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Kids sign to play with coaches and not schools. It's sad but that's what college athletics have become.

Why, hold the kid hostage? If he wants to go, let him.

You are 100% correct!!

I am glad the U of A did this. I addition to abandoning his teammates (not the school or coaches), he would not only be hurting the school, but denying some other young person the opportunity to have a scholarship if he leaves at this stage because of the impact his leaving would have on the school's academic performance report.

Also, if he really wants to play @ another Univ. maybe even a Univ. of Ariz. rival like say UCLA, Oregon, USC etc.. he can, but he will have to pay for his education himself, since they won't release him from his scholarship. My question is does the player have to pay for 1 yr @ his next college or would he have to pay for all the yrs at the next school?(like normal college students).

Bush league move by UA

I'm glad Withey has to stay. He could have gone to KU last year but chose U of A instead. He reminds me of David Padgett anyway.

If the coach leaves and a new system is coming in they should le tthe players decide

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 12:23 PM ET  11.05 by #00 Out On Bail-Sofa King Hot

If the coach leaves and a new system is coming in they should le tthe players decide

Difficult situation. Players go to schools based on the coaching philosophy and opportunity to play. That's changed significantly at AZ. Frankly the person that should go is Livengood! He failed to prepare a succession plan for Lute.

tought spot for both player and school. players go to schools based on their fit with the program which is a reflection of the coach. school expects the commitment to be honored. frankly the person who should go is Livengood. He did not put in place a succession plan for Lute.

Welcome to being a grown up kid... that LOI and scholarship is a contract. Try breaking one when you get out in the real world and see how that works out for you.

The kid should follow the trend and play one year and turn pro.

Jeff Withey, here's my recommendation to you: any time a UA recruit drops by, be there to tell him not sign on, and any time a reporter drops by, say how corrupt and small-minded the program is...then let's see if this nutjob AD keeps him. It'd be war if I were you, Jeff. Show them how tough you are.

NO CLASS ARIZONA

ABSOLUTELY NO CLASS by Livengood and the UA. This kid signed because of a coach named Lute. Lute couldn't keep his commitment that he made when he came back from missing a season. It is not the kid who is at fault here. If Lute has any class, which I believe he does, he would tell the university to release the boy. Pennell should do the same because they are already talking about who is going to take this boy's place. What does this achieve! NOTHING!! He came to the univ on faith that Lute would be coaching, even though Lute bailed on the team the previous season due to illness(???), even though Lute never really said why he bailed. The young man did this because Lute told everybody, I am back and we are going to be great once again!!!! He has an illness and knew about it and I feel shouldn't have made that statement. This young man is very impressionable and believed what he was told. The pros break contracts all the time and there is no problem. Livengood is such a bozo. The univ should have canned him a few years back because he hasn't done squat since arriving! He should be ashamed of himself! He got stiffed by Lute and I feel now he is trying to get even! Wow! What a grown up man he is!!!!! The NCAA should come in and fire his butt if they could! If I were this boy's Father I would sue Livengood and the U for breach of promise!!! The young man was promised he would play for Lute and Lute, Livengood and the U broke their promise!! He should be allowed to transfer to another university or college with no penalties at all. He didn't do anything wrong, Livengood and his group did and should own up to it as concerned people for this young man's future which they hold in their hands!! It is time for Livengood to quit crying about being left out of the loop when it came to Lute deciding to quit and do the right thing - let this young man go and then step down as AD at the U! This is disgraceful and mean!! Another note: look at what Livengood did to Kevin O'Neill? Kevin was told he was to be the coach of the future after Lute retired,(I heard they signed papers, but not sure), but when Lute came back he didn't like that, even though he signed on for it before? Livengood showed no leadership when it came to this matter. He sent Kevin to fundraising for the university probably hoping that he would give up and leave. He did. Again the UA didn't stand by its commitment. Not surprising. Another disgraceful act. Livengood also stated he was going to do a nationwide search for a new coach! What happened to that. Pennell is just a temp! So, why isn't it in the "best interest of the university" to release Livengood? They should, he is like an anchor that is dragging the ship down. Cut the line UA!! Let the young man go with your apology for not owning up to your promise and then go and fire Livengood!

The kid is failing all of his classes. If UofA let him go, they'd lose a scholarship under the APR rules. Livengood just wants him to get his grades up, then he can transfer. There's always more to the story than people want to hear.

No class by Arizona...**** does that even mean? U of Arizona is holding a kid to his letter of intent, so what part of honoring your word and signature is Arizona being classless about. The kid is getting a little lesson in life about honoring his word. If they were to let him go, they'd probably lose a scholarship. Furthermore, the kid is probably not going to classes in the meantime and failing. His best bet is to get his butt back to class, pass some courses, so he doesn't leave Arizona in a bigger jam than he already has and then they will probably release him.

honoring his word, huh, JamesAZ? just like the honored words that made the kid commit in the first place? once the coaches are held to the same standard, i think your high principles are bunk. if you don't know, JamesAZ, that a program nowadays is all about the coach, then you need to follow a different sport, something intramural.

"No class by Arizona" means that they failed on their responsibilities to the young man whether or not he is doing good with his classes. The coach flunked big time as well as the AD. Lute left the program the previous season for reasons other than sickness. The AD appointed O'Neill as his replacement for the season and he did the best he could with what he had. After the season I believe a couple of the players left and one stayed because Lute said he was coming back and didn't want O'Neill in the mix. Lute came to a press conf and didn't make much sense, but said he was back and looking forward to the season. The next day his manager called and stated that Lute has retired! Lute didn't even call Livengood and tell him! So, Livengood goes and tells the world that Lute is still at the U? Withey came to the U because of Lute the coach and tv time. So, all Livengood had to do was to release this young man and let him go. I don't believe they would lose a s-ship, not sure, but still they voided their contract with Withey. So it is a two way street. Who is supposed to be the adult? If his grades are not that great, then they would have dropped him and told him to go to a jc and pick his grades up if he wanted back on the team. But, again he came because of Lute and Lute is gone bye-bye, so should Livengood. Lute, Livengood, UA broke their contract before the young man did so it should be a moot point. If he had a good lawyer they could probably sue because of breach of contract? Go figure! Let the kid go...

This is the same nut job that committed to Louisville and bailed after Lute Olsen came calling. There were no changes in the Louisville program. Now he wants to bail on Arizona. Eveybody talks about spoiled athletes and now you want to go easy on this kid. Is he going to reimburse the school for the time and money they invested in him since he signed with them?

The coach and AD did not sign anything saying they would let the kid leave if something changes. The kid signed his life away for the scholarship.