[JohnR34231]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article...a-football

Says he felt the most comfortable with the Iowa coaches. So be it.

Interesting quote about how he thought he wanted to go to Iowa, but the Stanford visit sealed it for him. Guess that's the exception that proves our "If they visit, they will come "rule.

[JohnR34231]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article...a-football

Says he felt the most comfortable with the Iowa coaches. So be it.

Interesting quote about how he thought he wanted to go to Iowa, but the Stanford visit sealed it for him. Guess that's the exception that proves our "If they visit, they will come "rule.

[OutsiderFan]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article...a-football

Says he felt the most comfortable with the Iowa coaches. So be it.

Interesting quote about how he thought he wanted to go to Iowa, but the Stanford visit sealed it for him. Guess that's the exception that proves our "If they visit, they will come "rule.

I listened to the Lombardi interview with Nelson.  In it he stated academics are the first priority and football is second.  If he really chose Iowa because he felt more comfortable with Iowa coaches, does he also believe Iowa offers better academic opportunities for him than Stanford? 

I'm sure a motivated college football player can get a fine education at Iowa, but not even an Iowa fan would claim Iowa can offer academic opportunities on par with Stanford or Notre Dame for that matter.  So once again, a kid who says academic opportunity is the #1 priority, when push comes to shove, makes a choice based on non-academic considerations.  Iowa as a football program compared to Stanford and Notre Dame is not even close these days.  Iowa is an also ran B1G team, below Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and probably even Nebraska and Northwestern, so even choosing Iowa for football reasons is quite curious. 

Maybe his girl friend or high school crush is going to Iowa.

[OutsiderFan]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article...a-football

Says he felt the most comfortable with the Iowa coaches. So be it.

Interesting quote about how he thought he wanted to go to Iowa, but the Stanford visit sealed it for him. Guess that's the exception that proves our "If they visit, they will come "rule.

I listened to the Lombardi interview with Nelson.  In it he stated academics are the first priority and football is second.  If he really chose Iowa because he felt more comfortable with Iowa coaches, does he also believe Iowa offers better academic opportunities for him than Stanford? 

I'm sure a motivated college football player can get a fine education at Iowa, but not even an Iowa fan would claim Iowa can offer academic opportunities on par with Stanford or Notre Dame for that matter.  So once again, a kid who says academic opportunity is the #1 priority, when push comes to shove, makes a choice based on non-academic considerations.  Iowa as a football program compared to Stanford and Notre Dame is not even close these days.  Iowa is an also ran B1G team, below Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and probably even Nebraska and Northwestern, so even choosing Iowa for football reasons is quite curious. 

Maybe his girl friend or high school crush is going to Iowa.

[FarmBoy]

I remember Shaq Thompsen saying something similar about his commitment to UW over Ca.l. Comfort with academics can mean a lot of different things. It may mean that he was intimidated by Stanford and felt more at ease in the Iowa classroom. Maybe he wants a degree in agriculture that Stanford doesn't offer. Who knows. More likely, recruits want to pretend that their final choice actually matches the priorities they stated at the start of the process, even if it doesn't hold true. It make it look like the process had "integrity" even if the final decision was based on Iowa cheerleaders being cuter than Stanford cheerleaders, or some other nonsense.

[FarmBoy]

I remember Shaq Thompsen saying something similar about his commitment to UW over Ca.l. Comfort with academics can mean a lot of different things. It may mean that he was intimidated by Stanford and felt more at ease in the Iowa classroom. Maybe he wants a degree in agriculture that Stanford doesn't offer. Who knows. More likely, recruits want to pretend that their final choice actually matches the priorities they stated at the start of the process, even if it doesn't hold true. It make it look like the process had "integrity" even if the final decision was based on Iowa cheerleaders being cuter than Stanford cheerleaders, or some other nonsense.

[JohnR34231]

Recruits almost always pay lip service to the notion that academics are #1 with them. Some mean it, some don't.

For most recruits, it does come down to comfort levels. For whatever reason, he felt the most comfortable with Iowa.

I suspect the Iowa coaches convinced him (and it probably wasn't too tough because he wanted to be convinced) that Iowa academics are "just as good" as Stanford.

[JohnR34231]

Recruits almost always pay lip service to the notion that academics are #1 with them. Some mean it, some don't.

For most recruits, it does come down to comfort levels. For whatever reason, he felt the most comfortable with Iowa.

I suspect the Iowa coaches convinced him (and it probably wasn't too tough because he wanted to be convinced) that Iowa academics are "just as good" as Stanford.

[Bruce Wang]

I'm not saying this is the case here or with others.  We really don't know.  That being said, there's always alot of peer and community pressure to play for the home school.  Not everybody has the cojones or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.  Stanford people do.  As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet. 

[Bruce Wang]

I'm not saying this is the case here or with others.  We really don't know.  That being said, there's always alot of peer and community pressure to play for the home school.  Not everybody has the cojones or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.  Stanford people do.  As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet. 

[JohnR34231]

I'm not saying this is the case here or with others.  We really don't know.  That being said, there's always alot of peer and community pressure to play for the home school.  Not everybody has the chutzpah or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.  Stanford people do.  As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet.

Definitely true. Here in Tallahassee, I remember one FSU player (who was recruited by Stanford) who said he chose the home school because he didn't want to have to take heat from everyone in town for the next nine months because of his choice.

He perhaps meant it jokingly, but I suspect there was a kernel of truth there.

[JohnR34231]

I'm not saying this is the case here or with others.  We really don't know.  That being said, there's always alot of peer and community pressure to play for the home school.  Not everybody has the chutzpah or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.  Stanford people do.  As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet.

Definitely true. Here in Tallahassee, I remember one FSU player (who was recruited by Stanford) who said he chose the home school because he didn't want to have to take heat from everyone in town for the next nine months because of his choice.

He perhaps meant it jokingly, but I suspect there was a kernel of truth there.

[fullmetal]

Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

[fullmetal]

Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

[washingtonismoney]

I don't think it's right to view this exclusively through the lens of Stanford. Nelson picked the BCS option that was the worst on the field, and average academically (unless he wants to be a writer).

EDIT: also, for a coach who stands a decent chance of getting fired next year.

[washingtonismoney]

I don't think it's right to view this exclusively through the lens of Stanford. Nelson picked the BCS option that was the worst on the field, and average academically (unless he wants to be a writer).

EDIT: also, for a coach who stands a decent chance of getting fired next year.

[JohnR34231]

I don't think it's right to view this exclusively through the lens of Stanford. Nelson picked the BCS option that was the worst on the field, and average academically (unless he wants to be a writer).

EDIT: also, for a coach who stands a decent chance of getting fired next year.

Other than that, I take it you support his decision. :)

[JohnR34231]

I don't think it's right to view this exclusively through the lens of Stanford. Nelson picked the BCS option that was the worst on the field, and average academically (unless he wants to be a writer).

EDIT: also, for a coach who stands a decent chance of getting fired next year.

Other than that, I take it you support his decision. :)

[rudruff]

All credit to him for putting himself in the position to make the decision.

[rudruff]

All credit to him for putting himself in the position to make the decision.

[washingtonismoney]

Other than that, I take it you support his decision. :)

Well, it's not a decision I would've made. Ultimately decisions like these fall onto values that can't easily be compared, ranked, or quantified. Basically, Nelson really values home, the comfort of family, etc. Who am I to say that's wrong?

Just noting that making it an Iowa vs. Stanford decision -- and focusing on the particular turn-offs Stanford might have presented -- is overly reductive. Viewed from the perspective of all of his offers is more revealing as to his preferences.

[washingtonismoney]

Other than that, I take it you support his decision. :)

Well, it's not a decision I would've made. Ultimately decisions like these fall onto values that can't easily be compared, ranked, or quantified. Basically, Nelson really values home, the comfort of family, etc. Who am I to say that's wrong?

Just noting that making it an Iowa vs. Stanford decision -- and focusing on the particular turn-offs Stanford might have presented -- is overly reductive. Viewed from the perspective of all of his offers is more revealing as to his preferences.

[Redrum]

Nelson was a guy I really, really wanted...but I was surprised at how "ehhh" my reaction was.  Too bad...but at least he's not a Domer.  And,  if Arizonan Lane Veach commits,  we'll still get to run the Mad Stork Experiment anyway.

[Redrum]

Nelson was a guy I really, really wanted...but I was surprised at how "ehhh" my reaction was.  Too bad...but at least he's not a Domer.  And,  if Arizonan Lane Veach commits,  we'll still get to run the Mad Stork Experiment anyway.

[slide]

Nelson was a guy I really, really wanted...but I was surprised at how "ehhh" my reaction was.  Too bad...but at least he's not a Domer.  And,  if Arizonan Lane Veach commits,  we'll still get to run the Mad Stork Experiment anyway.

we are running low on Storks this year.  first one down was Hubbard, then Nelson and now only Veach remains

[slide]

Nelson was a guy I really, really wanted...but I was surprised at how "ehhh" my reaction was.  Too bad...but at least he's not a Domer.  And,  if Arizonan Lane Veach commits,  we'll still get to run the Mad Stork Experiment anyway.

we are running low on Storks this year.  first one down was Hubbard, then Nelson and now only Veach remains

[washingtonismoney]

we are running low on Storks this year.  first one down was Hubbard, then Nelson and now only Veach remains

Assuming this is only confined to 6'6" Trent Murphy types, as the OLB board looks pretty strong overall.

[washingtonismoney]

we are running low on Storks this year.  first one down was Hubbard, then Nelson and now only Veach remains

Assuming this is only confined to 6'6" Trent Murphy types, as the OLB board looks pretty strong overall.

[oman]

Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

What's that?  Oh, it's Latin isn't it?

[oman]

Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

What's that?  Oh, it's Latin isn't it?

[JohnR34231]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=8053.msg63740#msg63740 date=1372435948]
Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

What's that?  Oh, it's Latin isn't it?
[/quote]

Doesn't it mean "Gloria got sick on the bus Monday"?

[JohnR34231]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=8053.msg63740#msg63740 date=1372435948]
Ah, for the good old days of *student*-athletes... sic transit gloria mundi.

What's that?  Oh, it's Latin isn't it?
[/quote]

Doesn't it mean "Gloria got sick on the bus Monday"?

[jacketree]

Not everybody has the chutzpah or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.

But if they go to high school across the street it is OK if they don't. ;)

As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet.

Money.  Recruits are too nice to say it, but I think some of them see Stanford located half way between Sodom and Gomorrah.

[jacketree]

Not everybody has the chutzpah or independence of thought to defy the crowd, or get away from their comfort zone.

But if they go to high school across the street it is OK if they don't. ;)

As much of a paradise as many of us believe Stanford is, others may find it a bizarre planet.

Money.  Recruits are too nice to say it, but I think some of them see Stanford located half way between Sodom and Gomorrah.

[yvonne]

Um, Garvin,

http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php/...l#msg63772

Keep up, son!

[yvonne]

Um, Garvin,

http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php/...l#msg63772

Keep up, son!

[Bruce Wang]

I like the way Chryst announced.  No fuss. No muss.  Andrew-like.

[Bruce Wang]

I like the way Chryst announced.  No fuss. No muss.  Andrew-like.