Terps pull offer to Alaeze

[SkinsHokieFan]

Its too bad because this kid has the potential to be an absolute monster. When he was being recruited I really wanted him to go to VT


http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-terps0621,1,1292684,print.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true




Terps withdraw offer to football recruit Alaeze
The move was made in part because of drug charges



By Kevin Van Valkenburg and Bill Ordine
Sun Reporters

June 21, 2006, 3:33 PM EDT

The University of Maryland today withdrew its scholarship offer to celebrated football recruit Melvin Alaeze, in part because of drug charges, The Sun has learned.

Alaeze was charged in March with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of marijuana possession, as well as two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court documents. The distribution charge, one of the possession charges and one of the paraphernalia charges were dismissed, according to the documents, and the other charges have been placed on an inactive status but could still be prosecuted.

Alaeze, who originally signed a letter of intent in February 2005, still had not qualified academically despite taking the SAT several times, but the school was expecting him to enroll for the fall semester, according to a source within the athletic department.

But as of today, however, Alaeze will never wear a Maryland uniform, according to sources within the program. The school is expected to issue a statement later today.

[B.Lloyd]

There's a possibility he could sign with VT.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/news/story?id=2494701

[hokie4redskins]

Avalanche of Eer jokes in 5...4...3...2...1

[SkinsHokieFan]

There's a possibility he could sign with VT.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/news/story?id=2494701


I would be absolutley stunned if Beamer brought him in

[mjah]

After the media exposure on the drug charges and inability to qualify, he's going to be damaged goods wherever he goes.

Dude is a monster on the field, and Friedgen would have loved to have him play for the good guys, but you have to have standards. Even without the drug charges, despite what the article implies he probably still wouldn't have academically qualified by the fall. I may be mistaken -- I think he had one more longshot chance to qualify. But he might have exhausted all of his academic chances already, in which case the pulled offer was already a done deal.

He seems like a hard worker on the field and a potential terror to other teams, but the school that takes him will have a hard time using the term "student athlete" with a straight face for the next several years. If you're a US News Tier 1 or 2 school, it would take a serious compromise of academic standards to let him play football for you.

On the other hand, he could play basketball in Durham without anyone batting an eye. He's just in the wrong sport.

[EersSkins05]

I agree with you somewhat Mjah. His academic eligibility probably has more to do with the withdrawal than his drug charges. While the charges still on him are serious, if he's a first time offender, the consequences probably wouldn't be all that great, and he could probably go play for somebody.

But with academic problems as well as these charges, whatever school takes him will have to deal with unfavorable public perception. (Which is why he'd be a great fit at Marshall, like Randy Moss before him.)

[The Evil Genius]

One of the reasons Moss went to Marshall though was because he didn't have to sit out a year when he transferred. That, and it was close to his home town.

As for this "student" athlete in question, I am sure there will be dozens of schools who make inquiries about his services.

[mjah]

I am sure there will be dozens of schools who make inquiries about his services.
No doubt. Let's see who shows their cards...

[PleaseBlitz]

I would be absolutley stunned if Beamer brought him in


Why? :whoknows:

[SkinsHokieFan]

Why? :whoknows:


With all the MV2 problems, Frank won't dare touch this kid

The irony is, according to Mike Farrel on Sirius radio he really did want to go to VT but his dad steered him to UMD, who knows how that would have turned out

Not a good idea to bring in a guy with this baggage (drug arrest) into VT

[EersSkins05]

He would probably be best served going to a year or two of juco and proving himself in and out of the classroom. That would allow big time programs the opportunity to take him without the PR ramifications that would attach now.

[SkinsHokieFan]

He would probably be best served going to a year or two of juco and proving himself in and out of the classroom. That would allow big time programs the opportunity to take him without the PR ramifications that would attach now.


Agree. This kid has some serious talent on the field and could be one of the most dominant DE's in the nation

But all the off field issues makes him real toxic, and unless you have had a super clean program for a few years now, not someone you want to bring in

[SkinsHokieFan]

Rumors are heating up that VT is considering taking him

Personally, I don't like it. However if all charges are completely dropped, which they sound like they will be, I'd be 50/50

The kid can flat out play. Will he represent the school I went to in a positive manner?

[mjah]

Will he pass VT's admissions bar?

[SkinsHokieFan]

Will he pass VT's admissions bar?


I honestly do not know.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with him

[EersSkins05]

Rumors are heating up that VT is considering taking him

Personally, I don't like it. However if all charges are completely dropped, which they sound like they will be, I'd be 50/50

The kid can flat out play. Will he represent the school I went to in a positive manner?

That somewhat surprises me. I'm one of the people that hears "the charges were dropped" and never imputes any guilt whatsoever to the accused. Most people don't, though, and you would think VT's AD would be cognizant of that and the PR ramifications of taking on this kid.

[hokie4redskins]

That somewhat surprises me. I'm one of the people that hears "the charges were dropped" and never imputes any guilt whatsoever to the accused. Most people don't, though, and you would think VT's AD would be cognizant of that and the PR ramifications of taking on this kid.

If Beamer does take a chance on him, it'll probably be a "one strike and you're out" policy. Might scare the kid straight and may just be thankful that he has a chance to play college ball.

[Major Harris]

If Beamer does take a chance on him, it'll probably be a "one strike and you're out" policy. Might scare the kid straight and may just be thankful that he has a chance to play college ball.


it's definitely an all or nothing thing when put in that situation. beamer either looks like a genius, or it blows up in his face.

[SkinsHokieFan]

That somewhat surprises me. I'm one of the people that hears "the charges were dropped" and never imputes any guilt whatsoever to the accused. Most people don't, though, and you would think VT's AD would be cognizant of that and the PR ramifications of taking on this kid.


Bingo. In this case perception IS reality

He may be a swell kid. The drug charges may have no merits. Hell, with effort he may pass his SAT's this time

It is still just awful timing to bring someone in with MA's baggage, and as you state the PR ramifications, even if he can be a potentially dominant player

[Bryan_Randall]

Screw the PR. Dude can play football. People care too much about touchy feely homo stuff like their image and don't focus on what's truly important, bringing a NC to Blacksburg. So what if he smokes, so did pretty much all of 3rd floor Barringer Hall.

[mjah]

People care too much about touchy feely homo stuff like
...academics and crime. At world class universities.

Yeah, it's a real shame that people care about that stuff.

[EersSkins05]

...academics and crime. At world class universities.

Yeah, it's a real shame that people care about that stuff.

:laugh:

Who would have thought that going to class and staying out of jail would be a priority for a college student?

[mjah]

I guess some schools just emphasize it more than others... and actually take real action against those precious "student athletes" who don't understand what's what.

:cool:

Incidentally, I have also read a rumor or two that Alaeze actually did qualify on his latest SAT attempt. But due to those other off-the-field problems, the Maryland staff told him the offer was no longer on the table. Just a rumor -- I can't verify it.

[HokieJ]

Well on qualifying, his parents say he has, and a VT source I read on techsideline.com said he had qualified as well.

Issue is he was arrested 3 months ago, why did MD wait to pull the scholly? What changed in 3 months?

As a Hokie, I don't want him. I can see it coming what will happen. He will get in trouble again. This behavior typically repeats itself. And at this point in time with the Vick deal VT needs clean players on and off the field, no matter what their talent level is.

[mjah]

Issue is he was arrested 3 months ago, why did MD wait to pull the scholly? What changed in 3 months?
My completely unsubstantiated guess? Friedgen, Yow and the rest of the Maryland folks found out a few other very problematic things about him that didn't make the papers. Things they didn't know about 3 months ago. And the scale tipped the other way.

You don't yank an offer to a monster recruit and a "good kid" on account of him just barely qualifying and having a blemish on his record. You rejoice, slap him on the back, and show him to the weight room. Get going, buddy. Show the team how it's done. You're the king.

Unless.

Unless there's something pretty troubling in his closet. Something regarding exceedingly poor judgment. And you're worried about it recurring, as poor judgment often does.

Again, just a guess. I'm not claiming it's the missing puzzle piece. I'm just saying it fits in really well with all the other puzzle pieces.

[HokieJ]

Funny how that effects a football player losing a scholly but on the basketball side at Maryland they keep them around unless they flunk out.

Garrison is trying his best to get thrown out and they won't.

[RonBurgundy&Gold]

Funny how that effects a football player losing a scholly but on the basketball side at Maryland they keep them around unless they flunk out.

Garrison is trying his best to get thrown out and they won't.

Garrison was a senior last year.

[mjah]

I haven't shown up for classes at Maryland for years and years, but they won't kick me out either.

I wonder why.