Mind numbing UCF/USF drivel, et al

[TyBull]

George O'Leary denies Louisville quarterback DaMarcus Smith release from letter of intent

Smith, a four-star quarterback, can appeal the decision.

If he does not win the appeal, he must sit out one season and loses a year of college football eligibility

By Iliana Limón | Orlando Sentinel

1:17 p.m. EDT, March 29, 2011

UCF coach George O'Leary said he has declined to release four-star Louisville quarterback DaMarcus Smith from his letter of intent.

O'Leary said Smith's mother contacted him Monday night to say her son was seeking a release from his letter of intent.

"I met with him a month ago and he basically talked to me about that situation, and he left me saying he was 100 percent a Knight," O'Leary said, alluding to rumors dating back to February that Smith was unhappy with his decision and planned to ask to be released from his letter of intent. "But every time he goes back to the Louisville area, it seems to be questionable what's taking place there.

"His mother did call me last night and expressed that they'd like a release and I told her no. And that if they have to do what they have to do as far as an appeal, they have to do that. But they're not getting a release from UCF."

O'Leary said he has never granted a release from a letter of intent and never plans to do so in the future.

Smith has the option to appeal UCF's decision to the National Letter of Intent board, citing extenuating circumstances. If the board denies his appeal, Smith will have to sit out one year before enrolling at another school on scholarship and will lose a year of eligibility. Instead of having five years to play four seasons of college football, he would have four years to play three seasons of college football.

"To me, you spend a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of hours recruiting a kid," he said. "I think the big thing is you sign a legal document and that's what it is – a legal document. I've never in all my coaching given a release to an NLI and I'm not about to start. And he knew that. I told him that. Again, that's why they have such a stiff penalty for people that don't fulfill the NLI."

O'Leary said Smith's mother did not give a reason for seeking the release.

"Not really, except that that's what he really wants to go to Louisville," O'Leary said. "That's why you sit down, it's a long recruiting period. A letter was signed by him and his mom. Again, I think as a head coach of a Division I program, those letters are what commits a youngster to your program. Just like it commits us to them with a financial aid letter.

"Again, with us, as far as we're concerned it's out of our hands. If they file an appeal, it's not our decision. But our decision is not to grant a release and I would never grant a release in any situation, really."

UCF currently has three viable quarterbacks on its roster and may seek more walk-ons to bolster its depth before the start of next season.

Freshman Jeff Godfrey remains the Knights' starting quarterback and freshman Blake Bortles is UCF's backup quarterback.

For the first time since the start of spring practice, senior Rob Calabrese worked out at quarterback leading the third team offense Tuesday. Calabrese switched from quarterback to receiver during the offseason. O'Leary said Calabrese will continue to primarily play receiver, but the Knights will give him some work at quarterback so that he remains a viable third-string option.

"You look at it a couple of different ways," O'Leary said. "Now who is the victim cause we stopped recruiting quarterbacks when he basically let us know he was involved and he wanted to be here long before the National Signing Day? Again, we'll work fine. That's why I'm still giving Rob some reps today. There's a method to the madness."

ilimon@tribune.com. Read Iliana Limón's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/knightsnotepad.

[TyBull]

Just another reason for an athlete to NEVER consider going to UCiF.....

[Carolina_Bull]

UCF is in the right.

"Friends of the program" in Louisville continue to recruit Smith despite his commitment.  For UCF to give a release is to recruit a kid on their roster.

The kid needs to put his hopes into the appeal process and the stfu.

I would hope USF would do the same as UCF in this case.

[Triple B]

UCF is in the right.

Friends of the program" in Louisville continue to recruit Smith despite his commitment.

I assume you mean "despite his signing the LOI" ...

For UCF to give a release is to recruit a kid on their roster.

Not sure what that means ...

I would hope USF would do the same as UCF in this case.

I don't, not in a case like this ... It's not like they probably had a lot of time/money invested in this kid. Less than two months before NSD he was still a L'ville commit and had been for over a year. Kid made a mistake, possibly because he was led to believe something inaccurate, intentionally or not ... and that's probably why he won't let him out, because he knows they misled him and this would be a verification of that. I don't think you should automatically give a kid a release but each instance should be treated on its' own merit and GOL coming out saying he never has and never will is just another example of him being a douche.

[DELdaBull]

O'leary makes a great point, but I still don't understand why you would want to have a guy on your team that doesn't want to be there.

[Carolina_Bull]

O'leary makes a great point, but I still don't understand why you would want to have a guy on your team that doesn't want to be there.

If he relents, people will think UCF had dirty hands in this matter.  Seriously, this is nothing more than a school's fans and boosters recruiting a kid that has an LOI to another school. Amazed to see the UCF haters rationalize a way to blame UCF for this BS.

If this is cool, we might as well call Josh Grady . . . . . because his LOI to Vandy is apparently meaningless.

[Triple B]

O'leary makes a great point, but I still don't understand why you would want to have a guy on your team that doesn't want to be there.

If he relents, people will think UCF had dirty hands in this matter.

The fact that there was smoke to this fire over a month ago, you're probably right .... because it may be true.

Seriously, this is nothing more than a school's fans and boosters recruiting a kid that has an LOI to another school. Amazed to see the UCF haters rationalize a way to blame UCF for this BS.

Please spare us THAT ********. The blame is squarely on UCF because they can simply rectify this with little or no damage done to them, but instead they're needlessly screwing with a young man's life ... Again, if there weren't some extinuating circumstances here, I wouldn't be that hard headed about it.

If this is cool, we might as well call Josh Grady . . . . . because his LOI to Vandy is apparently meaningless.

If you're going to make stupid analogies, at least pick a similar talent .... and be sure to find one that had commited over a year prior to NSD.

[Carolina_Bull]

O'leary makes a great point, but I still don't understand why you would want to have a guy on your team that doesn't want to be there.

If he relents, people will think UCF had dirty hands in this matter.

The fact that there was smoke to this fire over a month ago, you're probably right .... because it may be true.

Seriously, this is nothing more than a school's fans and boosters recruiting a kid that has an LOI to another school. Amazed to see the UCF haters rationalize a way to blame UCF for this BS.

Please spare us THAT ********. The blame is squarely on UCF because they can simply rectify this with little or no damage done to them, but instead they're needlessly screwing with a young man's life ... Again, if there weren't some extinuating circumstances here, I wouldn't be that hard headed about it.

If this is cool, we might as well call Josh Grady . . . . . because his LOI to Vandy is apparently meaningless.

If you're going to make stupid analogies, at least pick a similar talent .... and be sure to find one that had commited over a year prior to NSD.

LOL that the internet tough guy that drags this thread to a halt is a moderator.

[Guest AstroBull]

He does have a point Carolina.

[Triple B]

O'leary makes a great point, but I still don't understand why you would want to have a guy on your team that doesn't want to be there.

If he relents, people will think UCF had dirty hands in this matter.

The fact that there was smoke to this fire over a month ago, you're probably right .... because it may be true.

Seriously, this is nothing more than a school's fans and boosters recruiting a kid that has an LOI to another school. Amazed to see the UCF haters rationalize a way to blame UCF for this BS.

Please spare us THAT ********. The blame is squarely on UCF because they can simply rectify this with little or no damage done to them, but instead they're needlessly screwing with a young man's life ... Again, if there weren't some extinuating circumstances here, I wouldn't be that hard headed about it.

If this is cool, we might as well call Josh Grady . . . . . because his LOI to Vandy is apparently meaningless.

If you're going to make stupid analogies, at least pick a similar talent .... and be sure to find one that had commited over a year prior to NSD.

LOL that the internet tough guy that drags this thread to a halt is a moderator.

: ... I'm pretty sure your insightful Josh Grady "analogy" killed this thing off ... I just threw dirt on the grave.

And I thought Internet tough guys threatened to beat people up ... plus, I have to keep repeating this, mods are people, too, with the same weaknesses as normal members so please don't hold us to any higher esteem.