PJ Star- BU guard asks for release

[SFP]

Regardless of why he's bolting, his legacy at BU will not shine as bright as it could. Unless he takes his next team to greatness he'll be just a cog in the wheel for one year. I'm all about free will, so as I said before I have no animosity whatsoever with his decision. What he needs to recognize is that there will be consequences good and bad from leaving. Only he knows what is right for him and what he can live with.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCoQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGqH21LEmfbQ&ei=i_V4TYCJI5OErQHap9jCBQ&usg=AFQjCNFxwqyTDGZxb7rwfcl79rqOPy5ynw

[DeltaBrave03]

I would have loved for Sammy to stay, but there are several players/recruits I am much much more worried about retaining. JG/MC knew players would be bolting when the move was made. This decision was not about next season it was about the future. Whether you believe it was right or wrong you have to understand that, and sammy was not in our future past next year.

JL is gone, nothing will change that no matter how much the former pro-JL crowd carries on about how our program is falling into oblivion. At the end of the day I am a BU fan and support the institution. I wish JL and SM nothing but the best, but my loyalty rests with the institution as a whole whereas it seems some people only care about who is in charge of the program.

[DUBrave5]

Sam wouldn't make this decision without a lot of thought. He is a college student who needs to do what is best for him. So what if he goes to U of I and plays basketball while pursuing his masters degree, more power to him. He has been loyal to Jim Les his entire time here so as an athlete I can understand loyalty to a coach and how hard it would be when that is the person you look up to and the university fires him. I guarantee there is no way that Sam made this decision without a lot of thought though.

I am a fan of Bradley basketball and yes this year frustrated me and I didn't go to as many games as usual. But I am also a fan of Sammy. So if he wants to go play his final year at U of I then that won't change how I feel about Bradley basketball or him. Heck I'll probably follow U of I more closely for a year because I will still want him to do well there. He gave a lot to this program here and while he may finish his career with the Illini, he will always be a Brave.

[TheHeemyMonster]

Although I really have enojyed SM and wish he would stay, I do not think its that big of loss for Bradley. Next year is going to be a rebuilding year. SM knows that, thats why he is leaving. Might as well get young guys more playing and and get the program rebuilt sooner rather than later

[jrish12]

Would you people bashing the President get off your high horse already? She made a business decision. Would you like to be president of a Division 1 university with the academic reputation of Bradley and have to make the decisions she makes.... give me a break and move on, whats done is done you cant change what happened.

[Bravesfan]

Sam's departure is about loyalty to his coach. He is a smart young man with a father who like himself has seen what is happening on the hilltop with the President and her agenda's. Pure and simple. Sam is making a good decision and I will cheer for both him and whatever school he chooses. Bradley is in a mess right now, not just the athletic program but the whole institution and the reason is the ego centered president. We can only hope that her tenure is much shorter than what Jim's was. Good for you Sam - I am proud of you.

Just curious here. What is it exactly that JG did to "mess" up thw whole Bradley institution? I am the first to admit that I did not like her decision to fire Les. But how is she supposedly messing things up for the rest of the school?

[shaunguth]

Wasn't the headline "BU guard asks for release"?

That's pretty tame, to me.





Well he's leaving because his major is forcing him to OR he decided to quit. Right?

OR he simply has every right to get on with his life after graduating from the school he committed to five years ago. Not that someone has to have graduated, as I believe we'll see in the near future, but I believe all of these kids have every right to make a decision regarding their future now that things have changed. I will NEVER say they "quit" or call them "traitors" for making a life decision, which I would hope includes input from their families.

[shaunguth]

I wanted a change. Yet, I still bought season tickets. I still went to St. Louis. I still cheered on BU at every turn.

Now, people who CLAIM to be BU fans are saying we should "hate" the President, cheer players for leaving, and hope the next coach fails.

Or saying all the donors will be pulling their money.

I never saw people "hoping" JL failed. Maybe some were disappointed, but never hoping for failure.

Strange how that works.

As you said, if the shoe fits.

Are you BU fans or JL fans?

I don't recall seeing anyone say we should "cheer players for leaving, and hope the next coach fails". I probably don't read every single post on this board (or maybe it came from another board). I would love to see who on this board has called for such things. I guess calling players "traitors" is perfectly acceptable when a kid makes a life decision?

[bigdaddystuck]

OR he simply has every right to get on with his life after graduating from the school he committed to five years ago. Not that someone has to have graduated, as I believe we'll see in the near future, but I believe all of these kids have every right to make a decision regarding their future now that things have changed. I will NEVER say the "quit" or call them "traitors" for making a life decision, which I would hope includes input from their families.

I agree with this statement. If SM leaves, I don't consider him a traitor. He will have received his degree from BU and like any graduate can go on with life from there. My understanding of the situation is that he would have to be taking classes toward his graduate degree and that BU doesn't even offer grad courses in his area of study. I wish him luck in anything he decides to do!

[shaunguth]

If SM leaves, I don't consider him a traitor.

Unfortunately, some people do.

[BradleyBrave]

I guess calling players "traitors" is perfectly acceptable when a kid makes a life decision?

Not a traitor at all. Going to ISU would make him a traitor.

I wouldn't call it a 'life' decision though. Would he be going to U of I if Jim was still here? If the answer is 'no', then it's a basketball decision. And I am fine with that. But let's call it what it is. Sam doesn't need people to make excuses for him on why he's leaving. I wish him the best.

[shaunguth]

Not a traitor at all. Going to ISU would make him a traitor.

I wouldn't call it a 'life' decision though. Would he be going to U of I if Jim was still here? If the answer is 'no', then it's a basketball decision. And I am fine with that. But let's call it what it is. Sam doesn't need people to make excuses for him on why he's leaving. I wish him the best.

He also doesn't need people calling him a "traitor" or saying he "quit". I would certainly call changing schools a "life" decision. That qualifies in my book, no matter what the reason.

[BradleyBrave]

He also doesn't need people calling him a "traitor" or saying he "quit". I would certainly call changing schools a "life" decision. That qualifies in my book, no matter what the reason.

I agree. He doesn't need that.

But it's a basketball decision. That graduate program will always be there, whether it be Illinois or somewhere else. Nonetheless, an exciting time for him and his family I think.

[Da Coach]

Not a traitor at all. Going to ISU would make him a traitor.

I wouldn't call it a 'life' decision though. Would he be going to U of I if Jim was still here? If the answer is 'no', then it's a basketball decision. And I am fine with that. But let's call it what it is. Sam doesn't need people to make excuses for him on why he's leaving. I wish him the best.

Beware "isu". Don't they need a point guard?

[BradleyJD]

I don't recall seeing anyone say we should "cheer players for leaving, and hope the next coach fails". I probably don't read every single post on this board (or maybe it came from another board). I would love to see who on this board has called for such things. I guess calling players "traitors" is perfectly acceptable when a kid makes a life decision?

I never said he was a traitor either.

I would love for you to show me where I said that.


Again, since you seem to know how/why Sammy is leaving, tell me this: Is he leaving because of his major or because Jim is not coaching?

or answer me this: Why are people blaming the President or A.D. for making a choice on Les? Isn't it fair for them to do that?