O'Rear

[Khan4Cats]

Re: O'Rear

When we recruited Lucas, a lot of schools were shying away from him because there was concern he might be drafted by baseball out of high school. He also had a couple of baseball scholarship offers, but since those are rarely full-ride, he went with UNI. I do believe he had intended to try and play both sports here if he could. He had a knee injury his senior of HS baseball that stalled the baseball talks and also limited his playing for UNI early as a freshman (he would have played in the Thailand trip if he was healthy). That also kept him from baseball his freshman year. He then played basbeall after his sophomore year of basketball, which was also the last year of the UNI program.

After the program was cut, Lucas looked HARD at a possible transfer to a school for baseball because he realized that was where his possible professional future opportunities were. He even had a partial scholarship offer to a Big XII program. He and his father met with Coach Jake to discuss the situation and he ultimately decided to come back to UNI because of what we might accomplish last year and with the promise from Jake to allow him to try and pursue his baseball career. That loyalty allowed him to work out and audition for pro teams which led to his drafting last year. Lucas returned the loyalty by securing a promise from the Reds to allow him to come back for basketball this year.

By the way, the Big XII program that offered him a partial scholarship in baseball to transfer after his sophomore year? Kansas.

[bennytheball]

Re: O'Rear

When we recruited Lucas, a lot of schools were shying away from him because there was concern he might be drafted by baseball out of high school. He also had a couple of baseball scholarship offers, but since those are rarely full-ride, he went with UNI. I do believe he had intended to try and play both sports here if he could. He had a knee injury his senior of HS baseball that stalled the baseball talks and also limited his playing for UNI early as a freshman (he would have played in the Thailand trip if he was healthy). That also kept him from baseball his freshman year. He then played basbeall after his sophomore year of basketball, which was also the last year of the UNI program.

After the program was cut, Lucas looked HARD at a possible transfer to a school for baseball because he realized that was where his possible professional future opportunities were. He even had a partial scholarship offer to a Big XII program. He and his father met with Coach Jake to discuss the situation and he ultimately decided to come back to UNI because of what we might accomplish last year and with the promise from Jake to allow him to try and pursue his baseball career. That loyalty allowed him to work out and audition for pro teams which led to his drafting last year. Lucas returned the loyalty by securing a promise from the Reds to allow him to come back for basketball this year.

By the way, the Big XII program that offered him a partial scholarship in baseball to transfer after his sophomore year? Kansas.

Thanks for the info.

One of my concerns, when baseball was dropped, was that it may weaken the other men's sports. It'll probably carries little weight in the grand scheme of men's athletics, but not having a baseball program, occasionally may hurt recruiting.

[jegbomb52]

Re: O'Rear

I have to ask a question that might not be a popular one...

What does everyone think about having a player on our basketball squad, that is openly, and clearly stating that he has no intention of finishing out an academic semester? To go into a season saying "I will report a week after the season is over," is basically saying I am going to play basketball, when thats done see you later. This isn't an isolated incodent, this happens every spring and fall across the country. Does the NCAA need to look into this? I don't know exactly what they can do but it garners some respect.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: O'Rear

Lucas most likely had classes that could either be finished up early, or taken via online. I believe Gruber did the same thing before headed to Australia in '04. When you plan ahead, you can make things like this work out academically.

[JayJ79]

Re: O'Rear

I have to ask a question that might not be a popular one...

What does everyone think about having a player on our basketball squad, that is openly, and clearly stating that he has no intention of finishing out an academic semester? To go into a season saying "I will report a week after the season is over," is basically saying I am going to play basketball, when thats done see you later. This isn't an isolated incodent, this happens every spring and fall across the country. Does the NCAA need to look into this? I don't know exactly what they can do but it garners some respect.

as opposed to basketball players that go to the NBA prior to their senior seasons?

[jegbomb52]

Re: O'Rear

Lucas most likely had classes that could either be finished up early, or taken via online. I believe Gruber did the same thing before headed to Australia in '04. When you plan ahead, you can make things like this work out academically.

You can sometimes make things like this work out, I do however think that more times than not school is done for these kids when they leave campus.

[jegbomb52]

Re: O'Rear

as opposed to basketball players that go to the NBA prior to their senior seasons?

I look at that differently. If something comes up in the next two weeks and Harrison Barnes decides he is going to declare for the NBA Draft, that was probably (probably) not pre-meditated the way Lucas' situation was.

I don't knock Lucas for doing what he did, if they give you the opportunity go ahead and take it. Its a compliance issue that needs to be looked at. I would bet you there are dozens of situations just like this every year. I believe Mike Furrey never attended a class his senior fall semester. Last game was over on Saturday, he was on a plane to Arizona to train by Sunday night.

[JayJ79]

Re: O'Rear

meh, there are plenty of basketball players that I'm sure have no intention of staying in school until they graduate (because they plan on going pro).

As for compliance, I believe the NCAA has procedures in place, in the form of penalties for low APR (academic progress ratings) and/or low GSR (graduation success rate).

I don't see why they should differentiate between those who are a little more organized and have arrangements in place (like Lucas), or those who leave it to chance.

And whether a kid quits school (without graduating) as soon as his eligibility is up, or whether they quit after freshman year, it has the same effect on graduation rates.
So if you're implying that O'Rear shouldn't have been allowed to participate during his senior season, because of the baseball arrangements, frankly I think that's just silly.

[PantherChic]

Re: O'Rear

Wasn't he working on grad classes this semester? He told my dad a few weeks ago that he was wrapping up his class work.

[in_the_stands]

Re: O'Rear

I think if you have an opportunity to go pro in your sport (or one of them), you take it. Can't imagine why it would even be an issue.

[jegbomb52]

Re: O'Rear

No issue with leaving school early. I also agree if you have a chance and it is good for your family so be it. If a football player decides not to start second semester after the playoffs or a bowl game so be it, but to participate in a sport during an academic semester with no intention of finishing that sememster rubs me the wrong way.

Part of being a student athlete and competing at the "ametuer level" is balancing academics and athletics, to be competing against athletes that are 100% focused on athletics with no academic responsibilities makes them, well, professionals. It also gives them a competitive edge.

I am not saying that this is what Lucas did, he might have had all his i's dotted and t's crossed, but there are several cases each year where this is simply not the case.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: O'Rear

Jeg-

I agree that I wish student-athletes would see through and get their degree (regardless of where the student-athlete goes to school). At UNI, under Jake, I believe every senior has gotten his degree. With Lucas, he will graduate. He finishes his classwork this Spring and then has an internship after baseball. The list of seniors who have diplomas continue under Jake.

In general, in baseball, teams provide bonuses to players who leave early, but also a provision for them to complete their education on their own at their pace, since they would no longer be under the school's scholarship system (usually).

[Pantherwoman]

Re: O'Rear

Per Lucas's dad Lucas will complete his internship fall of '11. That is all he has left and will walk in graduation December '11. Mike is pretty firm as a father that Lucas will have his degree. That certainly helps the coaches!!

[CincyPanther88]

Re: O'Rear

I look at that differently. If something comes up in the next two weeks and Harrison Barnes decides he is going to declare for the NBA Draft, that was probably (probably) not pre-meditated the way Lucas' situation was.

I don't knock Lucas for doing what he did, if they give you the opportunity go ahead and take it. Its a compliance issue that needs to be looked at. I would bet you there are dozens of situations just like this every year.

What happens with a lot of these one and done players is that if they know they are going pro after their freshman year, they go to school in fall and do just enough to be eligible in the spring. Once spring semester comes, they stop going to class period.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: O'Rear

What happens with a lot of these one and done players is that if they know they are going pro after their freshman year, they go to school in fall and do just enough to be eligible in the spring. Once spring semester comes, they stop going to class period.

Oh, you mean the John Calipari approach to academic success.

As for Lucas, pretty sure he mentioned he was taking a few 7-week courses this spring so that he was freed up to head to baseball once the season was done. I recall hearing the same about him graduating in December after completing an internship. I think he's doing his internship as a crash barrier for highway exit ramps, poor cars...