Another article alluding to an out clause, only this time it refers to "an addendum to the Big Ten letter-of-intent." I've mentioned several times now in threads about Ebanks and Holloway such an "addendum" or "out clause" would be contrary to the express language of letters of intent and the purpose of the letter of intent program. Does anyone have a link to a webpage showing the actual text of the letter of intent? I have a hard time imagining that such language actually appears in the letter of intent and that the CCA or the NCAA would have ruled that other schools were bound to honor such a letter.
Thanks for the effort Horn69, but that's just a standard release form which any recruit can use to ask for a release for pretty much any reason, but the school is not required to grant it. All the stories being written about Ebanks and Holloway make references to some kind of out clause being in the text of the letter of intent itself, and I was looking for a copy of the letter itself to see if those stories are true. I suspect they are not for several reasons. First, the NLI text expressly states the recruit is bound to the school, not the coach. Second, the coaches cannot grant any release or waive any of the provisions. Third, the stories about Ebanks and Holloway seeking releases have been floating around for over a month. If the letter really had an out clause, one would think IU would have had to grant the releases without delay. So, maybe I'm wrong, but I still say it's ********. Edit: Ah, here you go. The text of the NLI states in paragraph 15, "No Additions or Deletions Allowed to NLI. No additions or deletions may be made to this NLI or the Release Request Form." The Link Now, what is really interesting is if someone pops up a document showing that IU did amend the text of the NLI. Then it could be kicked out of the program. The Link But, as I said in the Holloway thread, I feel fairly sure the IU AD wasn't dumb enough to risk that.
I don't know how I feel about this. I do think many kids have been screwed over when the coach they signed up to play for is canned or sticks around just to the end of the season and trades up. Isn't fair to the players IMO.
Not an IU fan by any stretch but I feel somewhat sad for that historically elite program to be so sullied by Sampson. Somewhere Robert Knight is laughing.
Supposedly Sampson really wanted the Texas gig after Penders left. Thank God we went in a different direction.
What I heard was, there was a feel-out of interest, with Texas making the call, but I don't think it ever got serious on either side. I just am thankful that Phil Ford or Bob Bender didn't get the job. UT probably would be the second replacement of either guy by now.
Reminds me of Dandy Don Meredith's old saying, "If's and buts were candy and nuts, we would all have a Merry Christmans!"
