Was Boykin on the bench tonight?

[Gus Mahler]

I just want to add that in last night's game, when Pam went through who was hurt and not available, DJB was not mentioned. It's too bad but I'm hoping for the best.

 

[HuskyNan]

I just want to add that in last night's game, when Pam went through who was hurt and not available, DJB was not mentioned. It's too bad but I'm hoping for the best.

From today's Hartford Courant:

Boykin's challenge: It is clear the coaches have decided freshman De'janae Boykin should not be a part of the team on game day until she remedies some early problems she's having in the classroom. It's one thing when the team keeps you home from road trips, but Boykin was not at Mohegan Sun Arena Friday and its unlikely she will return until she stabilizes her school work. Auriemma believes this is a necessary step to ensure her future with the program. "It's been hard. She hasn't been healthy with wrist and Achilles issues," Auriemma said. "And the other problem is the academic issues we are trying to work through. It's like she hasn't been there. it's been a struggle for her – not so much for us - but a huge struggle for her. Hopefully she takes care of what she needs to take care of this week and we'll go from there."

 

[rbny1]

Give the young lady some room. I cannot imagine what it's like to be a college freshman and have your personal issues, including health issues and academic problems, played out in the media. She deserves the chance to resolve these matters in private. I wish her the best, as I'm sure all Boneyarders do.

 

[Goodgood]

From today's Hartford Courant:

Boykin's challenge: It is clear the coaches have decided freshman De'janae Boykin should not be a part of the team on game day until she remedies some early problems she's having in the classroom. It's one thing when the team keeps you home from road trips, but Boykin was not at Mohegan Sun Arena Friday and its unlikely she will return until she stabilizes her school work. Auriemma believes this is a necessary step to ensure her future with the program. "It's been hard. She hasn't been healthy with wrist and Achilles issues," Auriemma said. "And the other problem is the academic issues we are trying to work through. It's like she hasn't been there. it's been a struggle for her – not so much for us - but a huge struggle for her. Hopefully she takes care of what she needs to take care of this week and we'll go from there."

Thanks, Nan. This put an end to all speculations.

 

[Biff]

Thanks, Nan. This put an end to all speculations.

Hmmmm. Wanna bet?

 

[UcMiami]

I sort of wish this thread would go away at this point. We know a few things, and we will not know anything more until we get more specific information from either the team directly or from something specific the horde writes.

1. DJB has a nagging achilles injury and has had issues with her previously injured wrist.
2. DJB has some unspecified but serious academic issues that the team is dealing with by removing her from the public aspects of team activities.
3. Butler has been medically cleared to play for a couple of weeks. Medically cleared is NOT the same as healthy. It is a status indicating doctors believe the healing has reached a point where normal activity, possibly with a medically indicated protective device, will not lead to further injury or the healing process. (It can also indicate a status that a player who still has an injury will not risk further injury by continuing to play.)
4. Geno and the coaches have determined that Butler is not in fact ready to play. This does not represent a 'set-back' necessarily, just that her performance in practice has not been good enough to warrant her playing yet. This is pretty standard stuff for athletes returning from injury - confidence, trust in the injured area, compensation for a still weakened area, stamina, pain threshold, and numerous other reasons might be the cause. With a ten day exam break on the horizon and the team playing well, there was no pressing need to rush the return to the court.

Everything else is speculation, and a lot of that speculation is about personal issues of players that are not our purview on this board.

 

[Sargassoc]

They are not kids. Once you reach your 18th birthday you are legally considered an adult in the U.S.A. I believe every UConn WCBB player is considered an adult. As far as "privacy laws" are concerned, it would get a little murky with respect to FERPA, but good luck in court on that one.

FERPA wins every time in this situation. The locus of control switches to the student, but she doesn't give up her rights: "When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student ("eligible student"). The FERPA statute is found at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and the FERPA regulations are found at 34 CFR Part 99."

We simply have NO legal standing to know anything. (Not that we don't want to know; just that we cannot be informed against the wishes of the student, if 18 or over and against the wishes of the parent, if under 18.)

 

[Sonny44]

Doing a little bit of research this is what I found ....

Every student athlete has a clock of 5 years, starting at first enrollment in college, in which to complete 4 years of competition.

Competition in one play in one intercollegiate competition in any one academic year constitutes one year of eligibility.

A "redshirt" is when a player does not compete for even that one play and therefore does not burn that eligibility year. But since you still only have five years to get in that four years of eligibility you only get one year "redshirt".

A medical hardship is technically not a redshirt. To qualify for a medical hardship these three conditions must be met: 1) injury is season ending, 2) occurs during the first half of season, and 3) athlete has not played in more 3o% of scheduled games.

A "red shirt" is elective.
A player must apply for a medical hardship at the end of the year.

So then Natalie wouldn't qualify for a Medical hardship since the doctors cleared her to play a couple weeks ago, or so it was reported. Correct? I mean 1) how can you say it's season ending when the doctors cleared you to play after 5 or 6 games into the season.

 

[EricSD]

Hmmmm. Wanna bet?

Honestly, I'm completely satisfied with that explanation (that Nan posted). It tells us what's going on and what she's doing to work through it. It may not have been a direct quote from the coaches, but I doubt a writer from the horde would say "It is clear the coaches have decided freshman De'janae Boykin should not be a part of the team on game day until she remedies some early problems she's having in the classroom. It's one thing when the team keeps you home from road trips, but Boykin was not at Mohegan Sun Arena Friday and its unlikely she will return until she stabilizes her school work."

I have no problem with tough love (not that Geno or the staff would care one iota if I had a problem with how they ran their team or not)... But my point is I'm glad to have the "facts" (as they are) out there so we can stop with wondering and worrying, and yes... speculating!

De'janae - I doubt you read this, but please know that every UCONN fan who is aware of your situation is rooting big time for you and we want to see you succeed in the classroom, on the court, and in life! Go get em!!!

 

[HuskiesDogs]

I was thinking maybe Boykins should red shirt but I really would love to see her play this year

 

[msf22b]

Hmmmm. Wanna bet?

I said (other thread) :
Conclusion: She is some sort of neverland status; not quite on the team nor off.
It is hard to believe that the PR Dept. forgot about her, this was an intentional slight and message (to someone).

Faites attention c'il vous plait...the incoming is very subtle.

(And I didn't know about the team picture that was mentioned by Sarals and which alarmed folks on this thread).

You Said
30 seconds later:

My conclusion is that you fantasize drama and hope that occasionally (sic) one of them sticks.
___________________________________________________________________

And although I backed down under your strong objection (not so nice)....and deferred to the authority of the board

In retrospect, it seems that I was just about completely correct in my analysis... spot on...and if you knew about the Christmas Card when you wrote your rebuttal attacking my (admittedly strange anticipatory) methodology you were being disingenuous.

Not my style to attack the mods but I absolutely agree with Eric's earlier post: I'm disappointed in the UCONN staff right now.

This is not about the kid anymore...it's about the grownups managing a situation. And I think by just being honest and forthright, this entire controversy could and should have been avoided.

Even if its none of our business, it's turned into a (very minor) public relations nightmare.

 

[HuskyNan]

FERPA wins every time in this situation. The locus of control switches to the student, but she doesn't give up her rights: "When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student ("eligible student"). The FERPA statute is found at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and the FERPA regulations are found at 34 CFR Part 99."

We simply have NO legal standing to know anything. (Not that we don't want to know; just that we cannot be informed against the wishes of the student, if 18 or over and against the wishes of the parent, if under 18.)

Wouldn't HIPAA apply as well?

 

[Sargassoc]

Wouldn't HIPAA apply as well?

HIPAA would keep a health care provider from releasing a medical update. FERPA applies to information relating to anything educational.

 

[ChicagoGG]

The distress is the absence of a cherished kid with the most sketchy explanations...ok, home to attend to studies for a road trip, but this was a virtual home game.

Michael - please do not put your tin foil hat on....you have a recurring theme each season that some member of the team is being mistreated, unloved, disrespected by Geno, etc. If DB is injured and needs help with academics, please do not read Area 51 into this.

 

[stamfordhusky]

So then Natalie wouldn't qualify for a Medical hardship since the doctors cleared her to play a couple weeks ago, or so it was reported. Correct? I mean 1) how can you say it's season ending when the doctors cleared you to play after 5 or 6 games into the season.

Theoretically she could still qualify if she re injured it and was out for the season before having played the requisite number of games. However remember that being granted a 6th year would be very unusual, no matter what the reason.

In any event, I don't think this will be an issue

 

[Kaizen]

I am actually very happy for DJB. She enters a great school and has a great coach really cares about her health as well as academic performances.
DeJanae, we are looking forward your coming back very soon.

 

[JS]

So then Natalie wouldn't qualify for a Medical hardship since the doctors cleared her to play a couple weeks ago, or so it was reported. Correct? I mean 1) how can you say it's season ending when the doctors cleared you to play after 5 or 6 games into the season.

Don't think she needs medical hardship (misnomered as "medical redshirt").

If she never plays in a game, I think she qualifies for a non-medical redshirt, a la Jess Moore in her freshman year.

Basic rule is you have five years to complete four seasons of play. Very exceptionally (e.g. Jamie Carey), in NCAA discretion, six years.

Medical hardship is about starting game play in a season, and then a batch of rules on how far you can get into that season (before going down with season-ending injury) without it counting as one of your four seasons of play.

 

[Biff]

... I absolutely agree with Eric's earlier post: I'm disappointed in the UCONN staff right now.

This is not about the kid anymore...it's about the grownups managing a situation. And I think by just being honest and forthright, this entire controversy could and should have been avoided.

Even if its none of our business, it's turned into a (very minor) public relations nightmare.

So you are disappointed in the UCONN staff right now. Really? How did they disappoint you? By not telling you details of a personal nature that you have no personal right to be informed on?

So it's about the grownups managing the situation. Where have they not been honest?
Controversy? Only one created in your eyes.
No it's not any of your business when there are personal issues with a player/student and it's the responsibility of those managing grownups to assist the student athlete with as much discretion and privacy as the situation can allow. I think that Geno has done a great job in treating DJB with respect and privacy.

Public relations nightmare????? Honestly? Because you and a few others don't immediately know some details? Wow. I'm not sure how Geno recovers from this one.

 

[Sargassoc]

I'm disappointed in the UCONN staff right now. This is not about the kid anymore...it's about the grownups managing a situation. And I think by just being honest and forthright, this entire controversy could and should have been avoided. Even if its none of our business, it's turned into a (very minor) public relations nightmare.

It. Is. Against. The. Law.

Start there.

 

[MilfordHusky]

DJB--study hard and best wishes! Needless to say, this is very important.

 

[JS]

Just a few unmentioned slants on this:

1. Sargasso seems to be the expert on FERPA. but apparently it doesn't prohibit the very general references to academics made by Geno.

2. Why make even those? Possibly because the horde has eyes on the BY and reporters are asking.

3. Exams are pending. Game day activities for athletes -- especially away from campus -- take more time than people think. Much more than the few hours to which we're attuned. Better things to do under the circumstances than hang out with the team.

4. As far as msf's intermittent war dance, aside from its relevance under point 2:

Jeesh, Michael, as a musical guy you missed your calling as an actor -- Shakespearean or Greek tragedy at best, but melodrama -- for which you have demonstrated talent -- at the lower and more likely end.

Anyway, as a thespian with range from high dudgeon to implicit paranoia, you coulda been a contender.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This is getting into territory where neither Boykin nor Butler may not be able to provide meaningful minutes for us this year. Even if both come back at some point, they'll have been out of action so long it will take several weeks to get them up to speed.

When's the last time we brought in a completely new player in January or later and got major contributions from them?

 

[stamfordhusky]

Don't think she needs medical hardship (misnomered as "medical redshirt").

If she never plays in a game, I think she qualifies for a non-medical redshirt, a la Jess Moore in her freshman year.

Basic rule is you have five years to complete four seasons of play. Very exceptionally (e.g. Jamie Carey), in NCAA discretion, six years.

Medical hardship is about starting game play in a season, and then a batch of rules on how far you can get into that season (before going down with season-ending injury) without it counting as one of your four seasons of play.

Actually in Natalie's case, she would need some sort of medical reason because she would be petitioning for a 6th year (theoretically). Definitely can't get a 6th year without a serious injury and some other extenuating circumstances.

 

[msf22b]

So you are disappointed in the UCONN staff right now. Really? How did they disappoint you? By not telling you details of a personal nature that you have no personal right to be informed on?

So it's about the grownups managing the situation. Where have they not been honest?
Controversy? Only one created in your eyes.
No it's not any of your business when there are personal issues with a player/student and it's the responsibility of those managing grownups to assist the student athlete with as much discretion and privacy as the situation can allow. I think that Geno has done a great job in treating DJB with respect and privacy.

Public relations nightmare????? Honestly? Because you and a few others don't immediately know some details? Wow. I'm not sure how Geno recovers from this one.

Sorry, Biff, I did not create this situation and disparaging me will not make it go away.

it's the responsibility of those managing grownups to assist the student athlete with as much discretion and privacy as the situation can allow.

I think that's the point: A roster in announced, a team picture is made public, various puff piece are written about the recruits, their stories are told. Fans become enthusiastic and develop attachments. That is the nature of the beast.Perhaps there's something wrong in that already, but that's the nature of the racket which draws all these Senior Citizens to admire the athletic prowess and wonderful teamwork of a bunch of kids in their late teens and early 20's. ( I won't touch the theory of surrogate grandchildren).

At that point those on the team are somewhat in the public domaine (how much...only a good lawyer can tell you) and changes to their status are to some extent public information.

Obviously the above point is common knowledge...Teams routinely release injury and status reports. ND just announced that one of their players will leave the team for the rest of the season. Sure, some fans would like to hear more. But I completely agree that the U is not required to provide any anything additional and what little privacy is retained is advantageous as you say...what the situation allows.

But in this case:

1. A student athlete is left home from a road trip due to academic difficulties... a clear and unambiguous notice is given.

2. But then at a semi-home game the student is absent and no explanation is given (until afterwards)

3 The release given out to the press at this game omits mention of her status

4. (while retaining the players status on the roster...your point) the team's holiday picture is executed with the player in question not photographed.


Is in the very best light, this is an awkward way of communicating a message...and who is the intended recipricantt, one might ask? All the public needs to know is that a student-athlete is injured and/or in academic difficulty.

But this in-between status, unnecessarily created entirely by the U is unprofessional. Is it meant to be punitive in some way?

From a public-relations standpoint a simple announcement along the lines of the Notre Dame statement or the announcement at the road trip is sufficient. What has transpired the last few days is unworthy of the institution.

 

[Biff]

Sorry, Biff, I did not create this situation and disparaging me will not make it go away.

Is in the very best light, this is an awkward way of communicating a message...and who is the intended recipricantt, one might ask? All the public needs to know is that a student-athlete is injured and/or in academic difficulty.

But this in-between status, unnecessarily created entirely by the U is unprofessional. Is it meant to be punitive in some way?

From a public-relations standpoint a simple announcement along the lines of the Notre Dame statement or the announcement at the road trip is sufficient. What has transpired the last few days is unworthy of the institution.

I can see this conversation will go nowhere constructive so I leave it with these parting comments:

There is no "situation" unless you are referring to DJB's academic situation but I do not think you are.
There is no "in-between status". You are fabricating that. She is on the team and dealing with academics.
The U has not been "unprofessional".
You are making up a new strawman now alluding to something being "punitive". You are tossing more dust in the air.
The institution has done nothing here that is "unworthy".

Why create these unnecessary extrapolations from the basic facts? It all just creates artificial drama. I'm not sure why you feel that is constructive. I don't.

All the public needs to know is that a student-athlete is injured and/or in academic difficulty.

And I'm done.

 

[msf22b]

Me too.

 

[JS]

Actually in Natalie's case, she would need some sort of medical reason because she would be petitioning for a 6th year (theoretically).

Agreed. Somehow I thought we were talking about DJB (notwithstanding the post I quoted), who hasn't already sat out a year.

 

[NEforceUConn]

I totally get what you guys are saying, but Geno's comments do not address why she's not on the Christmas card picture. It takes what - an hour to shoot the picture for the team? If she has so much going on that she can't find an hour to shoot the holiday picture...

Not putting her on the holiday card as part of the team picture is a very conscious decision. I just don't get it. To me that means she's not part of the UCONN team in some material way.

Maybe she took the picture, extra credit for her art class?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe she took the picture, extra credit for her art class?

Now, that's putting some positive spin on things.

 

[Goodgood]

She is not part of the team on game day/practice. When is the best time to take a pic of the whole team together? before/after they play a game or practice. There you go.