Vernon Adams

[EWURanger]

Vernon is gone... I believe he already told the staff he doesn't want to play here anymore. Bummer.

Any more insight on this? I know us aren't privy to even a fraction of what goes on behind closed doors but I would be interested to know if he told Baldwin he doesn't want to play for him before or after the Oregon rumors started. I know the football banquet was very recent and that he attended. What could have happened between December and now that would have created such a deep rift that a player wouldn't want to play for Beau Baldwin, who is widely regarded as the quintessential "player's coach"? It is just a strange, puzzling sequence of events.

I heard this from someone else today. If in fact the rift is between Coach Baldwin and Adams, I would be floored.

I played for two head coaches at Eastern. When Coach Baldwin came back I realized how great of a coach he is. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to play for him.

I think we are in for a great competition between West and Hennessey to see who will lead the team into the next era.

Every thing is looking up for the program. It's a great day to be an Eagle!

Yep. Leaving if he doesn't want to play at Eastern is one thing (and that's totally fine), I just hope that it's on good terms.

 

[EWURanger]

Having them pilch our QB will only build more distaste.

It is my understanding that a team can not talk to a player until he has a release in hand from his current team. If that is true, Eastern admin would have had to agree to Vernon "shopping around". In an earlier article Vernon said he had not heard from them. I would be curious to know when was the release requested and granted and when was the first contact with Oregon or its "mule" behind the scenes.
Smells rotten. I hope the NCAA does some investigating. If VA goes and the NCAA finds improprieties would he lose his last year of eligibility and Oregon forfeit any games he played in?

I think it's probably impossible that there wasn't some sort of contact prior to him being released from his scholarship. That doesn't necessarily constitute NCAA violations, though. And even if there was direct contact it'd be virtually impossible to prove if anyone actually wanted to pursue it. These kind of discussions happen under the table.

I think the most likely scenario is that UO leaked their interest in him via a "source" in the media, and then there was probably some sort of discussion that followed that. The UO coaches could not have contacted him prior to him being released from his scholarship, but that does not mean that other people connected to the program, such as boosters, didn't. Just the way of big time collegiate athletics these days.

I honestly don't even care how it went down since none of it really matters and it ain't gunna bring him back at this point. I wish him well whatever his future holds and am excited about the next chapter. :thumb:

 

[Bandit218]

Vernon is gone... I believe he already told the staff he doesn't want to play here anymore. Bummer.

Any more insight on this? I know us aren't privy to even a fraction of what goes on behind closed doors but I would be interested to know if he told Baldwin he doesn't want to play for him before or after the Oregon rumors started. I know the football banquet was very recent and that he attended. What could have happened between December and now that would have created such a deep rift that a player wouldn't want to play for Beau Baldwin, who is widely regarded as the quintessential "player's coach"? It is just a strange, puzzling sequence of events.

I heard this from someone else today. If in fact the rift is between Coach Baldwin and Adams, I would be floored.

I played for two head coaches at Eastern. When Coach Baldwin came back I realized how great of a coach he is. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to play for him.

I think we are in for a great competition between West and Hennessey to see who will lead the team into the next era.

Every thing is looking up for the program. It's a great day to be an Eagle!

Yep. Leaving if he doesn't want to play at Eastern is one thing (and that's totally fine), I just hope that it's on good terms.

Just a maybe, but did Baldwin turn anything down thinking about a title run with a defensive improvement next year? West is a good QB but Adams was a different QB. If Baldwin passed anything up or at least showed very little interest in going anywhere, because of Adams, Kupp, etc. we're returning for a championship run, then I'd be pissed too. Although I don't see Baldwin not being supportive of that.

 

[eaglesfootball]

Vernon is gone... I believe he already told the staff he doesn't want to play here anymore. Bummer.

Any more insight on this? I know us aren't privy to even a fraction of what goes on behind closed doors but I would be interested to know if he told Baldwin he doesn't want to play for him before or after the Oregon rumors started. I know the football banquet was very recent and that he attended. What could have happened between December and now that would have created such a deep rift that a player wouldn't want to play for Beau Baldwin, who is widely regarded as the quintessential "player's coach"? It is just a strange, puzzling sequence of events.

I heard this from someone else today. If in fact the rift is between Coach Baldwin and Adams, I would be floored.

I played for two head coaches at Eastern. When Coach Baldwin came back I realized how great of a coach he is. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to play for him.

I think we are in for a great competition between West and Hennessey to see who will lead the team into the next era.

Every thing is looking up for the program. It's a great day to be an Eagle!

Yep. Leaving if he doesn't want to play at Eastern is one thing (and that's totally fine), I just hope that it's on good terms.

Just a maybe, but did Baldwin turn anything down thinking about a title run with a defensive improvement next year? West is a good QB but Adams was a different QB. If Baldwin passed anything up or at least showed very little interest in going anywhere, because of Adams, Kupp, etc. we're returning for a championship run, then I'd be pissed too. Although I don't see Baldwin not being supportive of that.

Baldwin didnt turn anything down because of any of that. We expect to make a title run every year. he was a finalist for the OSU job but ultimately they went with a bigger name. The only job I know of that he turned down was the griz one because as he stated he wont coach anywhere in the FCS other than EWU. And he really doesnt need to coach anywhere in fcs as he has built a premier program at this level. in terms of money he is now being compensated better than the UM job will even allow.

 

[clawman1]

Vernon is gone... I believe he already told the staff he doesn't want to play here anymore. Bummer.

Do you differentiate between "he doesn't want to play here anymore" and I would rather get a shot at playing in the Pac 12?

 

[ewusigep252]

 

[MLEagle]

I hope this turns out well for Vernon because I believe it is a huge risk. He needs to ask Brandon Kaufman about taking risks to leave EWU early when it isn't a very safe beat that things are going to turn out.

 

[dudeitsaid]

You are probably right. But I don't know getting gear means he's gone. I'm sure just getting a scholarship offer makes VA a fan of OU, even if he doesn't go there. He's still got some hurdles, and hopefully some more praying and soul searching to do. There are a lot of rumors, but I will just wait till the validated news comes out.

I thought this article was very interesting, and presents some good reasoning hopefully VA is considering.

http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2015/01/vernon_adams_potential_jump_to.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

dudeitssaid,
You are so right about the hurdles Vernon must past, is first finishing for his graduation some time this Spring, w/o that forget about O/U. Hope his New Uniforms doesn't inspire others to really make him feel :x :x :x :x :x . You don't bite the hand that fed you. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: Still it his decision to make. Good Luck. Vic Wallace

 

[clawman1]

VA is still a member of the EWU Eagles. If he is running around decked out in Ducks gear that is very disrespectful to the school that gave him a chance and the coaches that made him what he is. :thumbdown:

 

[GROUND&POUND]

I think the most likely scenario is that UO leaked their interest in him via a "source" in the media, and then there was probably some sort of discussion that followed that. The UO coaches could not have contacted him prior to him being released from his scholarship, but that does not mean that other people connected to the program, such as boosters, didn't. Just the way of big time collegiate athletics these days.

I honestly don't even care how it went down since none of it really matters and it ain't gunna bring him back at this point. I wish him well whatever his future holds and am excited about the next chapter. :thumb:

This was started by folks back home. Former HS coach and dad. Strange I think that a kid as good as VA is (and had so much success) that he would buck the people who helped make him into the player he is today, to disrupt that chemistry and success by listening to folks who didn't do much to get him offers in the first place (Portland State and EWU were the only offers). I've seen his hs film. He could have gotten more offers but the leg work wasn't put in for him by the folks back in hs. Now they are steering him on a path that could ruin his senior year and disrupt his entire football situation. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's a fact.

I've said it before, and will say it again. It's likely not going to go well, and the season that should be his best could very likely end up his worst. I don't hope that, but I've seen this movie before and the odds are high it ends badly if he leaves.
People have said they think his draft chances go up if he plays at Oregon. Based on the obstacles in his way I think he has better chances staying put in an offense he knows he that has mastered with players and coaches that he has had success playing with. It's all right there in front of him if he doesn't let people outside his situation ruin it. Eastern is the perfect situation for VA. That's why he has had the success he has had as a player. It's a great fit for him in all his strengths and weaknesses. I'll also say I think the coaches at Eastern deserve better. That's just my opinion.

I said bigger isn't better, better is better. Here was a quote I've read that sums up that thought nicely from a college coach:

"If I was advising him, I'd say he should stay," said K.C. Keeler, who coached future NFL quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Pat Devlin at FCS power Delaware before becoming head coach at Sam Houston State. The Bearkats opened the 2014 season with a 56-35 loss to Eastern Washington.

"I walked out of that saying I don't think I'll see a better quarterback in the country and in my time coaching, I can't list a whole lot better than I just saw," Keeler said of Adams. "I have no reservation saying he'll go into the Oregon locker room and that he'll be as talented as anybody. It's just there are a lot of things that go into being a starting quarterback.

"I'm disappointed he's leaving because I think what players have to understand is bigger is not better, better is better. He's developed an unbelievable following at Eastern Washington and I'd be disappointed he's leaving our level. I'm not excited that he's trying to bump up to a higher level. The more he plays, the better he's going to get, and I don't know if that's the situation at Oregon."

 

[joemon]

I think the most likely scenario is that UO leaked their interest in him via a "source" in the media, and then there was probably some sort of discussion that followed that. The UO coaches could not have contacted him prior to him being released from his scholarship, but that does not mean that other people connected to the program, such as boosters, didn't. Just the way of big time collegiate athletics these days.

I honestly don't even care how it went down since none of it really matters and it ain't gunna bring him back at this point. I wish him well whatever his future holds and am excited about the next chapter. :thumb:

This was started by folks back home. Former HS coach and dad. Strange I think that a kid as good as VA is would buck the people who helped make him into the player he is today, to disrupt that chemistry and success by listening to folks who didn't do much to get him offers in the first place (Portland State and EWU were the only offers). I've seen his hs film. He could have gotten more offers but the leg work wasn't put in for him by the folks back in hs. Now they are steering him on a path that could ruin his senior year and disrupt his entire football situation. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's a fact.

I've said it before, and will say it again. It's likely not going to go well, and the season that should be his best could very likely end up his worst. I don't hope that, but I've seen this movie before and the odds are high it ends badly if he leaves.
People have said they think his draft chances go up if he plays at Oregon. Based on the obstacles in his way I think he has better chances staying put in an offense he knows he has mastered with players that he has had success playing with.

I said bigger isn't better, better is better. Here was a quote I've read that sums up that thought nicely from a college coach/ NFL scout / coach:

"I'm disappointed he's leaving because I think what players have to understand is bigger is not better, better is better. He's developed an unbelievable following at Eastern Washington and I'd be disappointed he's leaving our level. I'm not excited that he's trying to bump up to a higher level. The more he plays, the better he's going to get, and I don't know if that's the situation at Oregon."

Well put. I think Vernon has a big ego that unfortunately is going to backfire. My guess is, his draft status is probably already known and if he goes to Oregon and has a so so season or is benched that may end his chance at being drafted. If you look at the probabilities, he is making a bad bet like going to the craps table and betting a hard 6 or 8. I sometimes wonder if Oregon is recruiting him away because with Adams, EWU may just hang with Oregon in a shoot out and this could cost the ducks in the polls and potential big dollars at the end of the season. ( I know this isn't it but I wonder) Any way, I think we have a quarterback in the lineup that will end up an All American ( I've watched him since HS and I haven't seen too many better than him) and if I was a high school receiver, I would really be thinking about going to EWU....

 

[GROUND&POUND]

I sometimes wonder if Oregon is recruiting him away because with Adams, EWU may just hang with Oregon in a shoot out and this could cost the ducks in the polls and potential big dollars at the end of the season. ( I know this isn't it but I wonder)

If Oregon isn't worried about EWU with VA they should be. Oregon will not be the same team in 2015. I understand why some doubt, but we have a special group of players.

 

[wrrolling]

So how are the backups at U of O? I am assuming that VA is a bridge to their freshman, any of these guys going to be looking for a new home? Would we want them?

 

[EWURanger]

Good grief...so ready for this drama to be over with. If he stays, awesome, and if not...that's fine. There are others that will gladly step up and fill those shoes. I've seen this movie many times before. Eastern doesn't rebuild on offense...

Less concerned about the impacts of him leaving than I am excited for the opportunities it may provide someone else. I have complete confidence in the coaching staff and this special group of players. We will be fine. :nod:

 

[GROUND&POUND]

Good grief...so ready for this drama to be over with. If he stays, awesome, and if not...that's fine. There are others that will gladly step up and fill those shoes. I've seen this movie many times before. Eastern doesn't rebuild on offense...

Less concerned about the impacts of him leaving than I am excited for the opportunities it may provide someone else. I have complete confidence in the coaching staff and this special group of players. We will be fine. :nod:

Well said.

 

[Rontheoldwiseeagle]

If he goes, I hope he is truly successful. He starts and plays every game. That will be one of the very best marketing and recruiting tools Eastern will ever have. A million $$ worth of advertising and promotion very week. Pictures of the red turf, comments and discussion of our program on every pregame show and during the game. It will elevate EWU's program in every High school. When you take a minute to think this move thru, I am not sure you can find a better outcome. When Coach Bo leaves we will see the best possible coaches apply. This is absolutely a great deal for both VA the coaches and EWU.

 

[93bird]

Exactly right, Ron.

 

[clawman1]

The fact that VA is being considered and offered by Oregon is great recruiting propaganda for Eastern. Adams was just a little kid that was very mobile when he came here and the only schools interested in him were Eastern and Portland State. Under the tutelage and guidance of Baldwin and Hill look what he has become. If a recruit wants to become the best he can be Eastern is the place to be. That goes for other positions as well, ask Michael Roos.

 

[Obzerver]

It was mentioned that if VA goes to Oregon would a backup from there possibly transfer here. It reminded me of many transfers who come here thinking they have it made not realizing the talent here at EWU. In the Spring of '04 the #3 QB from Oregon, Andy Collins, transferred here as Oregon wanted him to switch to linebacker. The Zillah native found competition tough at the QB position and after Spring ball was the #3 QB behind a RSSoph and a RSFrosh(EWU wanted to play linebacker after Spring). He then transferred to Occidental College where he had a great career at QB going on to try out for NY Giants and playing arena ball. A great person who's life was cut short at 27 from a heart attack. Point being that EWU is a top notch FCS program where players are in top form and competition is fierce...says a lot about our program.