OK, at least he's not on the court this year. Too bad it had to come from outside the athletic department.

 

Also, Incoming freshman Quinton Watkins is back in California trying to clear up some questions apparently raised by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. Not good.

The Watkins clearinghouse stuff is a lie, the reason he's back in Cali is he's homesick and the staff is trying to convince him to not change his mind and go to school back close to home. The academic stuff is pure nonsense, and the fact Bruce added it in the presser proves he's trying to quell that notion that some of us know. Also, I hope Jamar does something minor enough to not hurt anybody again but get kicked off the team, I dont think Bruce realizes how many fans he'll lose by having a convicted felon on his team.

As an alumni, I'm embarassed that Smith is still with the program. I always thought it was pathetic that Iowa redshirted Pierce during his issue, and now Illinois is doing the same thing.

As an alumni, I'm embarassed that Smith is still with the program. I always thought it was pathetic that Iowa redshirted Pierce during his issue, and now Illinois is doing the same thing.

 

I would bet anything this ends the same way too. After Smith screws up AGAIN he'll be gone, but the program will suffer cosmetic damage that won't go away for a long time.

Edited August 23, 200718 yr by whitesoxfan101

No suprise on Smith, Watkins sounds like this could get ugly.

The Watkins clearinghouse stuff is a lie, the reason he's back in Cali is he's homesick and the staff is trying to convince him to not change his mind and go to school back close to home. The academic stuff is pure nonsense, and the fact Bruce added it in the presser proves he's trying to quell that notion that some of us know. Also, I hope Jamar does something minor enough to not hurt anybody again but get kicked off the team, I dont think Bruce realizes how many fans he'll lose by having a convicted felon on his team.

 

 

Is this your opinion or do you have inside information? I thought it had more to do with the fact that he had transferred to like 5 different schools in a 4 year period and some paperwork was delayed. I really doubt the NCAA would like a coach blaming delays on them. They wouldn't just sit back and take it.

The Watkins clearinghouse stuff is a lie, the reason he's back in Cali is he's homesick and the staff is trying to convince him to not change his mind and go to school back close to home. The academic stuff is pure nonsense, and the fact Bruce added it in the presser proves he's trying to quell that notion that some of us know.

I'm thinking it has to do with his 5 different high schools.

Allowing a felon who left a teammate for dead after drunk driving + having other team members to cover it up to still be on a team, let alone have a possibility of playing in the future -- yet another black eye at my alma mater.

 

Granted they did dump Chief White-Guy-Dancing-Like-a-Native-In-The-Wrong-Dress and the Coke contract but this is getting ridiculous.

Was it ever either proven or was there any reliable, corraborating (sp?) evidence that teammates tried to cover it up?

 

 

Was it ever either proven or was there any reliable, corraborating (sp?) evidence that teammates tried to cover it up?

 

None at all.

watkins will not enroll in the fall, future uncertain

Well the Watkins stuff explains the Davis signing now. Although the academic stuff is still nonsense, the kid was homesick (although I give Bruce credit for not saying that and thus avoiding some low life fans finding and harassing Watkins). Ah well, I wish Watkins luck at whatever west coast school he ends up at in 2008-2009.

It's a shame for Illinois that he was ruled academically ineligible so late.

It's a shame for Illinois that he was ruled academically ineligible so late.

 

just to clarify, watkins was eligible. it wasn't his grades that were a problem. he was accepted at the university and has been attending classes throughout the summer.

 

the issue is with the ncaa clearinghouse. apparently, he had some coursework that was unfulfilled under ncaaa guidelines.

 

either way, it sucks.

Well the Watkins stuff explains the Davis signing now. Although the academic stuff is still nonsense, the kid was homesick (although I give Bruce credit for not saying that and thus avoiding some low life fans finding and harassing Watkins).

How could that possibly be doing Watkins a favor? It's definitly an eligibility issue. Do you really think Watkins would want everyone to publicly know he is not eligible to play, therefore having every other school pass on him as well?

How could that possibly be doing Watkins a favor? It's definitly an eligibility issue. Do you really think Watkins would want everyone to publicly know he is not eligible to play, therefore having every other school pass on him as well?

 

Too late for him to play at any other big time school this year, especially when he wants it to be out west, so it's not like he takes a hit. He'll go JUCO or Prep this year out west and go to a PAC 10 school or something next year, and he also avoids the public hit of being the guy who got homesick in August. Makes sense to me.

Too late for him to play at any other big time school this year, especially when he wants it to be out west, so it's not like he takes a hit. He'll go JUCO or Prep this year out west and go to a PAC 10 school or something next year, and he also avoids the public hit of being the guy who got homesick in August. Makes sense to me.

But what makes more sense is that this was a clearinghouse issue, as everyone else is saying. Saying it is but it actually isn't still does nothing to benefit Watkins. And Weber sure isn't going to go out of his way to lie to the public when the truth would eventually get out anyways.

 

More than likely, there was confusion surrounding the 5 high schools he attended in 4 years. His transcripts were likely jumbled, had a class on there never approved by the clearinghouse, was affected by the new for 2008 clearinghouse rules,...whatever.