Grants Danny O'brien full release. I went to ESPN.Com and found this on the front page. I was going to add it to one of the Edsall threads but figured it deserved its own. http://espn.go.com/college-football...-randy-edsall-gives-danny-obrien-full-release
The only interest I have in this is that, by virtue of media pressure to let O'Brien go to Vandy (where they are settled with a QB, by the way), he is now free to come to UConn. As he'll be eligible next fall, my guess is he would be a heavy favorite to win the job in August if he shows up here. I can't imagine why we wouldn't want to talk to him.
2 Statements that make no sense to me: O'Brien said in the statement. "I would like to thank Coach Edsall for his support throughout this process." O'Brien will graduate this spring and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Obrien is taking the high road. Obrien technically a Jr., and is graduating early which is not all that uncommon. The kid is bright, Duke was his second choice. He redshirted, so he was a sophomore in eligibility this past season and has two years of eligibility left.
I am also very interested in one of the other 3 recruits, Mario Rowson, who was shifted to OLB by Edsall. He really wants to play DB and was recruited by Don Brown to play DB in Brown's system. Measures at 6'3 200 lbs. Would be a great addition to the secondary and already knows the defensive system. Unlike O'Brien he would have to sit out a year and would have 2 years of eligibility remaining. The other transfer (Max Garcia) would also be welcomed as he was a starting OT last year, but it seems like he will be heading toward home in GA. Could end up at Vandy also.
What a change in dynamic. At UConn, he owned the media and got away with pretty much whatever he wanted. Now he is the media's bitch and he's being forced to hire guys like Mike Locksley and pay him based on the rank of UMD's recruiting classes (remember how much he hated that crap?). The media is eating him alive. And the days of smarmy comments directed at the fan base appear to be over.
The fact that O'Brien has to stay at Maryland through the Spring to graduate will likely limit his options. B'law's statement that Vandy is settled at QB with Jordan Rodgers is a bit of a reach. The kid played OK this year, but only completed 50% of his passes and finished with a very weak 4-14 performance against Cincy. I think Franklin would take O'Brien at Vandy in a second, but there may be better options for him elsewhere. It would be pretty funny if Maryland took all this flak about O'Brien and he ended up not going to Vandy.
"While at first I thought it was important to limit the institutions to which they could transfer, I have since reconsidered my decision," Edsall said in a prepared statement. "At the end of the day, I want what's best for these guys and I wish them well in their futures." Up until this turnabout after getting flogged by the local and national sports media, I couldn't help but recall a scene from one of my favorite series of movies - Pirates of the Caribbean. Elizabeth (Sally Jenkins): Captain Barbossa , I am here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal (Danny O'Brien). Barbossa (Edsall): There are a lot of long words in there, Miss; we're naught but humble pirates. What is it that you want? (You gotta be kidding me if you think I'm influenced by anything you write in that rag of paper you work for.) Elizabeth (Sally Jenkins): I want you to leave and never come back. (Let Danny O transfer to Vandy if he wants to.) Barbossa (Edsall): I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means "no". (Can't you see I'm being spiteful, and trying to stem the tide of defections from my team.) Question for Randy: Other than to a school Maryland might end up playing, why was it ever important to put a restriction on where they could transfer? I don't think any of us will ever know the real answer, but regardless, thanks for changing you mind Randy. I want what's best for them too.
I still can't understand why nobody's talked about why we already have a linebacker on our roster ready to play in 2012, that transferred here from Maryland after Edsall was hired, and when everybody knew we've got a home and home scheduled, and our DC was the DC at maryland, and all of that happened before any of this other stuff happened. It's really a double-reverse, what Edsall's called.
I would recommend reading the link attached in another thread. I don't think this was all Edsall's call. The AD and school president, as well as Edsall, would look very bad if DOB thrived under the guy they essentially showed the door. They caved under media pressure. This was handled brilliantly by the DOB camp. The decision to limit his options was as transparent as glass and was clearly the wrong thing to do.
A reverse? Edsall's called reverses before. Start a thread when Edsall calls a fake punt or fake field goal.
The ESPN.com headline "Edsall Grants QB O'Brien Full Release" would seem to signal the QB is heading to Stanford and not Vandy.
