LaTwan Anderson (official thread)

[BuckeyeNation27]

This all seems like a great discussion to be having in the recruits thread...

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Obviously, he does now, if the rumors are true, and luckily the only thing that means anything is that piece of paper you sign on Feb 3rd. And since that "hat incident" OSU has kept in touch with him, so apparently they weren't SO offended by that.

Well, in life you don't always have the luxury of changing your mind after you make an important decision. If the staff will take him, then that's their decision. I guess Anderson should feel lucky that I'm not on the staff.

Holding a kid accountable is sending them to jail if they commit murder

Uh, just a little hyperbolic, don't you think?

no need to take this so serious, because it comes across like a grudge.

Don't know why you insist on feeling that I'm talking this "so seriously" or "holding a grudge". I just feel that when a kid makes his decision on national TV during the AA game, he should stick to it (aside from extenuating circumstances).

Don't go on national TV to make your decision if it's not your real, desired decision. Don't jerk around the staff that you didn't select (OSU) and the staff you did select (WVU) by making that decision when you know inside that you'll end up choosing OSU later if you can. Either delay your announcement until you're 100% sure that either can or cannot go to OSU (or any other school), or stick to your announced decision.

 

[osubartender23]

This all seems like a great discussion to be having in the recruits thread...

Hey at least there is no F bombs flying.....yet!

 

[BayBuck]

The same standards to apply to all recruits...

That is probably true, but fortunately the coaches are the ones who determine those standards--and what it means to want to be a Buckeye--rather than certain BP posters. If a high-rated prospect from Glenville has an honest change of heart and meets all the other more objective standards and there's room in the class, I don't see why a televised "commitment" would permanently ban him from joining this class.

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Then maybe he shouldn't have made it.

Nobody held a gun to his head to make his announcement. No, he instead put more importance in getting his 30 seconds on national TV over delaying his annoucement to make sure he made the best possible decision for him. He had a full month left before NLOID to ensure he had properly weighed the pros and cons of each school and where he truly wanted to play.

Thank God Jim Tressel understands not everyone is as mature as MililaniBuckeye and is considering Anderson.

I get your stance. I am just not convinced that just because he did not pick the Buckeyes at first that does not mean he doesn't WANT to be a Buckeye. Not sure what National TV has to do with it either. We have had people who committed to another school and switch to Ohio State in the past.

In other words...Do you root for Justin Boren at all? If so...

As far as Anderson is concerned. I never was that upset when he picked WVU. I know it sounds like "sour grapes" but I like Roby a bit more as I can see him playing a certain position. Anderson has to prove he has the hips for CB, the size for S, and if neither the ability to play WR. Now, if there is a spot I say you take that chance. He is obviously talented and should be able to contribute somewhere...

 

[creel.6]

Does any body in 'the know' have any idea what's going on with this whole situation?

Quite frankly, all of this talk may not mean anything if LaTwan isn't considering us or the staff won't let him in.

Just seeing if any one has some knowledge on the situation.

Thanks! GO BUCKS!

 

[3074326]

A couple people in the know have weighed in already.

 

[RB07OSU]

My personal feeling is pass...I'll accept whatever the staff decides but I'm with Mili on this one. With red flags already lingering, the verbal to WVU really didn't upset me at all. Obviously he is a tremendous talent but if he has "shennanigans" here, it potentially wastes a scholarship and gives the program a black eye. Obviously I don't know LaTwan like the staff does, so I truly am just letting the coaches decide if they think he will keep his nose clean and be a team oriented player. If they do, I'd love to have him. If not, I'll skip being bothered and look forward to players such as Hardy and Cash.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I get your stance. I am just not convinced that just because he did not pick the Buckeyes at first that does not mean he doesn't WANT to be a Buckeye. Not sure what National TV has to do with it either. We have had people who committed to another school and switch to Ohio State in the past.

If he wanted to be a Buckeye so bad, why didn't he delay his announcement to see how things panned out? Oh yeah, that's right, he was picked and scheduled to make his choice on national TV...heaven forbid that anyone would expect him to tell the network, "You know what? I really haven't decided where I want to go yet. Thanks, but no thanks. Let someone else get the camera time." As for us picking up someone who had committed elsewhere, I can't recall if any of them had announced during a nationaly-televised AA game.

In other words...Do you root for Justin Boren at all? If so...

Geez, in how many ways is Boren's situation completely different from Anderson's? How about:

1.) He was a Michigan legacy, and a hard-core one at that.
2.) Once he made his commitment decision--as tough as it was for him to make it--he stuck with it and didn't waiver.
3.) The only reason he left the school to which he committed was because it had completely changed leadership and philosophy coaching-staff wise, and not because he all of a sudden realized he wanted to be a Buckeye. Had Lloyd Carr not left, Justin would now be a Michigan alum waiting to be drafted in April (along with being a member of their still-growing "0-4 Club" ).

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

If he wanted to be a Buckeye so bad, why didn't he delay his announcement to see how things panned out? Oh yeah, that's right, he was picked and scheduled to make his choice on national TV...heaven forbid that anyone would expect him to tell the network, "You know what? I really haven't decided where I want to go yet. Thanks, but no thanks. Let someone else get the camera time." As for us picking up someone who had committed elsewhere, I can't recall if any of them had announced during a nationaly-televised AA game.



Geez, in how many ways is Boren's situation completely different from Anderson's? How about:

1.) He was a Michigan legacy, and a hard-core one at that.
2.) Once he made his commitment decision--as tough as it was for him to make it--he stuck with it and didn't waiver.
3.) The only reason he left the school to which he committed was because it had completely changed leadership and philosophy coaching-staff wise, and not because he all of a sudden realized he wanted to be a Buckeye. Had Lloyd Carr not left, Justin would now be a Michigan alum waiting to be drafted in April (along with being a member of their still-growing "0-4 Club" ).

Again, I get your point I just think you are being hard on a kid. If I had to stick with every decision I made at that age my life would be drastically different and I'm only 25.

There are always going to be differences. Okay, how about Melvin Fellows. You didn't want him? The only difference really is the "national tv" thing but I'm not sure why that is such a big deal for you.

Either way...all would be forgiven if he came to OSU and performed on the field. We both know that.

 

[DaveyBoy]

I'm with Mili on this one. The decision to commit to WVU was fine....good program. But the kid made a spectacle of selecting WVU over OSU....there is a difference here.

I've seen enough of the Glenville recruits to know that these kids have some pretty tough pasts and we should all be willing to let them grow up before they are held totally accountable like adults. But making a spectacle of not choosing OHio State is something that any 14 year old should know not to do if they ever want to be respected by that spurned school.

I wonder what Roby thinks right about now.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

I am just not convinced that just because he did not pick the Buckeyes at first that does not mean he doesn't WANT to be a Buckeye.

First, let me say that I don't understand your "logic" at all. With that being said, lots of kids want to be Buckeyes, but not all of them should be Buckeyes.

He is obviously talented and should be able to contribute somewhere...

The second proposition does not necessarily follow from the first, which is why you have to look beyond the talent when evaluating the prospect.

Does any body in 'the know' have any idea what's going on with this whole situation?

Quite frankly, all of this talk may not mean anything if LaTwan isn't considering us or the staff won't let him in.

As of last night, all of this talk means nothing ... but there are still a few days until Signing Day.

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

First, let me say that I don't understand your "logic" at all. With that being said, lots of kids want to be Buckeyes, but not all of them should be Buckeyes.

I agree.

To expand on my "logic..." Maybe he felt the situation at WVU was better for him. When I go to McDonalds I want the Double Quarter Pounder but that doesn't mean it is what I am going to pick becuase I am trying to eat heathier (not a very good example but I'm tired and I hope it is good enough)....Not to mention these are kids and their minds can change with the breeze. Where one he might have wanted WVU over the Buckeyes might not be the same today and I feel he has the right to do that...it just might be too late.

Again, I understand the anamosity toward Anderson. If some of the things I have heard through PM are true I am on board with not wanting him personally. As it has been said before this is a classic "Trust Tressel" kind of thing with me at this point.

 

[Oh8ch]

I'm with Mili on this one. The decision to commit to WVU was fine....good program. But the kid made a spectacle of selecting WVU over OSU....there is a difference here.

The "spectacle" is something that some kids enjoy. I don't care for it - but they are teenagers who are getting their first chance at being on national TV. Not pleasant to watch IMO but I can either turn my head or just shake it.

Many recruits are well grounded, mature and know what they want - even whether or not they want to be a Buckeye (whatever that might mean to a 17 year old). But for many others the decision making process is driven by emotions and hormones.

I am all for having the most talented football team we can put on the field with a "necessary but not sufficient" criteria of some level of "good citizenship".

Whatever type of animal, tree, or shrub these kids really want to be will work itself out during their playing careers.

 

[BuckNut65]

These are 17-18 year old kids that often times are not mature enough to realize the consequences of what they say or do and may not get the guidance and support that many of us on this site may have been afforded at that age. So whatever his reasons were for announcing to WVU on TV I try to take these things into consideration.
That being said, the recruiting philosophy of this staff is to take those kids that want to be Buckeyes in every sense. This doesn't always work out the way we like but no one can deny that it has worked out for the most part under the JT era. This kid doesn't seem to fit that philosophy....I see too many red flags here. The best thing to do here is wish him well and move on. It would appear the staff has already done that with the offer to Roby.