Favr..I Mean Caracter to Return to Louisville

[RDF]

Pitino being the definitive coach he is--has "opened the door" for Caracter to return--which means he basically took a look at his roster and said "I need this guy to compete for a National Title" this season.

I've got no issues with Louisville--but this Caracter fiasco has been poorly handled and makes you question what Pitino's word means? Is the kid gone--he gave his scholarship away--or is he staying? Motivation is one thing--being wishy-washy as Pitino has been is another.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

i think they said on zagsblog that pitino said he could come back on 09-10 season but that he could not come back this season because he gave away his scholarship.
but i agree that this move from he can never come back to he can come back next year opens the door for pitino to get him back on the team this year even though i think they'd have to run off a scholarship player at late notice to do it.

right caracter wouldn't be able to walk on would he?

[hoyalawyer]

sure he could... he'd just have to win a few eating contests and he could pay his way through school.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

I thought there was a whole debate when pat was coming that he couldn't walk on because he received a scholarship at Indiana and as a result would still count against the scholarship count even if he didn't have a physical scholarship from us.

[NCHoya]

Why couldn't Character (as punishment) have to pay his way for a year at UL as a walk on? I cannot see how this could be a problem with the NCAA. Don't walk-ons receive scholarships in lean times like this year at GU and then lose them the next year? What a waste if JT3 cannot give our walk-ons a 1-year scholarship if he has it available. That is just a crappy deal if true.

Anyway, I am not a Pitino fan, but nothing he does surprises me, he is a business man first, coach second. If this will improve his team and chance at a title than he will let Character come back. Perhaps, the pre-draft experiece for Character finally embarassed adn humbled him enough to finally see the light, he is simply not a great NBA prospect.

[dungeon ball]

Jul 16, 2008 2:47:28 GMT -5 RDF said:

Pitino being the definitive coach he is--has "opened the door" for Caracter to return--which means he basically took a look at his roster and said "I need this guy to compete for a National Title" this season.
.

I know Louisville is a good team with very good talent, but I just don't see this team being a national title contender without Padgett. I remember thinking they looked lost last year when he wasn't on the court. I know Samuels is supposed to be good, but who's going to run that offense. Sosa? Never been too impressed.

[prhoya]

Yes, talk about Good Sosa / Bad Sosa... although he has more Bad Sosa days than Good Sosa days.

[TBird41]

Jul 16, 2008 7:49:32 GMT -5 NCHoya said:

Why couldn't Character (as punishment) have to pay his way for a year at UL as a walk on? I cannot see how this could be a problem with the NCAA. Don't walk-ons receive scholarships in lean times like this year at GU and then lose them the next year? What a waste if JT3 cannot give our walk-ons a 1-year scholarship if he has it available. That is just a crappy deal if true.

Anyway, I am not a Pitino fan, but nothing he does surprises me, he is a business man first, coach second. If this will improve his team and chance at a title than he will let Character come back. Perhaps, the pre-draft experiece for Character finally embarassed adn humbled him enough to finally see the light, he is simply not a great NBA prospect.

The problem isn't the money, the problem is the scholarship limit. Once a player gets a scholarship, or is recruited by a school (not sure of the definition of "recruited", but this is why PE2 had to count as a scholarship player) they count as a scholarship against the scholarship limit. Character CANNOT be a walk on, even if he pays his own way because he already got a scholarship. He will always count as a scholarship player. And that's why Pitino can't take him back without running off another scholarship player--he already has 13.

[chep3]

If this was UConn, we all know it would end with some lesser player transferring. Let's see if Pitino is a better guy than that.

[RDF]

Louisville will return to a Pitino style of play this year--last year they needed Padgett more because they didn't play well in the open court style of play and were more of a grind it out team. With Padgett gone--expect them to be more uptempo and they will be one of the better teams in country. George Goode is a kid who will make a big contribution that sat out last year and they are more athletic down low--which fits better with the perimeter guys they have.

[lichoya68]

WHAT A CHARCACTER PITTINO IS WHAT A CHARACTER UNBELIEVABLE NO BELIEVABLE YUP too bad wish the kid well but what does this say about ricky thougth he told the man it was time to move on UNTIL HE DECIDED HE NEEDED HIM WOWOWOWOWOWWOOWWO GO HOYAS KEEP DOING IT WITH CLASS JT3 WITH CLASS

[hoyarooter]

This is ridiculous. Derek Caracter, this is for you (and Brett Favre as well):

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
If I stay there will be double
So you've got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

Think I got it right.

[Hoya TMF]

louisville is a "contender" perhaps based on their collection of talent, but they have no leadership on that team.

[youngjeezy]

www.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/9368768

According to Rick Pitino (per the Louisville Courier-Journal), Caracter has agreed to:

* Pay his own way to school while missing the 2008-09 season (both practices and games).
* Get a job approved by Pitino.
* Secure his own living arrangements.
* Get into shape.
* Become academically eligible.
* Stay out of trouble.

Pitino said Caracter will be allowed to rejoin the Cardinals for the 2009-2010 season if he does all those things.

so i guess pitino found a loophole by allowing him back on the team with a scholarship next year, assuming he doesn't play at all this year and doesn't take up one of the scholarships, forcing him to pay his way through school. yikes. i'm glad our staff keeps these kinds of situations as far away from georgetown as possible.

[SFHoya99]

There's no loophole. Pitino gave his scholarship away to a senior walk-on so it is available next year.

Caracter can't play for the Cardinals without using a scholarship this year but if he pays his own way and doesn't play, what's the issue?

I just don't see it happening -- how many times has Pitino kicked him out and let him back in? Caracter will likely end up playing but somehow I doubt he does all of the above.

[RDF]

Here's my issue with some of the "ground rules". Why do coaches have to ASK people to be good people? I mean if we're to that point as a society or a coach has to say:

1. Stay out of Trouble/Don't get Arrested
2. Go to School--to a college athlete

What is this really saying? Maybe Pitino thought he could help Caracter--who had signs of this type of behavior during his nomadic HS career. I get that--trying to give someone a chance is great. However--when you have had issues and the ground rules basically include things that should be EXPECTED and not need to be mentioned to anyone in society--what kind of waste of time is this?

Okay--here is my ground rules for HoyaTalk Members:

1. Don't shoot/kill/steal from anyone
2. Don't sell drugs
3. Take care of your children/families
4. If you go to school--dont cheat on exams and don't fail classes.

Realize this is a lot to ask--but those are ground rules set. Now go do them and membership to board is "safe".

Of course at Memphis the rules are:

1. Don't get caught at the Strip Club-but if you do--please don't get tasered after making it rain.

2. Don't get your payment in an envelope

3. No girls in mansion between 6 am and 7 am.

4. When Uncle Worldwide Wes comes over--make sure you get a replica jersey of Tyler Hansbrough out--because that is only thing that is BIG ENOUGH to hold the "gifts" you shall receive.

5. When a professor asks what you do--don't tell them you are on team--or else they might question why they haven't seen you in class.

6. Always attend the Dana Kirk "Learning Center"--where you can order your customize the vehicles provided at the Cal Auction for Kids who Can Ball!

[hoyalawyer]

well I'm in compliance with all the Hoyatalk Board member rules, yet somehow i seem to violate numbers Memphis 1-3 consistently. (j/k of course).

[prhoya]

I seem to recall an ESPN article about one of the starters for Washington U. who gave up his scholarship because his parents could pay tuition and made it available for another recruit. If so, how come his status changed?

[hoyalove4ever]

What a disaster. I'm glad this is not going on with the Hoyas or I couldn't root for them.

[Elvado]

Coach with no character adds Caracter.

Pitino continues to redefine sleaze. He and Calipari must be in a race for scumbag of the year.