it looks like we can forget getting him from U of I like we were all hoping not long ago. On his facebook he posted "Looks like my father is going to force me to go to the school that HE likes".

He has since removed that post but its not a great post for us since he seems to want to be a Huskie.

Not just for NIU or Iowa's sake, but in general.. kid being forced by his dad to pick a school seems pretty questionable. It's nice of a dad to give his kid advice, but he earned the scholarship, he should go whereever he wants.

(12-14-2012 08:58 AM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  Not just for NIU or Iowa's sake, but in general.. kid being forced by his dad to pick a school seems pretty questionable. It's nice of a dad to give his kid advice, but he earned the scholarship, he should go whereever he wants.

Gee wonder if any Illness boosters are involved? It has happened in the past, and they are more desperate than ever now that they suck again.

I guess his dad wants his son to be home for christmas for the next 4 years. Since U of I won't be going to a bowl game anytime soon.

(12-14-2012 04:27 PM)goniu1523 Wrote:  I guess his dad wants his son to be home for christmas for the next 4 years. Since U of I won't be going to a bowl game anytime soon.

ha!

but yeah, what a weird situation if he'd actually change where he was committed due to his parents (when it's not travel/money related).

Kid is being a wuss, his father is a huge d-b

(12-14-2012 06:49 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  Kid is being a wuss, his father is a huge d-b

pretty much

(12-14-2012 06:56 PM)foch41 Wrote:  

(12-14-2012 06:49 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  Kid is being a wuss, his father is a huge d-b

pretty much

I think he is old enough to decided his future, but I guess not. Son, great game today, so proud of your win this year! Thanks Dad, I bet we win won next year too.
Lame

(12-14-2012 04:27 PM)goniu1523 Wrote:  I guess his dad wants his son to be home for christmas for the next 4 years. Since U of I won't be going to a bowl game anytime soon.

Can't imagine a father wanting his son to attend a program that has no chance at a BCS bowl and will be lucky to get any bowl invite in the years his son is there vs a program that is BCS Bowling this year and has a good shot next year as well.

My best friend's cousin was drafted by the cubs out of high school. His dad made him decline the offer and go to Notre Dame to play baseball there. That way if he is a bust in baseball he has a solid education and degree. He is now the 49th best player in the county coming out of college and will get a much bigger contract.

Point being, Spearman's dad may want him to get the best education possible and no one can deny the UofI is a good school. Even players from bad schools get drafted if they're that good.

(12-15-2012 05:19 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  My best friend's cousin was drafted by the cubs out of high school. His dad made him decline the offer and go to Notre Dame to play baseball there. That way if he is a bust in baseball he has a solid education and degree. He is now the 49th best player in the county coming out of college and will get a much bigger contract.

Point being, Spearman's dad may want him to get the best education possible and no one can deny the UofI is a good school. Even players from bad schools get drafted if they're that good.

NIU ranks higher in academic success of their athletes, and there are many programs at NIU that are better academically than u of i. I think there's money involved.

(12-15-2012 05:33 PM)Huskiefan38 Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 05:19 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  My best friend's cousin was drafted by the cubs out of high school. His dad made him decline the offer and go to Notre Dame to play baseball there. That way if he is a bust in baseball he has a solid education and degree. He is now the 49th best player in the county coming out of college and will get a much bigger contract.

Point being, Spearman's dad may want him to get the best education possible and no one can deny the UofI is a good school. Even players from bad schools get drafted if they're that good.

NIU ranks higher in academic success of their athletes, and there are many programs at NIU that are better academically than u of i. I think there's money involved.

I smell a rat as well. Makes no sense, oh well. Some lucky recruits coming to NIU, happy to have them. On the flip side, nice to see parents taking a role in kids lives.

Do we know that any of this is true, that Spearman wants to come here but his dad won't let him? Seems like rampant speculation all around. The only thing I ever saw was a tweet or something were he said he wants to go where he can win. Do we know for a fact he means NIU? Where's the beef?

(12-15-2012 04:27 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  Can't imagine a father wanting his son to attend a program that has no chance at a BCS bowl and will be lucky to get any bowl invite in the years his son is there vs a program that is BCS Bowling this year and has a good shot next year as well.

I hope a decision on where to attend college doesn't come down to only "possibility of a BCS invite". I think there's probably 10 - 15 things that should be well ahead of that.

(12-15-2012 05:51 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 05:33 PM)Huskiefan38 Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 05:19 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  My best friend's cousin was drafted by the cubs out of high school. His dad made him decline the offer and go to Notre Dame to play baseball there. That way if he is a bust in baseball he has a solid education and degree. He is now the 49th best player in the county coming out of college and will get a much bigger contract.

Point being, Spearman's dad may want him to get the best education possible and no one can deny the UofI is a good school. Even players from bad schools get drafted if they're that good.

NIU ranks higher in academic success of their athletes, and there are many programs at NIU that are better academically than u of i. I think there's money involved.

I smell a rat as well. Makes no sense, oh well. Some lucky recruits coming to NIU, happy to have them. On the flip side, nice to see parents taking a role in kids lives.

You really think it makes no sense to (possibly) accept a free education at a Big Ten school? Come on. Even if you think NIU is a better choice for a kid, to say it makes "no sense" is pure hyperbole. There are plenty of reasons to attend either school, depending on what is important to the kid and his family.

If the player in question wants to attend a Big 10 program he can also do that for grad school provided that their academics are in order. If you love a sport and can choose between one program that is going to a BCS bowl and may go to another next year vs a program that is the worst in it's conference.

(12-16-2012 09:56 AM)onlinepole Wrote:  If the player in question wants to attend a Big 10 program he can also do that for grad school provided that their academics are in order. If you love a sport and can choose between one program that is going to a BCS bowl and may go to another next year vs a program that is the worst in it's conference.

Maybe the kid would rather spend undergrad at the Big Ten school. Maybe he just is more comfortable at one school as opposed to another. Maybe in the major he is looking at one school is stronger than another. Maybe he has friends going to one and not the other. Maybe it's important to him that every game is on TV. Who knows what is important to him, but people trying to determine what is best for a kid and family they have never met is silly.

And I say that regardless of where he ends up. Again, there are plenty of reasons to choose either school, and nobody has any idea of what he and his family are looking for in a school.

(12-16-2012 10:01 AM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 09:56 AM)onlinepole Wrote:  If the player in question wants to attend a Big 10 program he can also do that for grad school provided that their academics are in order. If you love a sport and can choose between one program that is going to a BCS bowl and may go to another next year vs a program that is the worst in it's conference.

Maybe the kid would rather spend undergrad at the Big Ten school. Maybe he just is more comfortable at one school as opposed to another. Maybe in the major he is looking at one school is stronger than another. Maybe he has friends going to one and not the other. Maybe it's important to him that every game is on TV. Who knows what is important to him, but people trying to determine what is best for a kid and family they have never met is silly.

All very true, but going to Illinois to plays football shows winning is not important to you. He said in his facebook post that he just wants to win and doesn't like people who accept losing (i.e. Illinois football)

(12-16-2012 10:05 AM)HUSKIE44 Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 10:01 AM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 09:56 AM)onlinepole Wrote:  If the player in question wants to attend a Big 10 program he can also do that for grad school provided that their academics are in order. If you love a sport and can choose between one program that is going to a BCS bowl and may go to another next year vs a program that is the worst in it's conference.

Maybe the kid would rather spend undergrad at the Big Ten school. Maybe he just is more comfortable at one school as opposed to another. Maybe in the major he is looking at one school is stronger than another. Maybe he has friends going to one and not the other. Maybe it's important to him that every game is on TV. Who knows what is important to him, but people trying to determine what is best for a kid and family they have never met is silly.

All very true, but going to Illinois to plays football shows winning is not important to you. He said in his facebook post that he just wants to win and doesn't like people who accept losing (i.e. Illinois football)

And that's absolutely true, but it doesn't appear he's making the decision without some guidance from his parents, who may have a different idea on what's important. And most of these kids believe they can help teams win wherever they go, even if it's a relative long shot. I mean Illinois went from 2-10 to 9-4 and the Rose Bowl the following year not that long ago. And I don't think Illinois football "accepts" losing so much as they've just generally been awful. There's a difference.

If literally the only thing that's important to him is winning, then NIU is far more likely to do that at this stage, assuming the new coach is competent. But it's probably not that cut and dry.