Anyone reading/hearing about Maurice Smith?

[Uncle Ruckus]

He's a reserve Bama DB who asked to transfer to UGA. Not only did Saban say no, but he was banned from the facilities, his locker cleaned out and personal belongings were thrown away. There's a lot to take away from this, but the main thing I got was that Saban may be a little threatened by Smart.

 

[coach66]

It was a big topic on Mike and Mike this morning, Golic giving Saban hell.

nm

 

[aTotal360]

Saban is being a ******** and Smart is a prick too. Smart wants sympathy and he just stopped a UGA kid from transferring to Miami. Not too long ago, Saban released a kid to Missouri. So the "we don't allow intraconference transfers" card that he's trying to play is ********. The only reason he won't release Smith is because he's a decent player. He had no problem releasing the WR to Missouri because he never played.

There needs to be a rule that allows grad to not have to be "released" by their coaching staff.

 

[coach66]

Herm Edwards said on the show this morning, "I just got in my car and left" he

is pretty funny.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

That's my thoughts on the transfers as well. If you've completed your degree your should have the right to terminate your scholarship if you choose. When you sing with someone the intentions are for you to be there 3-4 years, after that you should be free to go as you please

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I wish someone would ask him how's it any different than him leaving LSU for Miami and then leaving Miami after two years, in the middle of the night, for Alabama. Pretty 17in hypocritical.

 

[Shmuley]

I say let his *** go. UGA ain't making Atlanta. Kid could start just about anywhere.

 

[aTotal360]

Especially when encourage you to stay in town and take classes. Lots of these guys are taking 8-10 hrs over the summer. That adds up quickly.

 

[John Lorry]

I think you're right.

And I don't fault Saban for that. Regardless of the "optics" of the situation, releasing talented players to opponents is idiotic. Players knew (or were imputed to know) the rules when they signed and agreed to the terms of their scholarship.

 

[Dawgbite]

How would yall have felt if Dak had decided last year he wanted to play his final year at Alabama and improve his chances of a natty? No doubt he would have beaten Coker for the job. I doubt we would have been as sympathetic to grad transfers in that situation.

 

[missouridawg]

How would yall have felt if Dak had decided last year he wanted to play his final year at Alabama and improve his chances of a natty? No doubt he would have beaten Coker for the job. I doubt we would have been as sympathetic to grad transfers in that situation.

Dak was the indisputable starter. Maurice was not. Furthermore, Maurice's best chance at a natty is at Bama. Maurice is going somewhere where he thinks he can get more PT and further his chances at the NFL.

 

[aTotal360]

Or to get away from Nick Saban.

 

[missouridawg]

And I don't fault Saban for that. Regardless of the "optics" of the situation, releasing talented players to opponents is idiotic. Players knew (or were imputed to know) the rules when they signed and agreed to the terms of their scholarship.

Completely disagree. Guarantee the playing time or let him go. Don't prevent someone from reaching their potential so Saban can have a plan C.

 

[John Lorry]

Completely disagree. Guarantee the playing time or let him go. Don't prevent someone from reaching their potential so Saban can have a plan C.

I'm all for releasing the player to another team, even in conference, as long as it doesn't negatively impact the success of my team.

I don't know anything about this player or Saban's methodology, but if we're talking about releasing a talented player that will demonstrably improve a rival program, then altruism falls by the wayside for me. Plus, if they're that good, there are presumably a lot of other programs in other conferences that would be interested.

 

[missouridawg]

I'm all for releasing the player to another team, even in conference, as long as it doesn't negatively impact the success of my team.

I don't know anything about this player or Saban's methodology, but if we're talking about releasing a talented player that will demonstrably improve a rival program, then altruism falls by the wayside for me. Plus, if they're that good, there are presumably a lot of other programs in other conferences that would be interested.

If Saban doesn't want him on another team, then guarantee him the playing time.

 

[OleMissLogo]

Saban is in the wrong on this situation. Period.

Either have scholarships that are guaranteed for 4 years as soon as the NLI is signed, or allow free transfer regardless of class without having to sit a year. It's ridiculous that a school can throw away a player and then he has to either transfer down or sit out a year. Or that a coach can leave for a better job anytime he wants, but a player can't leave to set himself up better for the future.

 

[EurekaDog]

Scholarships are for 1 year at a time, right? If so, does the player have to

"sign" each year for the scholarship to be valid?

There are plenty of examples for coaches "letting go" of players during the off season for no apparent reason.

 

[OleMissLogo]

[h=2]Scholarships are for 1 year at a time, right? If so, does the player have to[/h]"sign" each year for the scholarship to be valid?

There are plenty of examples for coaches "letting go" of players during the off season for no apparent reason.

Nope. The player is locked in to the school for 4 years when he signs an NLI, unless he is willing to forego a year of eligibility to transfer and sit out. Schools can dump the kid, but the kid can't dump the school.

 

[johnson86-1]

If Saban doesn't want him on another team, then guarantee him the playing time.

That's not realistic. You just can't guarantee playing time. Not sure what the answer is.

I don't want third year starters transferring from one power 5 school to the next just to get a slightly better spotlight, but also it does seem pretty ****** to not let a guy that's going to sit on the bench go get playing time at another school.

I think maybe you should be able to do a grad transfer out of a power 5 school into a non-power 5 school or otherwise have to be released.

 

[John Lorry]

Saban is in the wrong on this situation. Period.

Either have scholarships that are guaranteed for 4 years as soon as the NLI is signed, or allow free transfer regardless of class without having to sit a year. It's ridiculous that a school can throw away a player and then he has to either transfer down or sit out a year. Or that a coach can leave for a better job anytime he wants, but a player can't leave to set himself up better for the future.

That's how it works under the current system. As long as that system is in place, I think most (if not all) coaches would not, and should not, release an impact player to a conference opponent. To do otherwise is just bad strategy. Release the player to Ohio State or Oregon, whatever, just not to another team that is more likely than not going to get an advantage when they play "us."

You and others seem to be talking about what the system or rules should be. I think that's a different conversation. And I don't disagree that it's not fair for players, but a lot of **** isn't fair for players/programs/etc. I mean, this sort of quasi-free agency argument goes hand-in-hand with whether college football players should be paid.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

And Saban is the epitome of this. He 'processes' players every year to be able to continue to sign full, top classes year in and year out. If you're not getting it done then you're out and a freshman is in and so on and so on.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Completely disagree. Guarantee the playing time or let him go. Don't prevent someone from reaching their potential so Saban can have a plan C.

The playing time guarantee isn't feasible during the course of a season. Yet, it's the same "gray shirt" argument that I'm sure rival coaches use against Saban/Bama. It just rarely works. He/they recruit two ways: Get the best, & get the next best to prevent others from getting them. Sell the kids on the prestige & sit them on the bench.

 

[Dogariffic]

Players transfer all the time. To me it seems he did not like where the player wanted to transfer. Coaches limit transfer schools all of the time....no coach wants to play a player they previously coached. I bet there are lots of places Saban would have let him go to......one is just not Georgia.

 

[BoomBoom.sixpack]

That's not realistic. You just can't guarantee playing time. Not sure what the answer is.

I don't want third year starters transferring from one power 5 school to the next just to get a slightly better spotlight, but also it does seem pretty ****** to not let a guy that's going to sit on the bench go get playing time at another school.

I think maybe you should be able to do a grad transfer out of a power 5 school into a non-power 5 school or otherwise have to be released.

they're amateurs, they shouldn't have to have permission to go where they want. if i wanted to transfer to Bama, i didn't need MS State's permission just because i was on a academic scholly. let players go where they want, but they have to sit when the new team is playing the old team, its unfair for a coach to develop and train up a player, and then have them play against the coach. and no scholly at the new school.

or give schools and players the option of 4 year schollies or year-to-year ones. if it's year-to-year, the player can decline and go where he wants. if it's 4 years, he's tied to the school unless released.

 

[josebrown]

Players transfer all the time. To me it seems he did not like where the player wanted to transfer. Coaches limit transfer schools all of the time....no coach wants to play a player they previously coached. I bet there are lots of places Saban would have let him go to......one is just not Georgia.

Correct. He just doesn't want to let him go to UGA, if Kirby wanted him. They won't play each other. It's all a Kirby-Saban issue being taken out on the kid.

Bama don't play UGA this year, and it's doubtful UGA makes the SEC Champ. game. Personally, I think if the kid wanted to stay in the West, hell no. But he wants to go to the East without playing Bama this year, Saban just being a prick.