Montrell Dobbs Won't Meet UConn Qualifying Standards

[Yonick]

I'm interpreting "keeping him in the fold" as convincing Dobbs to pass up on enrolling at Marshall this January, and staying at Milford for his Spring semester, to do whatever that needs to be done academically to qualify at UConn, then enroll at UConn this summer. Worse case, he doesn';t qualify, and goes to Marshall this summer. Best case he gets into his "dream school". That is how I interpreted his post, but could be wrong.

Bigger question for me is how far off is he from qualifying? Is it a few points on his GPA which he could improve enough in one extra semester to qualify, or is it so far off the mark that an extra semester is not going to make the difference.

I'm not sure Milford offers a spring semester. They didn't when they were in Milford. It was just fall semester, get your grades up and enter college.

 

[Sean]

I am little frustrated that the guy that constantly pimped him out to the board along with the rest of the CT kids at milford academy has not said a word yet. The kid had to be doing poorly all along to not reach NCAA minimum to qualify. However, we were still being preached to all along about him as well as others

Get over it. He said he views himself as a mentor to Dobbs. I doubt he's taking it real well, either, and I can't imagine Dobbs is happy that his dream has seemingly fallen through. He's got no obligation to come on here and speak until he's ready, and I can't say I would be for awhile.

 

[Jax Husky]

It would be a cruel hoax for any university to admit someone who would be a complete misfit with no possibility for academic success. I would hope that the state u is willing to make an exception for talented in state football players who are trying and who can be included. If they are not trying, then obviously, there is not much you can do. But anyone who is trying, and who can be assisted in achieving their goals, should be given a chance if they bring other assets to bear. These assets are not limited to athletics, but also include the arts, music, cultural diversity, legacy, and other assets.

This is how I feel. As a State institution, I think it would serve UConn well to try and help kids who may not be Rhodes scholars, but who try hard. Now, I freely admit that I know nothing of Montrell's efforts in the classroom, but he seems to be a good kid that really wants to be at UConn. If there is no place in the school for a few under qualified kids (who meet other standards though), then we are really going to struggle in this sport. I feel really bad for MD if he has been making efforts, but just isn't all that intelligent. I knew plenty of kids who were not of real high intelligence at Hall High, but that got good grades because they had very strong academic support systems growing up. Not everyone has that.

 

[businesslawyer]

This is how I feel. As a State institution, I think it would serve UConn well to try and help kids who may not be Rhodes scholars, but who try hard. Now, I freely admit that I know nothing of Montrell's efforts in the classroom, but he seems to be a good kid that really wants to be at UConn. If there is no place in the school for a few under qualified kids (who meet other standards though), then we are really going to struggle in this sport. I feel really bad for MD if he has been making efforts, but just isn't all that intelligent. I knew plenty of kids who were not of real high intelligence at Hall High, but that got good grades because they had very strong academic support systems growing up. Not everyone has that.

Per Dez, he didn't meet NCAA standards to be admitted to an NCAA school. We can argue how much easier UConn should be on football players who want in until the cows come home, but it is 100% irrelevant to this discussion.

 

[Dann]

a couple of you guys need to chill out, conn12 has been a very informative poster here with great ties to locals. do u think he sleeps every night at milford acd the next bunk over from the kid and goes to class with him every day...it stinks but and im mad and i fell bad, but no reason to be getting at 12. he told us about dobbs and sure as all get out he was right. its to bad he couldn't get the school stuff straight, i still have hope he will play somewhere if its not uconn. where ever he does go, he will tear it up. conn12 has other kids he works with as well and some of them are very high on uconn as there major recruiting days are still ahead of them. i for one enjoy everything he brings to the table and will continue to look forward to his posts about the kids. the dobbs story is a bummer, but this is just silly. i am waiting for conn12 to let us know whats up. i have seen 3 different reports(marshall/no school/cc) on the outcome of this so far, one thing i do know is that he will have the right one to report to us.

 

[businesslawyer]

a couple of you guys need to chill out, conn12 has been a very informative poster here with great ties to locals. do u think he sleeps every night at milford acd the next bunk over from the kid and goes to class with him every day...it stinks but and im mad and i fell bad, but no reason to be getting at 12. he told us about dobbs and sure as all get out he was right. its to bad he couldn't get the school stuff straight, i still have hope he will play somewhere if its not uconn. where ever he does go, he will tear it up. conn12 has other kids he works with as well and some of them are very high on uconn as there major recruiting days are still ahead of them. i for one enjoy everything he brings to the table and will continue to look forward to his posts about the kids. the dobbs story is a bummer, but this is just silly. i am waiting for conn12 to let us know whats up. i have seen 3 different reports(marshall/no school/cc) on the outcome of this so far, one thing i do know is that he will have the right one to report to us.

Conn12 has shared information with this board, and he has done so fully admitting his biases so that we can judge the credibility of the information for ourselves. There is certainly no reason to be angry at him for this. And I'm sure he feels 100 times worse than any one who is a UConn fan, rather than a Dobbs fan.

 

[Jax Husky]

Per Dez, he didn't meet NCAA standards to be admitted to an NCAA school. We can argue how much easier UConn should be on football players who want in until the cows come home, but it is 100% irrelevant to this discussion.

Yeah, I posted before I got to that. That changes everything. Nothing the school can do if that is the case. Tough situation all around it seems. I like to see young men get cahnces to succeed, but they have to be able to meet, at least, some criteria.

 

[Sean]

Per Dez, he didn't meet NCAA standards to be admitted to an NCAA school. We can argue how much easier UConn should be on football players who want in until the cows come home, but it is 100% irrelevant to this discussion.

I know the guy will probably read this, so, I'm sorry Dez!, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dez just mis-spoke, or simply doesn't know the difference between not qualifying at NCAA and UConn.

 

[Jax Husky]

I know the guy will probably read this, so, I'm sorry Dez!, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dez just mis-spoke, or simply doesn't know the difference between not qualifying at NCAA and UConn.

I guess we'll find out based on what happens in the coming months. I do know that Marshall will freely admit Prop 48 (or partial qualifiers if that term is no longer accurate).

ETA: I do not believe that UConn should admit partial qualifiers either. If a kid can get through the initial clearinghouse, then take a look at other factors if he doesn't meet certain school-based standards.

 

[UCHuskies08]

I am little frustrated that the guy that constantly pimped him out to the board along with the rest of the CT kids at milford academy has not said a word yet. The kid had to be doing poorly all along to not reach NCAA minimum to qualify. However, we were still being preached to all along about him as well as others

He talked about how good he was at playing football, and that he wanted to play at UConn... which by all accounts he was spot on. He's not the kid's tutor.

Oh well, I feel bad for Dobbs, and us, but Dobbs' path isn't over. He's still young and some solid work could land him back in a BCS conference before his college career is over.

 

[businesslawyer]

He talked about how good he was at playing football, and that he wanted to play at UConn... which by all accounts he was spot on. He's not the kid's tutor.

Oh well, I feel bad for Dobbs, and us, but Dobbs' path isn't over. He's still young and some solid work could land him back in a BCS conference before his college career is over.

This. The road to the NCAA is easier through a JUCO than it is to qualify as a freshman. Hopefully, he sticks with it and ends up getting his shot.

 

[Jax Husky]

This. The road to the NCAA is easier through a JUCO than it is to qualify as a freshman. Hopefully, he sticks with it and ends up getting his shot.

Agreed. Plenty of guys that had to go to JUCO are now playing in the NFL after ultimately getting into a BCS school. Keep your head up Montrell.

 

[sportsart]

I know the guy will probably read this, so, I'm sorry Dez!, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dez just mis-spoke, or simply doesn't know the difference between not qualifying at NCAA and UConn.

You are kidding right? Sheesh....

 

[businesslawyer]

You are kidding right? Sheesh....

Say whatever you want about print journalism, and the declining nature of its standards, but if you think for a moment that it doesn't still have standards light years above those of Rivals, Scout or internet posters, you are nuts.

Dez isn't perfect. But something he publishes, when he does so, is 100 times more likely to be correct than any other source for the Dobbs story.

 

[Sean]

Say whatever you want about print journalism, and the declining nature of its standards, but if you think for a moment that it doesn't still have standards light years above those of Rivals, Scout or internet posters, you are nuts.

Dez isn't perfect. But something he publishes, when he does so, is 100 times more likely to be correct than any other source for the Dobbs story.

Okay, so let's make a bet. I will take Bob L's opinion - that Dobbs will be at Marshall next year, you take Dez's - that Dobbs will be in a community college.

I risk $1, and you risk $100. Deal?

Seriously, maybe its my math background - but your 100 times comment is completely absurd. Almost as absurd as page 2 in this thread when you said we should stop talking to Ansonia football players because of a 3 player sample size.

 

[HartfordHank]

First of all we know that schools take athletes that don't meet the same criteria as a typical student. Of ocurse they also take artists and others with special skills too. Friend of ours who was a very good musician, had written a number of classical pieces, went to Brown. He didn't have either the grades or the SAT scores but he was a remarkable musician so they made an excpetion. Another one went ot UCONN because she played an instrument they needed for the University's orchestra and she played it and played well. And who can forget Nate Miles...But if a kid is going to Marshall it is likely he is not qualifying anywhere else. As epark said, Marshall is a saftey school for West Virginia...not exactly going to be confused with Princeton any time soon.

My daughter was attending an engineering camp at a local college about 10 years ago. Part of the last day was a meeting with the parents to explain the admissions process and what your child needed to be studying to get into engineering. At the time they received 5000 applications for 1500 spots. They divided the 5000 into three groups. The roughly top 1,000 who were going to be highly "recruited" by the school. The middle roughly 3,000 who they felt could be admitted to the school and succeed. The last group were kids that they felt did not have the tools to succeed at the school. Coaches and other organizations were able to select any person from the top two groups. If an athlete were in the top group admissions would give the coach as much support in recruiting that player as they could. This was a Division 3 school so athletic scholarships were not applicable. I am guessing UConn has similar groupings. Unfortunately he was not in either of the top groups.

 

[Dann]

wtf is going on here, this thread is boneyardtastic.

 

[freescooter]

UCONn does and pretty much always has accepted kids who are a stretch as far as academics are concerned. Nate Miles is probably Exhibits A, B and C, but I have no doubt there are others on various other teams. As long as it is kept in some level of check, I don't have an issue doing that. So if there is a guy isn't going to get accepted even though the coaching staff wants him, I have to believe that he is a huge stretch, not 15 points below the average SAT score. If he isn't going to be eligible at all, as now seems to be the case, I really don't have any issue and as bl says, I'm more concered about who else the staff is looking for as a tailback.

 

[CTFootball]

Okay, so let's make a bet. I will take Bob L's opinion - that Dobbs will be at Marshall next year, you take Dez's - that Dobbs will be in a community college.

I risk $1, and you risk $100. Deal?

Seriously, maybe its my math background - but your 100 times comment is completely absurd. Almost as absurd as page 2 in this thread when you said we should stop talking to Ansonia football players because of a 3 player sample size.

Agreed- a bit extreme on the "Ban Ansonia" camp. Uconn should continue to try to recruit every top player from CT, whether that person comes from a football factory or an "academic" school ...it is absurd to blacklist a future player who could be a stronger student because of the past black eyes. That is the equivalent of asking "Why would any college ever admit any student from Ansonia - they couldn't possibly have any good eggs in their basket." Totally ridiculaous.

BTW - I dont see an overload of top players being produed by the elite academic high schools in the state. Even if we were at a point where those schools provided a surplus of quality "student athletes" (ha ha), it would be absurd to bypass players from lower academic institutions (because they could be the exception).

And no, I did not go to Ansonia...I happened to graduate from a very strong private high school.

 

[Buffett10]

I don't know if any of you read the comments on dez's page but dobbs' mom wrote on there he was one point from qualifying because he took courses in high school that the NCAA doesn't consider a class. Also she said he is leaving Milford with 3 A's so people who jump down this kids throat saying he is doing well academically are morons. Get the facts before you jump on someone.

 

[Sean]

I don't know if any of you read the comments on dez's page but dobbs' mom wrote on there he was one point from qualifying because he took courses in high school that the NCAA doesn't consider a class. Also she said he is leaving Milford with 3 A's so people who jump down this kids throat saying he is doing well academically are morons. Get the facts before you jump on someone.

Didn't read this, but if he really is that close, its awfully frustrating to me to think that there isn't a way he could possibly fix it this spring.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I just read the blog piece being referneced.

It's interesting to note that fall 2012 semester is referenced in the blog piece, that's a long way away, and if a kid is already out for fall 2012 academically, well it says something.

I've been under the impression that this kid intended to enroll in January. But if he's already out for September academically? Ruh roh. If you can't raise a GPA high enough with a full load of classes by deadlines for the fall? How many times can you take SAT tests in a year? More than one. Ruh roh.

I'd like to see that documented in a more reliable kind of way than a blog comment. Not sure how, but it seems odd that he's already been ruled ineligible for the fall academically. Tells me that the kid has got a lot of work to do to go anywhere on a free ride, unless rules are being broken, or admission standards are pretty low.

I hope if that's accurate, that the kid really puts down the ball for while and just starts carrying only books, because he's got a long way to go to get anywhere academically.

Too bad. The kid can run. I'm not convinced that he's already out for September, he's got to be pretty low for that to be the case. But I've also got full confidence that none of this is a surprise to our coaching staff, and they've been ready and preparing to not have this kid all along, accordingly.

I'm also not sure if the second comment in the blog piece was really necessary. I don't like that comment at all. I'm quite sure that scholarship offers for an education at UConn are not something that gets "sold" or "bought", and the decision making is certainly not going to be influenced by anything other than what the coaching staff feels is best for the program.

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/2011/11/uconn-rb-recruit-montrell-dobb.html

 

[businesslawyer]

I just read the blog piece being referneced.

It's interesting to note that fall 2012 semester is referenced in the blog piece, that's a long way away, and if a kid is already out for fall 2012 academically, well it says something.

I've been under the impression that this kid intended to enroll in January. But if he's already out for September academically? Ruh roh. If you can't raise a GPA high enough with a full load of classes by deadlines for the fall? How many times can you take SAT tests in a year? More than one. Ruh roh.

I'd like to see that documented in a more reliable kind of way than a blog comment. Not sure how, but it seems odd that he's already been ruled ineligible for the fall academically. Tells me that the kid has got a lot of work to do to go anywhere on a free ride, unless rules are being broken, or admission standards are pretty low.

I hope if that's accurate, that the kid really puts down the ball for while and just starts carrying only books, because he's got a long way to go to get anywhere academically.

Too bad. The kid can run. I'm not convinced that he's already out for September, he's got to be pretty low for that to be the case. But I've also got full confidence that none of this is a surprise to our coaching staff, and they've been ready and preparing to not have this kid all along, accordingly.

I'm also not sure if the second comment in the blog piece was really necessary. I don't like that comment at all. I'm quite sure that scholarship offers for an education at UConn are not something that gets "sold" or "bought", and the decision making is certainly not going to be influenced by anything other than what the coaching staff feels is best for the program.

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/2011/11/uconn-rb-recruit-montrell-dobb.html

LOL. So he's taking courses at Ansonia that don't meet minimum standards to be counted by the NCAA as academic courses, and I'm being a jerk for thinking that recruiting at Ansonia isn't worth the time and effort. Yeah, o.k. (I am a jerk -- that's not the point -- and I'm not saying no way no how would I ever take a kid from Ansonia High School, but if you keep getting burned it's common sense to quit reaching towards the god damn fire).

 

[MidTown Husky]

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/2011/11/uconn-rb-recruit-montrell-dobb.html

This last comment on the courant blog sounds like the work of CTFootball12...I'd recognize those run-on sentences anywhere. No caps lock though so it remains a mystery...

"first and foremost Montrell Dobbs is leaving Milford Academy with three A's he went up there and did what was asked of him and also what he was told to do. The problem was his high school transcripts he took classes that the ncaa doesn't consider. so he is one point away from qualifying for uconn and this should have been picked up on since june but it wasn't so now his dreams are shattered because of it and Montrell Dobbs as of this date 11/18/11 is still not registered with the ncaa clearing house. and yes he can go to jr college if wants to or another non bcs div1 school if he chooses that. so all hope is not lost my child will further his education wether he will end up at his dream school Uconn remains to be seen. this is as much a shock to him as it is to u #carry on"

 

[Sean]

Very curious what classes a school would offer that wouldn't count...

 

[Dann]

i hope Mont goes to a local JC this spring and gets into uconn after. or goes to umass thins spring and then transfers into uconn.

 

[Carl Spackler]

LOL. So he's taking courses at Ansonia that don't meet minimum standards to be counted by the NCAA as academic courses, and I'm being a jerk for thinking that recruiting at Ansonia isn't worth the time and effort. Yeah, o.k. (I am a jerk -- that's not the point -- and I'm not saying no way no how would I ever take a kid from Ansonia High School, but if you keep getting burned it's common sense to quit reaching towards the god damn fire).

the only way whatever is the problem in this situation gets cleaned up, is if somebody shines a spotlight on it.

If there are people at a CT high school that are cutting corners with academics when it can mess up the opportunity to get a higher education through athletics. somebody needs to shine a spotlight on it.

If there are people in te UConn system that are not sharp enough to pick up problems in academics in enrollment and qualification for SCHOLARSHIP athletes, then those kinds of things need to get a spotlight shined on them too.

The light is on, and this kids' future as a student and athlete at UConn are on the line.

I'm quite sure as educators, the coaching staff of this program is very much interested in fixing both ends of the problem here.

 

[epark88]

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/2011/11/uconn-rb-recruit-montrell-dobb.html

This last comment on the courant blog sounds like the work of CTFootball12...I'd recognize those run-on sentences anywhere. No caps lock though so it remains a mystery...

"first and foremost Montrell Dobbs is leaving Milford Academy with three A's he went up there and did what was asked of him and also what he was told to do. The problem was his high school transcripts he took classes that the ncaa doesn't consider. so he is one point away from qualifying for uconn and this should have been picked up on since june but it wasn't so now his dreams are shattered because of it and Montrell Dobbs as of this date 11/18/11 is still not registered with the ncaa clearing house. and yes he can go to jr college if wants to or another non bcs div1 school if he chooses that. so all hope is not lost my child will further his education wether he will end up at his dream school Uconn remains to be seen. this is as much a shock to him as it is to u #carry on"

Apparently, that post is from the kid's mom...

 

[epark88]

the only way whatever is the problem in this situation gets cleaned up, is if somebody shines a spotlight on it.

If there are people at a CT high school that are cutting corners with academics when it can mess up the opportunity to get a higher education through athletics. somebody needs to shine a spotlight on it.

If there are people in te UConn system that are not sharp enough to pick up problems in academics in enrollment and qualification for SCHOLARSHIP athletes, then those kinds of things need to get a spotlight shined on them too.

The light is on, and this kids' future as a student and athlete at UConn are on the line.

I'm quite sure as educators, the coaching staff of this program is very much interested in fixing both ends of the problem here.

+1.

This is starting to look less like a Montrell Dobbs issue and more of an Ansonia High School issue. What exactly are those folks doing down there?...

 

[Carl Spackler]

When coach P came on, he said some things that I love to hear from an athletic coach. He said that just because he's a football caoch, and he's in charge of a football program, it doesn't mean that what he does is any different than any other branch of the university. The insititution is higher education. His subject is just football, while in other departments, it's chemisty, sociology, etc.

He opened up the facilities as a place of learning, like it never was done before. He talked about developing students and athletes, and being a resource for the state, as it's flagship university.

I fully expect that a highly prized recruit, if he's having trouble being admitted to the university, because his local high school approved underwater fire prevention certification as a graduation requirement that is applied to NCAA regulations?

I fully expect that the high school administration there, will be informed by the state's flagship university, taht they better get there duckING business in order. ON the other hand, if the problem here came because some lacky is collecting a paycheck from the university and reading the boneyard all day instead of actually going through every scholarship file with a fine toothed comb, then that's going to get duckING fixed too.

That's the kind of leadership, that we've got in this coaching staff, that we didn't have before.

And that's building recruiting pipelines. I hope that Dobbs is still coming in fall 2012, and this is just a hiccup.