Chances of AW playing tonight...

[Bradleyguy10]

Let's get this ingrained into people's head because some still seem confused.

AW can play tonight without affecting his eligibility for a medical redshirt. It is my understanding that he could play all 40 minutes tonight and still be eligible for the redshirt. Also if we go 6-0 then there would be no itch to scratch because after tonight a decision needs to be made that is final for the rest of the season on whether he plays or does not.

This is why I'm leaning towards AW getting a few minutes to test it out and see how it feels in game. And yes DR came in last year w/out practicing with the team.

Do I think he should redshirt. Yes I think he should, but him playing in this game is an unrelated issue to whether or not he redshirts except that maybe JL wants to see how he feels.

[basketball nut]

CONS - He reinjures his surgically repaired foot that has already caused him to miss 2 months of the season, and puts next season and his career in jeopardy.

This is the main reason this will not happen and why for one game would one want to to this.

What happened to Smith when IL played BU 2 years ago and then wasn't able to play during the Big 10 season. This game is not worth jeapordizing the health of the argualbly the best player we have on our team.

[DannyCooksey]

I will be surprised if he doesn't play at least a few minutes in an effort to spark the crowd and the team. Let's be honest Coach les has a track record of this very thing. Saving the return of his stars against ISU.

I expect Warren to play. The thought of him not playing because he hasn't practiced with the team is one I don't buy. He's an experienced upperclassmen that has led BU to 5 post season games and many other accolades. If he were a young and inexperienced player it would be different.

Warren plays tonight.

[Da Coach]

I will be surprised if he doesn't play at least a few minutes in an effort to spark the crowd and the team. Let's be honest Coach les has a track record of this very thing. Saving the return of his stars against ISU....

Warren plays tonight.

I assure you that Coach Les does not go for gimmicks like you suggest. The "return" of Daniel Ruffin last year was 100% coincidental with when he was cleared by doctors to play, and had nothing to do with who we were playing. Were there ever any other examples?
But it does work to Bradley's advantage if the opposition is worried about these things!

[SFP]

I'm not a betting but I'd put down even money that AW will not play or dress to play. DR was a different case! DR could not redshirt, it was his senior year and he had extensive time playing with the team during the season. Let's just put this notion to bed and keep it in our dreams. Shooting around on your own is so much less stressful then playing in the game. THe difference would be heading to your local go-cart track and then believing you are ready for the Indy 500.

[DannyCooksey]

I assure you that Coach Les does not go for gimmicks like you suggest. The "return" of Daniel Ruffin last year was 100% coincidental with when he was cleared by doctors to play, and had nothing to do with who we were playing. Were there ever any other examples?
But it does work to Bradley's advantage if the opposition is worried about these things!

Worried? me?

I haven't played in 17 years. Doubt the Birds are 'worried' either. I still say Warren plays tonight. We'll see who was right on this prediction.

[Da Coach]

Worried? me?

I haven't played in 17 years. Doubt the Birds are 'worried' either. I still say Warren plays tonight. We'll see who was right on this prediction.

By opposition, I meant that perhaps Jankovich is worried about it.

And I would love to see AW dress, but he won't play (but don't tell Jank ).

[amettrick]

I just can't imagine AW playing tonight. Maybe if he'd gotten at least a few practices in with the team, that'd be a different story. But when all he's done is work out on his own, it just seems too far-fetched for me.

[real fan]

0% he plays tonight as he has not been practicing with the team according to coach Les; if you don"t practice then you don"t play has been the rule.

[Bradleyguy10]

I hate to get so danged picky, but....

I am not so sure this statement is true...and certainly we'd all agree that the NCAA has never proven itself to be so predictable that we can be so sure what they'd decide! I'm not saying that by playing tonight he'd ruin his chance of redshirting, but he almost certainly would AFFECT it as it would then cause Bradley to have to present evidence as to why he was cleared to play if he had a "season ending injury" - which is one of the requirements...

As most know...the single MOST significant requirement a player must fulfill to get a medical "reshirt" is a verifiable injury
that is season ending. (of course it must also occur before the midpoint of the season and he cannot play > 30% of scheduled contests).

But if a player HAS an injury (AW apparently was well enough to play in an exhibition earlier) and then comes back and plays again it may make it harder to argue the case to the NCAA that the injury WAS indeed sufficient to end AW's season, and they might just give some trouble accepting the evidence.

The purpose of the rules is to prevent a kid who is perfectly recovered and able to play, from taking the rest of the season off since maybe it is clear the team is bad this year and he just wants to have an extra year.

This was the argument made with Bill Cole, that he actually did come back from his injury, proving he was cleared to play!

Good info Tornado, thanks.


What if he only came in for 5 minutes? Would that be easier to convince the NCAA that all JL was trying to do was see how it felt from an in-game situation?

Besides the biggest purpose of this thread is to keep the opposing board guessing.

[SaintLouBrave22]

0% he plays tonight as he has not been practicing with the team according to coach Les; if you don"t practice then you don"t play has been the rule.

Tell that to Ruff last year and Maniscalco this year...

Its very possible he could play, and yeah, he was cleared by the medical and training staff quite awhile ago...

IF he doesn't play, its because of his decision not to....not because of Les, because its real obvious what Coach Les wants him to do...

[Out of Bounce]

I will be surprised if he doesn't play at least a few minutes in an effort to spark the crowd and the team. Let's be honest Coach les has a track record of this very thing. Saving the return of his stars against ISU.

I expect Warren to play. The thought of him not playing because he hasn't practiced with the team is one I don't buy. He's an experienced upperclassmen that has led BU to 5 post season games and many other accolades. If he were a young and inexperienced player it would be different.

Warren plays tonight.

BOO now go change your pants You bird fans are all alike,that is you are all scared and afraid about tonight, that you are seeing skeletons and ghoses in every closet

[shaunguth]

What if he only came in for 5 minutes? Would that be easier to convince the NCAA that all JL was trying to do was see how it felt from an in-game situation?

That's exactly what I was thinking. I don't think very limited minutes would hurt his "medical hardship" chances too much at all. If that's the case, I would bring him in as the first off the bench and give him around five minutes of playing time. I would not start AW tonight as I wouldn't want to take another player's starting position away from them in a game like this, especially for "theatrics" sake. Besides, the crowd will be plenty pumped up after the introductions, no matter who is starting. Perhaps, the crowd could use a little extra "push" if isu gets off to a good start. Of course, I would only want AW to play even limited minutes if he's entirely comfortable with the situation.

[Big Mike]

IMO....AW should red/shirt and come bacck strong next year for his Jr. playing season!

[Scouter]

Take no chances risking another injury, and especially take no chances when it comes to getting a redshirt from the NCAA. AW should only play if he's 100 percent for tonight. I doubt that's the case, but stranger things have happened.