Bronco axed Kona. CB is going crazy.

[MarkGrace]

If they have a higher than average number of decommits, do you have any theory as to the reason for this.

Katy's response was much more elegant and PC than mine would have been. I would have said something along the lines of "because the majority of people living there are flakes."

[ReggaeCoug]

That's fine if you can't understand the implication in your own post. We shall be great friends!

Nah not interested in being great friends.

[cruelute]

from a greater distance

Bronco is free to set any ground rules he chooses, and he can enforce them in any way he desires.

His recruits, on the other hand, have only one choice: submit to him (or the coach at any other university) or not.

Bronco makes seven figures annually, while the kids who actually earn his salary for him get an education that all too often lands them in the delivery room at R.C. Willey.

So while I defend his right to demand 100% commitment, does that mean he'll never yank a scholarship from an athlete, or promise to stay for the entire career of the athlete? Of course not. It's a non-reciprocal relationship.

One of the major perks of being a college athlete is the glamour. The trips, the ass kissing, the drooling over your over-fed ass on internet sports sites etc.

Once you choose a university, you lose chance to be wined and dined. Can you blame an 18 year old kid for liking the attention?

The disparity between the rights of the athletes vs the rights of the coaches, and the inequity in compensation related to the other inequities, is the ugly underbelly of college sports.

So, if it were up to me, I would say let the kids have their moment in the sun. Most of them are one knee injury away from being nobodies.

[Coach McGuirk]

Nah not interested in being great friends.

Sarcasm ReggaeLingo, catch the wave!

[PaloAltoCougar]

I need to be your friend in the first place to see it..

As KL's self-appointed attorney, I must advise you that the path to KL friendship, while worth taking, is long and arduous. There are a number of rules and conditions. For example, always identify, and never post again, self-conflicting statements like the following:

I think this statement has some backing to it though. I have heard for awhile that Kona might have WoW issues. I don't agree with saying that though.

If you don't agree with saying that, don't.

[TheBYUGuy]

Nah not interested in being great friends.

Welcome, Johnny Lingo v5.0! Johnny 5 is alive!

[ReggaeCoug]

He isn't being a sensitive B*&^%. He just has respect for the kid to not throw him under the bus with stupid message board rumors. There are certain asshats that don't respect the kid enough that are.

WTF did I say that was disrespecting Kona? Holy Hell...

I have talked to a few people for months now that have said something similar. Than when I heard that quote from his dad it made me think. Even if the damn kid was a junky, I wouldn't think he was a bad kid. I never implied he was a bad kid at all, ever. You guys seem to like putting words in peoples mouths.

[ReggaeCoug]

Sarcasm ReggaeLingo, catch the wave!

So off of 3 posts or so you gonna call me Lingo... ouch that hurts..

So quick to judge around here. I will delete what I have said about Kona. I can see it is getting too many people all butt hurt. It was not my intentions to paint the kid in a bad picture.

[Art Vandelay]

I see from a timing perspective. That is a fair point.

So if it is a simply timing issue, you seem to be in agreement that Bronco would NOT pull a scholarship if a commit tripped elsewhere a month ago?

I have no idea what Bronco would do or has done in the past. As I have mentioned before, I'm a little creeped out by those who follow recruiting too closely. Personally, I hope he wouldn't be pulling the scholarship (that is different than "pulling the goalie" right?) in this same situation 4 weeks ago, but I feel he is justified with the circumstances being what they are at this time.

[HBCoug]

What are these "friends" to which people keep referring?

[Surfah]

Katy's response was much more elegant and PC than mine would have been. I would have said something along the lines of "because the majority of people living there are flakes."

Yeah I bit my tongue from answering that question. But I agree with you.

[SeattleUte]

Interesting that the guys on 1280 the zone here in SLC just asked Boylen about this situation (didn't give details and Boylen didn't know what the question was in reference to) and he gave THE EXACT SAME ANSWER AS BRONCO. In fact Boylen didn't let them finish the question. He simply said "He's not coming to Utah." In so many words he said that a young man's verbal commitment is concrete and if a kid wants to waste my time and the time of the other University just so he can take a free trip than I question the way this kid was raised. He also said he doesn't recruit kids that have already committed. Let the great spin machine start for Ute fans.

It will be up on their website shortly if it isn't already.

http://www.1280thezone.com/

Like I said. Kona decommitted, in effect. Bronco knew it was going to happen and made a preemptive strike. Suck up and admit it!

[MarkGrace]

Kahuku has a problem with kids who decommit. BYU is not the only school who suffers because of this. Utah, Hawaii, and other longtime relationships are suffering right now.

This reputation that Kahuku is developing is hurting Kahuku as well. Right now, there is a low-star (no star?) athlete who is being recruited by Weber State. He has no other options, and is praying for a scholarship from Weber. Weber might not be a powerhouse, but they have a few schollies to give, and they have to husband what they have. If Kahuku has a reputation for decommitting, what kind of chance is the Weber coach going to take on this kid? It's a poor community-The school wants to get as many scholarships as possible for all of their athletes, not just the high profile ones.

Hey, let me know what happens with this kid. In year's past I may have been able to help as one of their defensive coaches (and main recruiter for Hawai'i) was a good family friend of ours. but he's since taken a job at Utah State. If nothing else, let me know if he ends up at Weber. My parents/family are big supporters of Weber athletics and go out of their way to make sure they know and support the local kids.

[TripletDaddy]

I have no idea what Bronco would do or has done in the past. As I have mentioned before, I'm a little creeped out by those who follow recruiting too closely. Personally, I hope he wouldn't be pulling the scholarship (that is different than "pulling the goalie" right?) in this same situation 4 weeks ago, but I feel he is justified with the circumstances being what they are at this time.

One of the reasons why folks follow the recruiting trail.....it is the closest thing you have to actual football games. For me, it is an excuse to keep thinking and talking about college football. Also, what happens on the trail spills over into the regular season...coaches sniping recruits from other schools, coaches getting into trouble, players de-comitting, etc...there is a lot of good backstory in the off-season that helps shape regular season storylines.

[MarkGrace]

Because Polys hate Steve Kaufusi. He is the Poly version of Uncle Tom.

I know nothing about Kaufusi and his reputation, but I agree with Katy's post that the problems at Kahuku are more internal than they are related to BYU.

I realize that my last couple of comments are maybe getting a bit, um, questionable, and I worry about going too far here, but I was talking to my dad last night on the phone about this and when it comes right down to it the kids from Kahuku are not exactly an impressive lot. I know that is kind of a harsh and stereotypical comment to make, but on the whole, that school and the quality of kids it turns out leaves much to be desired.