Rushel Shell staying at Pitt?

By: vtfly on June 24, 2013, 9:01 AM | 27 comments

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9416111/rushel-shel-trans...

This is rather odd. I wonder what that conversation with the coaching staff was like. "Just kidding I totally want to be coached by you again!"

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InEnemyTerritory

PIE!

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| 13 years 2 weeks #

Indecision is such an awful thing.

Hokieshibe | 13 years 2 weeks #

Nope, they aren't taking him back, apparently...

vtfly | 13 years 1 week # ^

I saw that. I can't blame them though. He says he wants to stay at Piit to be closer to his kids, which I completely respect. I wonder where he ends up. WVU maybe? I don't believe they are very far from Pitt.

HorseOnATreadmill

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| 13 years 1 week # ^

WVU and OSU are probably the closest. I doubt Pitt would allow a transfer to WVU though. OSU wouldn't need him, but after all, they are Meyers. Akron is pretty close, and in the MAC. I would think that is his best bet.

macraw83 | 13 years 1 week # ^

Why wouldn't they? Pitt doesn't have the cousins on their schedule any time soon.

HorseOnATreadmill

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| 13 years 1 week # ^

Ah, I didn't even look. I assumed they'd be playing. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

Actually, better. You have facts. "Quit trying to confuse me with facts." ~ Lou Holtz

Pierson Booher | 13 years 1 week # ^

Can someone provide insight as to whether or not Pitt still has the ability to block his destination? Does he need to enroll somewhere in order to relieve himself of any restrictions?

I believe you're right in that Pitt can still dictate where he can and cannot go, but I wanted to throw it out to see if any wiser TKP-ers know what his status is.

InEnemyTerritory

PIE!

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| 13 years 1 week # ^

I get the impression that you're thinking, "I wonder how that kid would look in maroon and orange?" I doubt that Pitt would allow him to transfer to an ACC school. I'm not sure how the release agreements are set up, but usually schools can block transfers to same conference schools, major rivals etc.

That being said, I'd love to offer him the opportunity to exact revenge on the boys from the 'burg and put him in #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING.

Pierson Booher | 13 years 1 week # ^

Yeah that's sort of what I was getting at. I know that if Pitt has the right to limit his transfer options, an ACC-school is a non-starter. But if they don't...well...after watching him shred us last year, I wouldn't mind seeing him on our sideline.

InEnemyTerritory

PIE!

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| 13 years 1 week # ^

I don't know what kind of control an institution can exert on a player if he leaves, sits out a year without enrolling anywhere, then decides to go back to school. Anyone know the rules on this? Does this clean the slate regarding past committments?

vtaero | 13 years 1 week # ^

schools technically cant block a student from going somewhere, he could come to VT and play immediately -- its the money thats the issue. If we fall under Pitts blockade (which we most assuredly do) then we just cant provide any financial assistance or scholarship for at least a year. Which is why he wont come here, but would go where he could get a scholarship, be it D1AA or a place Pitt is fine with

rogue_nine9 | 13 years 1 week # ^

A quick Google search brought up this NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/sports/ncaafootball/college-coaches-us...

I've always thought that coaches and athletic departments are playing a dangerous game recruiting wise when it comes to limiting the options for athletes that want to transfer. Shell could easily decide that since Pitt wouldn't allow him to follow the coach that recruited him to another school, he will do everything he can to persuade the next cycles recruits to avoid Pitt. When a former player for a school contacts a prospect on twitter and tells you that the Coach/AD at a school is a vindictive A-hole, it would probably negatively affect their view of that school. I can see it being reasonable to limit transfers within a conference, to rival teams, or upcoming opponents, but not allowing an athlete to follow a coach to a program you aren't playing in the near future or the type of shenanigans pulled by the OSU(OK) coach in the article that blocked 40 schools (a full third of FBS) is exercising too much control over their options.

On the other hand if a program takes the, "I hate to see you go, but we want you to be at the school that fits your needs best" approach and does very little to limit where a player transfers, then the player is likely to come away feeling that the school has their best interests in mind. In the future they would be more likely to tell other recruits that its a good place to go, that the staff will do whatever possible to ensure their success, etc.

HorseOnATreadmill

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| 13 years 1 week # ^

Agree on all counts. But then signing the NLI doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm all for having the opportunity to do what is best for the player, but a coach/AD can't make their program a revolving door. At the same time, the young men who sign up to play suddenly have an opportunity to express a personal choice - one that carries with it a responsibility and a commitment, the latter of which a high school athlete hasn't really had to encounter before.

I do think, though, that the NCAA, member schools, college players, and high schools/h.s. athletes/h.s. athlete parents need to take a step back and understand the big picture here. Sometimes I hear of some of these transfer stories and wonder to myself who is providing guidance to these guys. Because some of them don't seem to understand that the decisions they're making are setting the course of their lives before they even realize it.