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Quote:"I asked that whoever wanted to step up and be a leader, it was their time to do it," Mackin said. "Nineteen kids got up, addressed the remaining team and said they were going to hold them accountable for all of those - academics, training room and in the weight room, which I thought was a tremendous positive.

"This is all about our student athletes right now, making sure I answer all their questions and let them know how proud I am of them for all they've accomplished."

It's great that 19 players stood up as leaders, but am I reading correctly that they will be responsible for making sure the others go to class. Will there not be a staff member enforcing academics until a coach is hired. It's good that teammates are willing to do it, but they don't have enforcement power. I don't want a return of APR issues.

(01-09-2014 08:00 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

Quote:"I asked that whoever wanted to step up and be a leader, it was their time to do it," Mackin said. "Nineteen kids got up, addressed the remaining team and said they were going to hold them accountable for all of those - academics, training room and in the weight room, which I thought was a tremendous positive.

"This is all about our student athletes right now, making sure I answer all their questions and let them know how proud I am of them for all they've accomplished."

It's great that 19 players stood up as leaders, but am I reading correctly that they will be responsible for making sure the others go to class. Will there not be a staff member enforcing academics until a coach is hired. It's good that teammates are willing to do it, but they don't have enforcement power. I don't want a return of APR issues.

Many expect McGee/Petrino to try to bring some of the staff from UAB with them. If so, who knows who will actually remain. And those remaining know they are not very likely to be kept on the future staff, so their interest will fall off.

I'm sure we will have some support staff that will attempt to keep things in order on the academic side. But we do need as fans and as a community at UAB to embrace the players we have. We don't need a mass exodus. Some may opt to leave and that's unavoidable, but we should work as hard as possible to not have a lot of losses.

I'm sure jake seitz and Bryan Ellis will keep after em

classes just started, hopefully a coach will be in place by next week. They shouldn't get too far behind during that time.

By having to rush to put a coach in by next week, with recruiting and classes in session, I'm afraid it's going to limit the quality of the hire.

I know a little math & could possibly do some of their homework in that subject.

(01-09-2014 08:14 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  By having to rush to put a coach in by next week, with recruiting and classes in session, I'm afraid it's going to limit the quality of the hire.

A lot more than that will limit the quality of the hire.

The Callaway hire happened in a hurry.

(01-09-2014 08:21 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  The Callaway hire happened in a hurry.

Yeah, but unfortunately, we didn't have to look for a coach then.

(01-09-2014 08:14 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  By having to rush to put a coach in by next week, with recruiting and classes in session, I'm afraid it's going to limit the quality of the hire.

There's no need to rush the hire. It won't help the situation any. Next week should be interview week. The week after should be decision time. Maybe work in a few more interviews too. With the right name, it could be easy to keep the guys we have, or get them back. Most players will wait until the last minute to make a decision. Minds always change on signing day.

I doubt the players can get in much trouble in just two weeks.

I imagine there's permanent support staff to get them to class and whatnot.

But having a coach who can threaten laps or lack of playing time is needed

Calling upon the players to self-police themselves and each other is good for team cohesiveness. There are only a couple of staff enforcers so the "buddy system" of making the players self reliant / responsible is a great idea.

(01-09-2014 08:06 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  I'm sure jake seitz and Bryan Ellis will keep after em

Supposedly Seitz is at Samford now and he didn't even go to his classes while he was a GA.