowell this year was about a teacher in the hall trying to keep another student in line and the kid was giving her a pretty hard time . Shy walked up put his arm around the kid and said I think it would be a good idea to stop and listen to that teacher. The kid looked up at shy turned around said yes mam to the teacher and did as she asked. The teacher didn't even know who shy was before that day. They all love him. The lunch ladies always come out after lunch and give shy more food as lunch ends. He volunteers with the police dept and does the DARE program during the summer where he does the exercise and sports program for kids in the 5 th thru 8 th grade. This kid is just a real good kid

If I had a kid who is ripped as Shycame upt to me and put his arm around me and said I think it would be a good idea to listen to the teacher, I would definitely listen to him. I don't know if my shoulder would have been able to hold those guns or not but the "S" on his chest is perfect in more ways than one.

 

[Bambrewer]

Having heard all of your wonderful stories about your son, its hard to figure how he isn't being sought after by every school. All these life lessons and the struggle he is going through to become eligible will only allow for greater success and a more adept appreciation of the game, as he grows older. He screams future Captain to me!

I'm guessing other schools don't know who shy really is. Plus he has the misfortune of playing in mass. We are like a football vacuum. I look at recruiting sites that have shy listed as number four I the state and I am dumbfounded. They know nothing of where shy should rank. One site has him ranked fourth behind 3 kids with a far softer schedule. The teams shy play are the best in mass. Coaches from other teams come up to shy all the time after games and say they can't wait for hi to graduate so they can start using the middle of the field again. We were visting a college a few months ago and the state champion team. Coach was there taking a commit to visit and saw shy he came over and asked me to take a family vacation the week they have to play his team. And his stats are the same as the kid they list as a number one and that kid plays d end. Shy has the same numbers coming from the middle. He hopes to be a captain this year ... To play in college is a dream come true to captain one day would be beyond incredible.

 

[Bambrewer]

If I had a kid who is ripped as Shycame upt to me and put his arm around me and said I think it would be a good idea to listen to the teacher, I would definitely listen to him. I don't know if my shoulder would have been able to hold those guns or not but the "S" on his chest is perfect in more ways than one.

I go to the gym with him 3 times a week and I am just amazed at what a 16 yearold is lifting ... Then I think to myself what happens when he says no to me... How am I stopping this kid if he ever came at me? Then I go over and push him off the bench on to the floor when he isn't expecting it and say somthing like that's right ill still put you down you ain't that big. And then I pray he doesn't come back at me lol.

 

[Bambrewer]

Just tell him that a few thousand people from syracusefan.com will show up at Skytop if anything goes awry and it should be fine

I do tell him all the time when the spotlight comes up at college it's not like high school... You let down the fans and alumni... You will have to go into a protection program to hide from them... Fans are crazy lol

 

[ImperialOrange]

I go to the gym with him 3 times a week and I am just amazed at what a 16 yearold is lifting ... Then I think to myself what happens when he says no to me... How am I stopping this kid if he ever came at me? Then I go over and push him off the bench on to the floor when he isn't expecting it and say somthing like that's right ill still put you down you ain't that big. And then I pray he doesn't come back at me lol.

Words of wisdom from my father when I was ~20 and in a lot better shape than I am today "No matter how big you get, you'll never be able to kick my ***". Was said in jest of course but I never doubted nor questioned that fact for a second.

 

[texascpa]

I go to the gym with him 3 times a week and I am just amazed at what a 16 yearold is lifting ... Then I think to myself what happens when he says no to me... How am I stopping this kid if he ever came at me? Then I go over and push him off the bench on to the floor when he isn't expecting it and say somthing like that's right ill still put you down you ain't that big. And then I pray he doesn't come back at me lol.

lol, we have the same parenting techniques. I still lift heavily (the big 4 lifts) at age 44 because my oldest, 17, is now in wrestling, so where he has me in speed, I can partially deflect with strength.

 

[oldpinepoint]

That would be a good thing for shy. One of the favorite stories in Lowell this year was about a teacher in the hall trying to keep another student in line and the kid was giving her a pretty hard time . Shy walked up put his arm around the kid and said I think it would be a good idea to stop and listen to that teacher. The kid looked up at shy turned around said yes mam to the teacher and did as she asked. The teacher didn't even know who shy was before that day. They all love him. The lunch ladies always come out after lunch and give shy more food as lunch ends. He volunteers with the police dept and does the DARE program during the summer where he does the exercise and sports program for kids in the 5 th thru 8 th grade. This kid is just a real good kid

This makes me happy

 

[wfschrec]

I do tell him all the time when the spotlight comes up at college it's not like high school... You let down the fans and alumni... You will have to go into a protection program to hide from them... Fans are crazy lol

Well hell even if he isn't worried about the fanbase he should be worried about what we report back to mom and dad ... syracusefan.com has eyes and ears everywhere

 

[Bambrewer]

Well hell even if he isn't worried about the fanbase he should be worried about what we report back to mom and dad ... syracusefan.com has eyes and ears everywhere

Perfect I'm feeling better already

 

[RMH44]

lol, we have the same parenting techniques. I still lift heavily (the big 4 lifts) at age 44 because my oldest, 17, is now in wrestling, so where he has me in speed, I can partially deflect with strength.

Shy's character and football prowess make him a perfect fit for SU.

Now we learn that dad is 44 years old...this is destined to happen ;-)

 

[Bambrewer]

Whoa whoa whoa dad is 43 I have 6 more months . I will be 44 when he would start freshman year if that helps though