Brace for more bad news

[Chico]

How many would even be going to school if they didn't have a basketball scholarship from a University? If you decide to leave, so should the tutoring.

[Vent]

It is usually customary for departing players to still be given courtesy use of facilities for working out and to have access to the tutors and academic support people. After all, their grades could end up impacting Bradley's APR score.
It is not typical to cut those players off completely and ruffle feathers. Some of the players who were planning on returning may have wanted to work out together with the departing players, as they have been workout partners for a long time. I am not judging, only reporting what I have heard. If anyone hears differently, please post. All of those kids who are leaving want to stay in shape and keep their grades up to find the best destination for them after this semester. Their AAU people, families, and HS coaches want that too. All I am saying is that there are different ways of handling this kind of thing that doesn't cause dissention with the kids, families, AAU sponsors, and the high school coaches. Maybe that is why most coaches do it differently.

Excellent post DC!! The tutoring is very important and doesn't cost the university any extra money. That person is already there and getting paid so it's not a financial decision. Also, our remaining players that continue to work out, will benefit more from playing against former college teammates than high school kids.

If Bradley were to allow these kids to continue working out and providing the athletic tutoring, it would send a message to future recruits, their families and coaches, that we are committed to them improving in the classroom and on the court, even if things don't work out.

As I said in a previous post, I don't know the facts and don't pretend to. I just think it can set a bad precedent at a time we don't need anymore damage.

It reminds me of when the current administration came in and cut the locks off of the lockers of former players and coaches in the locker room at Hausler Hall, before it was torn down. They were told they were no longer able to use the facilities. It created hard feelings that still exist today.

Maybe the players that are transferring were found to be disruptive to the scrimmages. If that is the case, they should be prevented from scrimmaging.
If they weren't, sometimes it's better to bite the bullet for a couple more weeks and let things play out.

I guess we will see in the very near future during the recruiting wars.

[Vent]

I think any student or student athlete should be allowed tutoring until they are no longer attending the university.

Anybody that has played college athletics, realizes the amount of class time missed due to traveling for games, makes it very challenging for even the exceptional student. That is why there is additional support for student athletes. They often fall behind during the season and then catch back up after the season is over.

[Tommy]

Losing the availability to the gym and the tutoring is something I like to call, 'consequences to their actions'. Just because something is 'the norm' doesn't make it right - don't even get me started on comparisons in society on that point. Honestly, if staying in shape and academics are that important to these kids there is one easy solution - don't quit the team.

You know, they are just kids, and yeah, it may be tough that they lose out on these things that most universities would still extend as a courtesy, but I would hardly consider this a 'normal' situation. BU and the new HC are being faced with challenges that most universities have never had to deal with! When has an entire team decided to up and leave before?

At any rate, if these kids want to make adult decisions, then they have to be ready for the adult consequences that may come along with them, and I'm sure not going to be upset with the University for not wasting another dime of resources on them.

[Buesch N Chips]

I don't really understand the situation, but I would say departing seniors with no eligibility left should be able to use the facilities, but kids leaving the program with eligibility left, lock em out.

[lefty]

Since I don't know any of the actual details I'll defer to Coach Wardle that he knows what he's doing. Doesn't mean he won't make mistakes I guess but sometimes what looks like a mistake now ends up being the right call in the long run??¦.

[Old Coach]

I think any student or student athlete should be allowed tutoring until they are no longer attending the university.

Anybody that has played college athletics, realizes the amount of class time missed due to traveling for games, makes it very challenging for even the exceptional student. That is why there is additional support for student athletes. They often fall behind during the season and then catch back up after the season is over.

Wouldn't the same tutoring be available to these former basketball players that is available to all of the traditional students?

[BUSongwriter]

Must be tough to sell an "It's All About the 'B'" marketing campaign when more than half the team apparently didn't believe it. My guess is everyone on the 2015-16 team will believe it, plus that there is no "I" in TEAM.

[Old Coach]

Must be tough to sell an "It's All About the 'B'" marketing campaign when more than half the team apparently didn't believe it. My guess is everyone on the 2015-16 team will believe it, plus that there is no "I" in TEAM.

But there is a ME.

[tornado]

.... there is no "I" in TEAM.

LOL - I have always heard this except this guy found it...it is hidden inside the A-hole

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb8f97spxV1qz7mcro1_500.png

[Mikovio]

I don't have a problem with Wardle doing this. They asked for their releases so they're not members of the program anymore, and so they don't get the perks reserved for the student athletes, which includes drills, use of the JJ Anderson court and special tutoring. They're still enrolled because the scholarships are year to year and they can use the Markin Rec Center and the free tutoring afforded all Bradley students. They're not owed anything more than that.

As for whether this was a good idea on Wardle's part, it depends on how this all played out. Are the Fire guys the only players locked out (and not Wells, Sutherland and Amerson)? I'm just speculating here but if so there might be more to this story regarding how the Fire coaches and kids handled the split. Also, I can understand Wardle not wanting kids on their way out practicing with the team, even if it means he can't hold full scrimmages at this point. Especially so if he's trying to change the culture and team habits.

[Da Coach]

Speaking of Nate....I have heard he is making progress toward a decision where he will transfer to. Nate is the rare instance where his transfer is because he truly wants to pursue a masters degree in an area that Bradley does not offer a masters (that is what the NCAA grad transfer rule is for, but it is usually abused).
He absolutely loves Bradley and is sad to leave, but it was necessary. Nate has officially received his release from Bradley and has zeroed in on a couple schools. He was not planning on playing basketball as a post-grad, until the last month or so of the season when he got to play more than just meaningless minutes. That has revived Nate's interest in playing. Now both Coach Ford and Coach Wardle have encouraged him to continue playing and that his best basketball is still ahead of him. That convinced Nate to play one more year of D1 basketball.
Nate wishes he could have stayed and played for Coach Wardle, and likes his style and coaching philosophies. But he wants to get his masters degree and that requires he go elsewhere.
We'll probably know soon where he will transfer and where he will play Ball for next year.
Nate and his family are tremendous people. I appreciate the time Nate spent at Bradley and wish him well!

[Tommy]

Thanks for the update on Nate. I really enjoyed him as a Brave and thought he always gave a great effort and was the best cheerleader they had on the bench, even when he was getting next to no game time.

Reading what you've said here just verified what I, and many other fans already thought of Nate. Classy kid.

[Vent]

I don't have a problem with Wardle doing this. They asked for their releases so they're not members of the program anymore, and so they don't get the perks reserved for the student athletes, which includes drills, use of the JJ Anderson court and special tutoring. They're still enrolled because the scholarships are year to year and they can use the Markin Rec Center and the free tutoring afforded all Bradley students. They're not owed anything more than that.

As for whether this was a good idea on Wardle's part, it depends on how this all played out. Are the Fire guys the only players locked out (and not Wells, Sutherland and Amerson)? I'm just speculating here but if so there might be more to this story regarding how the Fire coaches and kids handled the split. Also, I can understand Wardle not wanting kids on their way out practicing with the team, even if it means he can't hold full scrimmages at this point. Especially so if he's trying to change the culture and team habits.

You don't change the culture with the current players. You change the culture with the new players. It is the same with employees in the business world.

I just think this may come back to bite us in the hind in. All just over a couple of weeks.

[LongTimeFan]

I hate to see the tutoring withheld. Unless there is some reason we are not hearing, we seem to be shooting ourselves in the foot.