Shaq Thompson Flips From Cal, Commits To Washington

Comments

Having read through some of the comments...

A lot of Cal fans talk about Tosh being “unethical” and that he is breaking some sort of “unwritten rule” by recruiting kids committed to Cal. All is fair in love, war, and recruiting. If a rule is “unwritten” then it isn’t a rule at all. It is damned decent of you NOT to recruit a kid away from another school, but you know what, that approach doesn’t always work (ask CPW how 9-40 feels). Leach has shown his willingness and ability to court players who are committed (Thanks SMU) and it will land us the best class that we have had in 5 years. Its not like anybody is stopping Tedford from poaching recruits either. Just a thought.

Furthermore, a ton of Cal fans are sprinkling in nuggets about how much they want unpleasant things and failure to follow Shaq to UW. They talk about how they hope Tosh Lupoi has a Sandusky-esque scandal down the line, and a few comments later, talk about the academic superiority of Cal (which they hold degrees from). Does anyone else see a disconnect between being supposedly college-educated, mature, contributing members of society, and hoping that a recruiter who snagged some very emotionally volatile 17-18 year old athletes to play for UW should COMMIT CHILD RAPE and then suffer the consequences? I am sure I am probably reading WAY too much into comments on a blog, but can I just say that in comparing the comment thread over at Golden Blogs, and stuff here, I am much more proud to be a Coug. We seem to be showing a lot more class about the whole heartbreak that is D-I recruiting.

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

by Skurskicoug on Jan 31, 2012 12:27 AM PST reply actions

I think you are reading WAY too much into it

I was reading over the comments too and while they seemed pissed a lot of talk was about how they want Allen destroy him on Nov. 2nd. I wouldn’t lump their whole fanbase into what 1 guy says. Also I think the unethical was more about how he went about doing it. From what I read Tosh wasn’t just pointing out the positives about UW and saying hey come check this place out, he was bashing Cal and telling people how bad the coaching and athletics were from a former employee. On the same note, UW’s new CB coach from OSU said that he would not be trying to recruit kids away from OSU and thought it was wrong to do so. I think it really has to do with the persons integrity. I also think there is an argument to be made that there is a difference in a position coach leaving vs a Head coach and how it affects the players. It is the same reason why we had players de-commit because the type of systems change which is very very unlikely to happen because a position coach leaves.

by WazzuCrew11 on Jan 31, 2012 9:04 AM PST up reply actions

I understand why they are pissed.

Tosh also talked to Thompson and Armstead while he was still an employee of Cal and was telling them that he was most likely headed to UW and told them to keep an open mind to UW should he flip. Recruiting against your employer on their dime is unethical. Also doesn’t help that a few Husky fans trolled them afterward.

by Alex Kelly on Jan 31, 2012 2:17 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Wasn't Shaq the one...

that tweeted that Tosh told him “Don’t go to Cal” while he was doing a recruiting visit on Cal’s dime? I have no idea if this is true, but from what I remember that’s why Cal fans are pissed… because Tosh was “working for the other side” while still being employed by Cal.

by jackswift on Jan 31, 2012 10:42 AM PST reply actions