Du'Vonta Lampkin Out

I wonder if this case could be an issue of first impression? To my knowledge this hasn't occurred before. How this is handled will set a precedent and virtually make LOIs worthless if not resolved properly. The worse it is on Lampkin if he continues on, the better for college recruiting and football in the future.

 

Being a part of Charlie's program would be the best thing for him, IMO. Might make a better man out of him and turn him into one helluva ballplayer. Or he might be a malignant tumor for the team until he is shown the door. His HS coach apparently thinks Lampkin will end up at UT but no basis for that was given in a couple articles I read. I'd like to see him make a good choice and play for the Horns. I would also like to hear the full, true story of what is going on but UT is limited on what it can reveal due to privacy regulations.

I feel confident Strong is doing what he can to help the young man make a good decision.

 

The best thing Strong could do right now is to release Lampkin from his LOI and let him enroll any where he wants to. Try to sell him on Texas, but release him.
Rumph recruited him to signing and then left the program. I have no doubt Lampkin was lied to by Texas/Rumph. "Hold the rope" comes to mind. Texas is bigger than one recruit and the circumstances at the end of Lampkin's recruitment would indicate our releasing him would be the right move. Especially for credibility in the eyes of other recruits and credibility in our recruiters.

 

I disagree.

If the Rumph situation is the reason he doesn't want to come, he should have stated that at the time and asked for a release.

This not passing spanish and can't qualify is nothing more than a game. If he doesn't qualify let him go juco, if he qualifies hold him to his commitment.

 

I disagree with this. Such a move has the potential to negate the binding effect of an LOI. They become just another "reservation" nearly as meaningless as a commitment as CS stated. Coaches need to be able to count on the guys they sign to be ready to come in and contribute and fill needs of a program. If a player is in danger of not qualifying or can't qualify academically, the Coach generally knows this risk. But needing one credit to be in and purposefully tanking academics the day before enrollment and wanting to go to another program need to carry consequences and not merely be a "ok, fine by me I release you, have fun!" This is one case and smacks of "I just want my way" attitude. Yeah I do have reservations about his fit with the rest of the group, his commitment to the program, negative attitude in the field house and such now that he has pulled this. So he should go, but not without restrictions and other penalties. I think he should be listed as a partial, admitted to Texas, lose a year of eligibility, ride the pine this year then turn him loose.

 

I don't know all the facts surrounding this case, but it would put UT in a bad light to force the player to attend UT. Maybe he developed a relationship with the recruiter who no longer is a coach at UT, maybe he has been swayed by other offers, whatever.
I would release him from his LOI, but there should be some restrictions on where he could go-no other Big XII school or future UT opponent scheduled for the next four years, nor any school in any state not named North Dakota, something like that.

 

We're not forcing him to go to UT, he can go juco.

If he had made an issue of the coaching change at the time his point would have more validity and maybe we could have worked out a transfer to a school that would accept him. Probably not OU.

Seems like there is one of two things going on here. Either he knows he is going to flunk spanish and can't get in to UT, and can get in to OU. The other is he just wants out of his commitment.

Either way at this late date, hold him to his commitment, if he doesn't want to go to UT, go juco.

 

I understand why kids would have a beef if the head coach bolts soon after they sign. In certain circumstances they have an argument for release. Head coaching changes shift the entire dynamics of a program.

But if they signed 4 years of their life over because they like a position coach, that's foolish and no excuse to break a contract. Position coaches bounce around like hot cakes. A player is highly likely to lose said position coach during the time he plays there.

Just look at Rumph's history. If Lampkin had signed during 4 of his 5 previous stints, Rumph would've left during his college career...

2002 - 02 So. Car. St (DB)
2003 - 05 Memphis (LB)
2006 - 10 Clemson (DL)
2011 - 12 Alabama (DL)
2013 - 14 Texas (DL)
2015 - ?? Flordia (DL)

 

The other side of Du'Vonta Lampkin's story
June 16 - OB Article

Du'Vonta Lampkin may never play a down at the University of Texas. If it does not occur, it would be inaccurate to say he did not try.

Lampkin's college future remains in limbo because he has not met the foreign language entrance requirements at the University of Texas. According to a source familiar with the situation, there is another side to this story.

Lampkin is still trying to get his language requirement fulfilled this summer despite the belief he quit taking a Spanish class to intentionally be denied entrance into Texas because he wants to attend Oklahoma. Yes, it is a conclusion many people made because of Lampkin's previous statements on Twitter and an interview with the Cypress Creek Mirror. From what I have been told, those are proclamations Lampkin wishes he never made, and the backlash from Texas fans and those within the program has ostracized the teenager from the Longhorns.

Lampkin's request [for release from his LOI] has nothing to do with a disdain for the Longhorns. Instead, a source familiar with the situation said it has everything to do with the academic challenges he faced throughout high school, despite having several foreign language tutors.

Lampkin does not need to pass one Spanish class to attend Texas, but three courses. He needs to pass Spanish 1B, 2A and 2B. So far, Lampkin is still working on 1B.

Lampkin attempted to receive a passing grade more than once while in high school, but was unsuccessful, which could be attributed to a learning disability the source familiar with his situation preferred not to disclose.

After signing a letter of intent with Texas in February, Lampkin took on the tough task of trying to pass three classes in three months. Lampkin began taking Spanish 1B at the University of Texas Online High School program in February, in addition to his normal high school class load. It is a work at your own pace course, and students have 150 days to complete a class....

.... If Lampkin never attends Texas, there might be several reasons why it did not occur. A lack of effort is not of one of them.

 

Without trying to be mean, it's likely he would have a better college experience if he goes juco for two years. If he really has made the effort and just can't get the job done he wasn't going to last at UT.

 

While I am still not convinced that two years of HS foreign language improves one educational abilities, it sounds like he needs to catch up in several areas as he seems to be lack a solid HS educational background. While ou and every SEC team would welcome him, the best course of action for him as a person would be go JUCO and get the help he needs in order to be a productive member of society when the football career is over.

 

Not trying to say whether he is actually trying or not, but simply enrolling in the class doesn't necessarily mean he is putting forth his full effort to pass it.

 

Still doesn't change the stance that we shouldn't release him from LOI. Are we to blame because he didn't turn in the two assignments needed to take the Spanish 1B final on time? That's the reason his track is delayed, he didn't qualify (missing assignments) when he tried to take the first final so it pushed the time frame back. The fault still remains with the young man, and the consequences for us and him are the same regardless of how well some judge his effort.

 

Spot on Brad. It's only the kid's fault. Not turning in assignments won't get you far at The University. It'll get you back home purdy quick, but that's 'bout it. I'm not to keen on folks that are lazy, don't get the job done and especially those that blame others for their mistakes.

 

I'm still rooting for this young man to complete his Spanish courses. What better opportunity will he have to use his Spanish than playing a game down in Mexico?

 

He got REALLY bad advice from his high school counselor as well his high school coach and the incompetents that used to be in charge of academic counseling at UT.

Brian Davis -- may you rot in hell for your incredibly lazy piece of **** work for unbelievable amounts of compensation for countless years. Had you worked for me, I'd have canned your *** on day two.

 

¿Hay noticias en Señor Lampkin y las clases de Español?

 

This still seems fishy. I don't understand why he would ask for a release. Wouldn't he try to qualify and if he doesnt then UT would deny him? Seems like either its an excuse to go elsewhere or he's a spineless quitter.

 

I guess I was pretty suspicious at first too, but now I'm thinking he is just a kid who is very insecure about his academic abilities and is very afraid he will fail Spanish. Now the pressure is on and he is trying to avoid it by changing his commitment to a place where the Spanish requirement doesn't exist. Charlie, as is his nature and hopefully for the kid's own good, is holding Lampkin's feet to the fire telling him to take care of business.

 

How hard would it be for him to find a Mexican girl friend for a few weeks.

 

Now he done gone and filed his appeal. Why do I suspect its written in crayon?

http://texas.247sports.com/Bolt/DuV...n-NCAA-appeal-for-release-from-Texas-38099245

 

Summer's not over kiddo. Still 7 weeks til school starts. Hell I could pass a college course online with ease in 7 weeks. And he can't pass HS Spanish in 7 weeks? Dude just wants out and gave up, bottom line. I say nope, not until we have to let him go. We suffer, you suffer. You signed the contract too.

 

No problem is he wants to forfeit any DI-Championship eligibility (unless whoever signs him forfeits 4 scholarships over the next 5 years) for ever. FCS, D-II, D-II or NAIA only.

 

So if the NCAA in their finite wisdom grant this asshat's appeal, does the University get anything to compensate for the scholarship wasted on him? I realize he will not count against our allowable total, but in theory, he cost us the chance to sign someone else. Signing a "project" 2 or low 3* would have been better than signing this guy who, one way or another, is not going to play at Texas. So we didn't waste a scholarship but we did waste the opportunity to use the scholarship as needed. We should get something out of the deal if they let this conniving, monolinguistic a-hole walk away from his LOI.

 

Nothing says Boomer Sooner like too dumb to pass high school classes.

 

Judging by his sad use of the English language, I sincerely hope that he wrote his "appeal," instead of some other poor soul.

 

His arguments are so elementary and uneducated no wonder he can't qualify. Just read them.

 

The Cypress Falls High School graduate did speak with head coach Charlie Strong ..., but said he can’t remember the details of the conversation.

Lampkin: Coach, I will not play for you here at UT. I feel like I will be a better fit somewhere else.

Coach Strong: ...

Lampkin: Coach, didn't you hear me. I am bending you over and I want you to take it without KY.

Coach Strong: ...

Lampkin: Alright, good talking to you Coach.

 

I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but this deal is just odd. Duvonta decided not speak for this ESPN article.

 

NCAA denies Lampkin's appeal to shuck his LOI. He's still waiting for Texas to deny his admission which may not happen until classes start on August 26. After that, he'll have two options: JUCO or outta state 4-year without the language requirement.

http://texas.247sports.com/Bolt/Tex...ins-appeal-to-get-out-of-LOI-denied--38417524