DeWalt

[freethrow]

How do you folks feel? Will he make it back? To me it sounds like he is really trying. Hopefully he will. A great addition to the team.

Sorry if this has already been posted.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/colleges/university_of_kentucky/14189440.htm

[Matt Dillon]

I believe he will.

[Coldstream]

I last heard back in Jan. on his status and he was on track to be back at UK. I believe he still has to attend a few classes in summer before he has everything in order for re-admittance at UK.

[poodoo]

He must pass all his classes this spring semester and during the summer. It does sound as if he is trying hard. May he be successful!

[T75]

It was not too long ago that it was being said that DeWalt didn't have a prayer. Don't know if that was someone in the know or just talk. Two quarters (or terms) withou a failing class wouldn't be all that hard for many, especially if they were more interested in taking easy classes than in learning something in particular. If he's so far behind from lack of trying in high school, he's not going to make it in college in any event.

Many high schools (most?), pass top athletes (and others?) just to get them through the system. I'm wondering if this happened to DeWalt. When I was 20, I went back to my hometown high as a teacher. And everyone knew I was a big sports fan. So our starting QB (who was also the younger brother of one of my close friends) simply refused to do any work. I had him in two classes and flunked him in both---rather gave him the grade he earned in both. Good ole T75 was the least popular guy in town that year---flunking two classes would keep him off the field the next season. I suppose that may have had some bearing on the fact that it took a single year of teaching for me to realize that this was not my calling. :lol:

[freethrow]

Thanks for the info. I sure hope he does make it back. He really adds to the team. Hopefully he will do so well that at some point he could walk on for basketball too.

[poodoo]

Good for you, T75, in doing the right thing and giving the student what he earned. While it was not that way where I taught (in fact, a few teachers were almost the opposite, resentful toward athletes for the attention they got), I have heard the stories about its occurring in some schools. As a teacher who always gave all students exactly what their averages came out (with extra credit opportunitesgiven as an option for all students, as some students are terrible test-takers and could thus fall barely short of failing without effort carrying some extra weight), I so appreciate your integrity. Yes, though, sometimes those who thus show such integrity "pay" for it. :cool:Doing the right thing, though, is always more important than being popular. :cool:

Too, that could have been the case with Dewalt in high school. It sounds as if he has learned his lesson. I surely hope he passes all his classes this spring and during the summer and returns to the field for UK this fall. I would LOVE to have him back!

[Lordatwar]

If he does make it back, I'd say we better enjoy him for 1 semester.

[gerntz]

More than anything, including helping the FB team, I hope he's made the mindset adjustment he appears to. I want him to do well as a person whether he plays another down. I'm be rooting for him - LD the person that is.

[Matt Dillon]

Very good post gerntz. That's theattitude everyone should have. As someone once said, it's student athlete, not the other way around.

[poodoo]

gerntz wrote: More than anything, including helping the FB team, I hope he's made the mindset adjustment he appears to. I want him to do well as a person whether he plays another down. I'm be rooting for him - LD the person that is.



Nice post, gerntz. Well-said. Fans' rooting for these players as people is something I would love to see more often. Way to go, gerntz! :thumbup

[ChrisB60]

Lonnie does have a learning disability. His coach at Warren Central confirmed this, that is his basketball coach.

From what I heard from his former basketball coach, he will be back at UK. Lets not forget this guy was valuable to us on special teams and has the size to be like a Mario Urrutia like UL has. He was actually rated better on potential than Urrutia

[jwade]

Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see.

While it's true we're short of WR's this season, Dewalt will help that situationonly incrementally. He will not be a difference maker, at least not his first year back. His freshman year, it was obvious hewas a very raw athletic talent without the slightest knowledge how to play WR in the SEC. Nor was he the hard worker necessary tolearn the position. In order to make any impact hehas to have had a major attitude overhaulinhis work habits on the field as well as off the field.

He can make an immediate impact on the kick block team as he did in 2004, but I remain skeptical about his impact at WR until I see him do it on the field. At this point, he's just a guy with a ton of unpolished athletic ability.

Jim

[Los Gatos]

jwade wrote: Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see.

While it's true we're short of WR's this season, Dewalt will help that situationonly incrementally. He will not be a difference maker, at least not his first year back. His freshman year, it was obvious hewas a very raw athletic talent without the slightest knowledge how to play WR in the SEC. Nor was he the hard worker necessary tolearn the position. In order to make any impact hehas to have had a major attitude overhaulinhis work habits on the field as well as off the field.

He can make an immediate impact on the kick block team as he did in 2004, but I remain skeptical about his impact at WR until I see him do it on the field. At this point, he's just a guy with a ton of unpolished athletic ability.

Jim

From what I remember, Dewalt is not free to go to a different school. Now this is from memory of an article several months ago, but I believe he had to graduate from JC to enter a different school. To re-enter UK he only has to earn 40 units. With summer school, he will have to 40 units but still not enough units to graduate from the JC. Better take this with a grain of salt unless someone else remembers it also.

One other consideration, Dewalt can re-enter UK without counting against the 25 player initial counter limit as he was counted two years ago. If he were to go any where else he would count against their 25 player limit.

So, he kind of tied to UK. Yes, he could go some where else but it would be more difficult. From UK perspective, he's some what of a freeby. IE he doesn't count against the 25 player limit. And although he would count against the 85 limit, we are below 85.

[jwade]

Los Gatos wrote:

From what I remember, Dewalt is not free to go to a different school. Now this is from memory of an article several months ago, but I believe he had to graduate from JC to enter a different school. To re-enter UK he only has to earn 40 units. With summer school, he will have to 40 units but still not enough units to graduate from the JC. Better take this with a grain of salt unless someone else remembers it also.

One other consideration, Dewalt can re-enter UK without counting against the 25 player initial counter limit as he was counted two years ago. If he were to go any where else he would count against their 25 player limit.

So, he kind of tied to UK. Yes, he could go some where else but it would be more difficult. From UK perspective, he's some what of a freeby. IE he doesn't count against the 25 player limit. And although he would count against the 85 limit, we are below 85.


You may be correct about the JUCO 40 units/graduation distinction as to what options are available to him, I'll try to check with someone later this week. However, my original statement is still correct: UK (the football program) is not obligated to take him back.This is true whether he has 40 units, graduates from JUCO, or obtains a PhD in quantum physics.

Given the facts that: (1) we're nearing the 85 scholarship limit, (2) because we're nearly at 85 you will see fewer JUCO's signed from here on out, (3) Dewalt was a real problem child last time around, and (4) Brooks is an old-school disciplinarian,it wouldn't surprise me to see Brooks do something to make Dewalt earn his way back onto the team - if he allows it at all. That decision is entirely in Brooks' hands.

I agree that in a sense Dewalt is a freebie in that he wouldn't count against the 25 limit inthis year's class, but I don't think that's the real issue as far as the staff is concerned. More of a concern is whetherhe's worth the effort to try and mold into an SEC WR, worth the effort to try and keep eligible, and what kind of impact he would have on the locker room.

I may try to get a better read on this later in the week.

Jim

[gerntz]

The "mere" fact that he'd be able to stand in front of Brooks this summer eligible is a lot of data already IMO that he's a changed person & changed his habits. What else doyou want? What more could have done to suit you?

We have the scholarship room for him in 06, why punish him further? Brooks can get rid of him just as easily on scholarship as off if he's a problem.

He had a year at JC to improve his receiving. I think the staff can adequately judge those game films & pre-season practice to figure out if he'd be a help at WR.

jwade wrote:
Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see.

While it's true we're short of WR's this season, Dewalt will help that situationonly incrementally. He will not be a difference maker, at least not his first year back. His freshman year, it was obvious hewas a very raw athletic talent without the slightest knowledge how to play WR in the SEC. Nor was he the hard worker necessary tolearn the position. In order to make any impact hehas to have had a major attitude overhaulinhis work habits on the field as well as off the field.

He can make an immediate impact on the kick block team as he did in 2004, but I remain skeptical about his impact at WR until I see him do it on the field. At this point, he's just a guy with a ton of unpolished athletic ability.

Jim

[jwade]

gerntz wrote: The "mere" fact that he'd be able to stand in front of Brooks this summer eligible is a lot of data already IMO that he's a changed person & changed his habits. What else doyou want? What more could have done to suit you?

We have the scholarship room for him in 06, why punish him further? Brooks can get rid of him just as easily on scholarship as off if he's a problem.

He had a year at JC to improve his receiving. I think the staff can adequately judge those game films & pre-season practice to figure out if he'd be a help at WR.




Because the issues with Dewalt run deeper than just the classroom. We will see. I trust Brooks to make the right decision either way.


Jim

[gerntz]

My question remains as to what he could have done more of over the last year + to assure Brooks he's changed & (I assume) sorry for whatever he did? Apologize to Brooks & the team?

Otherwise, youmust thinkBrooksis hellbent on retribution.

jwade wrote:
gerntz wrote: The "mere" fact that he'd be able to stand in front of Brooks this summer eligible is a lot of data already IMO that he's a changed person & changed his habits. What else doyou want? What more could have done to suit you?

We have the scholarship room for him in 06, why punish him further? Brooks can get rid of him just as easily on scholarship as off if he's a problem.

He had a year at JC to improve his receiving. I think the staff can adequately judge those game films & pre-season practice to figure out if he'd be a help at WR.




Because the issues with Dewalt run deeper than just the classroom. We will see. I trust Brooks to make the right decision either way.


Jim

[jwade]

gerntz wrote: My question remains as to what he could have done more of over the last year + to assure Brooks he's changed & (I assume) sorry for whatever he did? Apologize to Brooks & the team?

Otherwise, youmust thinkBrooksis hellbent on retribution.



Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe Brooks to be tough, but fair, and whatever decision he makes will be theappropriate one. I merely suggested that Dewalt's correcting his academic deficiencies may - and I emphazise the word "may" - not be the only criteria for allowing him back on the team. That's all.

Jim

[gerntz]

I find this nuts. Why would DeWalt be going to all this trouble if he thinks Brooks is going to turn him down? If Brooks is such a straight shooter, why wouldn't he have alreadylaid out toDeWalt he needs to do? I find it hard to believe there's been no communication between the staff & LD since he left UK.

DeWalt may not achieve what he needs academically. But if he does & there's no "incident" - whatever the other problems may have been - between now & then, I'd think pretty lowly of Brooks to turn him down at that point.

I ain't buying what you're selling.

[johnkyblue]

I ain't either. We won't be up against the 85 wall either. Next year it will be a real problem because of the lack of people to graduate - but not this year.

[Caveman Catfan]

LD has made it clear that he plans to return to UK. Brooks wants him back. I don't see him going anywhere else if he gets his academics in order.

[jwade]

Caveman Catfan wrote: Brooks wants him back.
If I may ask, how do you know this? I haven't heard any public statements to that effect, although I certainly may have missed it.

Jim

[poodoo]

I just know jwade is close enough to the program to know some happenings of which most of us are unaware. Naturally, though, I'm also hoping that Mr. Dewalt is a "changed man" and returns to UK. Like jwade, I trust Coach Brooks to make the right decision.

[gerntz]

poodoo, jwade can know everything, but I go back to what I said earlier: I can't believe DeWalt could do everything he publicly needs to do - make grades, stay out of whatever trouble - & not be taken back. I have to believe he has assurances, or if not, he'd be moving on.

Why would he be working as hard as he appears to be when he could be shot down by fickleness of Brooks? That would turn me against Brooks. For me to believe otherwise, someone's got to come out with a plausible alternative scenario. I haven't heard one.

[poodoo]

I think we all hope that Dewalt is a changed man AND that Coach Brooks wants him back. I know that I do. :)Too, it does seem logical that Dewalt has been told that he can returnif he gets EVERYTHING in order.

[gerntz]

On another site, Rob Gidel & Larry Vaught are saying LD will be back if he takes care of academics. jwade say there are other issues. What does he know that these guys don't?

[jwade]

gerntz wrote: On another site, Rob Gidel & Larry Vaught are saying LD will be back if he takes care of academics. jwade say there are other issues. What does he know that these guys don't?


Possibly nothing, only what I've heard from sources I deem credible. For the record, I've never said he won't return. What I've said is this:


Even if he makes his grades, it's not a slam dunk he will return.
Neither UK nor Dewalt have any obligation to the other at this point (a legal fact).
I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship.
Correcting his academic deficiencies may - and I emphazise the word "may" - not be the only criteria for allowing him back on the team.
Tell me, did Vaught or Gidel state whether or not Dewalt will be back on scholarship? Or whether Brooks may impose other conditions for allowing him back on the team? Or course not, it's too early for that.

Jim

[gerntz]

Yes, you've said that before.

[jwade]

gerntz wrote: Yes, you've said that before.


No, I have not. Show me where and I'll retract my statement and admit you're correct.

Jim

[gerntz]

"Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see."


jwade wrote: gerntz wrote: Yes, you've said that before.


No, I have not. Show me where and I'll retract my statement and admit you're correct.

Jim

[gerntz]

"Given the facts that: ....(3) Dewalt was a real problem child last time around, and (4) Brooks is an old-school disciplinarian,it wouldn't surprise me to see Brooks do something to make Dewalt earn his way back onto the team - if he allows it at all. That decision is entirely in Brooks' hands.

..... but I don't think that's the real issue as far as the staff is concerned. More of a concern is whetherhe's worth the effort to try and mold into an SEC WR, worth the effort to try and keep eligible, and what kind of impact he would have on the locker room."
gerntz wrote: "Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see."


jwade wrote: gerntz wrote: Yes, you've said that before.


No, I have not. Show me where and I'll retract my statement and admit you're correct.

Jim

[gerntz]

OK, how do these not add up to "you've said that before"?

"Because the issues with Dewalt run deeper than just the classroom. We will see. "

gerntz wrote: "Given the facts that: ....(3) Dewalt was a real problem child last time around, and (4) Brooks is an old-school disciplinarian,it wouldn't surprise me to see Brooks do something to make Dewalt earn his way back onto the team - if he allows it at all. That decision is entirely in Brooks' hands.

..... but I don't think that's the real issue as far as the staff is concerned. More of a concern is whetherhe's worth the effort to try and mold into an SEC WR, worth the effort to try and keep eligible, and what kind of impact he would have on the locker room."
gerntz wrote: "Even if Dewalt completes his course work, it isn't a slam dunk that he will return to UK. Neither Dewalt nor UK have any obligation to the other at this point. For Dewalt to be allowed to return, he will have to convince Brooks that he's a changed man. I would not be totally surprised if Brooks required Dewalt to walk on the first year and earn back his scholarship. We will see."


jwade wrote: gerntz wrote: Yes, you've said that before.


No, I have not. Show me where and I'll retract my statement and admit you're correct.

Jim

[jwade]

Nowhere, not in any of those statements,did I definitively say"Dewalt will not be back next year"or anything approximating that. What I've consistently said,in summary, is that there were issues surrounding Dewalt other thanacademicthe first time around; and, that Brooks may (emphasize may) require those less-publicized, non-academic issues be addressed prior to allowing Dewalt back on the team even if he qualifies academically.

FWIW, I think it's 60-40 now thatwe'llsee him in uniform again. On scholarship or otherwise.

FWIW #2, I had a chance to see him up close after yesterday's practice. I had heard he'd bulked up, but he didn't look like it to me. But then, it's kind of hard to tell with the loose clothes all the kids wear.

Working in Lonnell's favor, we desperately need WR's and he has the athleticism most of our WR corps does not. He is far from polished and would have to work hard, buthe could become a good SEC WR. Let's hope for his sake he has gotten things turned around.

Jim

[poodoo]

Let's hope for his sake he has gotten things turned around. QUOTE by jwade

_______

I'm sure, gerntz, that jwade HOPES Lonnell Dewalt will be returning, just as I'm sure he was simply being honest in sharing what he had heard in the past (without sharing specifics, which he did not want to do). You both love the program and want the best for the program, besides for the young man himself.A truce might be a good idea. :cool: