Ah the ever-scheming military mind of David Pa’aluhi. He is one class-act soldier in the making.
So let me get this straight:
1. He quits the OSU program for personal reasons (i.e. a supposed family situation, etc).
2. He then claimed he has always dreamed of a military career and will be enlisting.
3. Now, two months later, he plans to play linebacker for the 2011 Rainbows? (I’m sorry “Warriors” and “Rainbow Warriors”, but you will always be Rainbows to me).
Are these the “good guys” we recruit? Guys who scheme their way back home with lies? Why not just be upfront from the start? That’s what admirable people do.
The father is now doing damage control, saying he isn’t sure what David is going to do. This is Army and NFL code for “there are no red-flags or character issues here, fellows”, but it’s too late, pappa Bubba, because there are.
Then there is Keith Pankey. And I quote:
“He’s my friend until the day I die, but he does play (again) I wish he was playing for us,’’ said Pankey.
My question is this: is that attitude one of a great friend and a great guy, or the attitude of a laid-back guy saying the “right thing” to get air time? And Riley’s disappointment is palpable, but he’s saying what you’d expect to hear. Would Pete Carroll? Would Chip Kelly? Seems guys at the top demand more, and you’re either a best friend or worst enemy.
“It’s not a black and white world, Angry!”
Right, but it is if you make it one like winning programs do. You’re either their best friend or worst enemy. That’s how USC runs a program. What you are seeing before your very eyes, with the Beavers, is that the gradation from a black and white world bleeds into, pardon the pun, a middle of the Pac team.
File this one under Coach Riley and Keith Pankey’s lack of a killer instinct and scheming hoodlum under the guise of good guy/family man.
“File this one under Coach Riley and Keith Pankey’s lack of a killer instinct and scheming hoodlums under the guise of good guy/family man.”
Not sure if I would blame it on Riley. Sometimes its hard to know someone’s true character. The guy could just be a two-faced liar who completely duped everyone. Hard to believe anybody could predict something like this. Have fun with that one, Rainbows.
Hey BeavGirl.
I’m not blaming Riley for Pa’aluhi’s actions, but Riley could have more of a killer instinct and go after the guy’s character. Riley lacks killer instinct, so any chance where he can show it I look for it. It just never surfaces.
I know that you’re not blaming Riley for his actions.
I’m just not sure if anyone could predict this shitty behavior. Some people hide their shittiness well. I know what you’re saying though.
This does appear to be a dick move but I don’t think it takes killer instinct to slam a guy in front of the media. Realistically, it doesn’t matter what Riley says to the media because it won’t change a damn thing. I think the nice part is that recruits know that he will stand by his players, though I don’t think I want that type of recruit coming here. Parents have to know that Riley is a class act and that sure helps in the recruiting world. Anyone hear a rumor about Bubba and Banker not getting along? I feel like I heard it here but I don’t know much about it.
Never heard of any problems with Bubba and anyone. I’m thinking this is a girlfriend thing. From what I gather, his father wholly supported him and was extremely proud that he was here at OSU and doing well. Reading between the lines, I imagine he’s trying to get him back to Corvallis at best… with the Bows at the least.
He was probably going to go into the military until his father talked him out of it. That’s my take.
And you’re right. There’s no reason to act like Lane Kiffin when it won’t do any good in the first place, and you look like Lane Kiffin in the second place.
I was thinking more of Pete.
Lane Kiffin is a joke of a human being and coach.
I was thinking the same thing. Pete would just let it roll off his back. He has better to fill in.
Kiffin would scream to anyone who’s left to listen to him that everyone involved is cheating, and he’s a victim. And someone grab him a co-ed, a six pack and the keys to the car.
This is kind of random, but who are some 2011 recruits that you guys think we have a good shot at getting?
I haven’t even looked at 2011 recruiting yet and usually don’t until summer. Then the picture becomes more clear.
I know a guy I want is Wynn. I’m sure he’ll get all kinds of Pac-10 attention, though.
I like Wynn and his teammate Blake Reynaud. Wynn has been all everything for years though. So he’s not going to get passed on by anyone. Nebraska fans seem to think that all Pelini has to do is offer him, and he’s going there. Apparently he has some family ties to NU.
Reynaud is a LB in the mold of Tony Wilson and Will Storey, only he already has D-I size.
Vei Moala is another monster who will be chased by everyone. I can’t remember names, but he has a teammate on the D-line that’s really good, and I think there’s a S on that defense too.
I haven’t even bothered looking at O-linemen. I know we need some. I know we’re looking at many. I don’t know how many are looking back.
I’m really happy with Terron Ward at RB, but I know we have a couple looks at the Agnew kid in St. Louis (?) and another kid down in Houston. But I’m really a big fan of Courtney Williams in Davis, Ca. Great vision, speed, hands, blocking… he does everything like he was coached well.
And I know there are a bunch of receivers out there that have us on their lists, but they have a ton of other teams on the same lists. Kasen Williams is the only one I’d really appreciate at this time. One kid I really really want the Beavs to go after is Chance Early down in San Diego. He also has a bunch of teams on his list, but no offers taht I know of. That will change in a hurry. I think he rivals Williams in terms of route running and hands. He’s just not quite as strong.
James Sample is the S, and Faigame Lopa is the DE who plays with Vei Moala on Grant Union in Sacramento.
Yea, I think we’ll end up getting Wynn. He visited spring ball this month, and it also doesn’t hurt that we picked up Terron Ward from his school.
I can’t say that I wasn’t thinking of Wynn and Reynaud when I was hoping out loud that we we would Ward. We’ve opened pipelines to some of the most storied programs in the CIF in the last couple years.
“we we would” ?
… meant to say we would offer.
One of the main Ol I want to get is Andre Yruretagoyena. But, he has some big offers on is list. However, he did say he likes cold weather and that he’ll be coming to Corvallis soon.
His tape looks like Grant Enger’s tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2d9g0lTaFc
Bubba who?
Let’s start the 2010 season now!
I’m not ready yet. I like this lull.
Still recovering from last season.
And the team seems real sloppy; need to tighten up before I feel good about starting the campaign.
I’m liking the reports so far. It sounds like conditioning concentrated on strength rather than wind. As hoped, the BYU debacle spurred the guys to get off their butts and work.
I’m hearing a lot about Poyer and Doctor being really athletic ballers… not just athletic. Wilson is coming on again. Uani Unga is making the most of his opportunity. Miller is looking sharp. Henry is looking like we expected him to look. Even Frahm has stepped up at a position better suited to his talents.
And it sounds like Kelly, Lyons and Pohl will push Burks down the depth chart. We get our own stereotype buster in Jordan Jenkins. Jenkins was really good at West Salem. He was originally a QB, and he was a pretty good baseball player too.
“Poyer and Doctor being really athletic ballers”
I’ve got both slotted to start for this reason. Poyer, I could just tell from his limited game time last year. Doctor, just watching his film he’s better than what we have. Love the idea of a RB moving to LB. Not only does it mean speed, but instincts.
Doctor will not start, no way. I’ve seen the guy practice and does not have the size or ability to start this season, maybe some special teams and mop up duty but thats about it.
Is this to be contrarian?
Because I’ve read a bunch of reports that say he’s doing an amazing job picking up the defense and is playing fast. Does not have the ability? Come on…
You’re talking about a coaching staff that started Keith Pankey and Ruben Robinson as twiggy rookies and then saying Doctor is undersized and lacking ability. Laughable.
There is the worry that his size is a detriment. It’s precisely what held Pankey and Robinson back.
The staff might be worried enough to try not to make that mistake again.
Whats laughable is that you have not even seen the guy in person and you say he should be the starter. Is he going to be good in the future, yeah no doubt, but I’m telling you this coming season there is no way barring a lot of injuries, that he see’s much playing time at LB. That’s not knocking the kid either, its that we got a really good group of lbs, he will be a good special teamer and good lb in the future no doubt tho.
1. I’ve seen him on film. You’re right, haven’t seen him in person, but I feel pretty good watching film and projecting.
2. People who have seen him in person…some who cover the team daily, rave about the guy and say he’s good now and might be ready by fall.
We’ll see how it plays out in a few months. I don’t mind your opinion, it’s fine to think that. But the part I find ridiculous is that you’re saying the guy isn’t ready based on his size when we started Ruben Robinson and Pankey as rookies. Pankey wasn’t even ready by his junior year. Doctor is much further ahead of Pankey at equal stages of their career.
Here’s some tape on Courtney Williams. I like his game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpJK_-FfvkU&feature=related
Starting to worry about losing Vaz…he’s a guy I’ve really liked since he signed. Seems to be picking up the system really fast, but at this rate won’t see the field until his senior year. Wish Lalich would transfer and Vaz would be the backup to keep him happy. He might win that job even with Lalich here…
Riley’s making noise like Vaz will be the back-up… or at least don’t be surprised. And I’m hearing that Lalich is struggling as the spring wears on.
I wouldn’t blame Vaz for going somewhere else. It’s looking like Katz is going to be entrenched, and Mannion will be a year behind. Maybe Katz will be too good to stay for his senior year? Just wishful thinking out loud there.
Backups get playing time for the Beavers, whether it’s mop up duty or injury, so I think if Vaz is #2 until his senior year he’d be content knowing he can see the field any moment while refining skills. If he’s #3 this year or Mannion jumps him next year I think he’s gone. I view Lalich as a detriment to the depth chart–doesn’t seem to fit in and could mess up the future pecking order. I’d like to see him at #3 which would likely force a transfer. I can’t get the Virgina/USC game out of my head and how bad Lalich performed…I just don’t see 4 star talent in that guy and he’s a bad match for the west coast.
Yeah, but maybe he can give an eight hour lecture to Braun and Thomas.
And here’s Chance Early.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT1KZdwSFC0
And Early has a teammate who’s pretty good too… a RB by the name of Jonny Martin. He doesn’t have top end speed. But he has good balance and vision. And he’s a tough inside runner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY-KwKgKK2E&feature=related
I think all three of these kids are waaaaay underrated.
But then what would I know about football just by watching kids play? Let’s wait until the camps where we can see how they do against cones.
Is this a recruiting thread yet? Ha!
You can draft one up if you want.
I like to make “football notes” type threads every once and a while for random topics…maybe I’ll do that tonight. There’s quite a bit to discuss.
Maybe I’ll put together video links. I like finding the underrated guys as well, but I’m not going to get into a hope-fest when talking about kids like Lyerla. I figure we just let people decide for themselves by watching tape.
I’m also not going to guess whether they have offers/favorites/whatever. People can fill in those blanks with discussion.
Back to the original topic, if I may “digress”…everthing about this Pa’aluhi deal pisses me off. Originally just pissed that we lost a great LB, but I had a hard time faulting a kid for his sense of duty. Then we find out he has a GF on the Island that no doubt pressured him to come home. Then we find out that he isn’t even joining the military, but that he’s going to play for the fing Rainbows! Grow a sack and tell the bitch to come across the pond for a year or two.
I wish Riley hadn’t granted his release so he’d of had to go play at some shitty little D3 school.
Have fun playing on a sucky WAC team, “Bra.”
There’s a kid involved too. If it was just the girl, it wouldn’t be right for her to mortgage his future. But when a kid’s involved everyone just gets scared and starts acting irrationally.
It’s just what some people do in life. I’m sure it’s not personal.
Imagine how personal it might be for his father. How close was Bubba to joining the military for all the wrong reasons?
Poor decisions usually have a consequence of downgrading your lot in life. He’s lucky he has some support, or it could have been worse than playing for the Bows.
The military was a nice angle for everyone to bite their tongues for awhile. Who is going to critcize a patriot? Another idea might be to hold off on having children until you actually have a job that pays you the money to support a family. Kind of a novel concept.