Domer95
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HUM.....Think some of these quotes were directed at any recruit in particular???
From SoBe Trib:
On Wednesday, Notre Dame freshman tight end Joey Hiben confirmed that he was giving up football so he could devote more time toward studying architecture.
A day later, Irish football coach Charlie Weis shared his thoughts on Hiben's decision.
Hiben, during a cell phone interview with The Tribune on Wednesday, cited the time demands of both as his reason for choosing to leave the football team.
"What it really comes down to," Hiben said, "is architecture is more important than football to me."
A day after a university spokesman said Weis declined comment on the matter, the coach voiced his opinion.
"Here's the problem I have,'' Weis said. "When a kid wants to leave the football program, I have no problem with that if that's what they so choose. But when the implication is that Notre Dame football would not allow him to pursue his academic dreams, I think that sends a very bad message.
"Just basically, this kid is saying he's choosing architecture over football because he had to make a choice, and that's not the case. He wanted to make that choice. He didn't have to make that choice. There's a big difference between the two.''
"I think it's very important for anyone, for the next architecture major out there that I'm talking to in recruiting, to understand that this kid leaving the program had nothing to do with him not being able to get a degree in architecture and play football. It had absolutely nothing to do with it," Weis said.
"It had to do with the fact that he didn't want to play football anymore. And there's a big difference between what he said to you and what the truth really is. I'm not putting the kid under the bus because I wish him well. He's a good kid. This is not an adversarial relationship. It was a very cordial relationship. I just think it came down to he just didn't want to play football anymore."
Hiben committed to the Notre Dame program in 2004 while Tyrone Willingham was still the head coach. Willingham was fired in November of that year and Weis was hired in December. Hiben signed with Notre Dame in February 2005 and played in seven games as a true freshman but did not catch a pass.
When Weis arrived at his office on Monday, he was told that Hiben had called twice to try to set up a meeting with him. Weis, Hiben and two academic advisors met that day to address concerns Hiben had about football and his major, and when Hiben left, Weis was under the impression that everything was fine.
"He walked out of the office on Monday reassured, relieved, whatever it was, that everything was going to be just fine," Weis said.
According to Weis, Hiben went through offseason workouts Tuesday morning.
Hiben later that day met with director of personnel development Ron Powlus, and it was during that meeting that Hiben informed Powlus that he was leaving the team.
"On Tuesday, when he spoke to Ron, his mind was made up," Weis said. "So Ron called his parents (in Chaska, Minn.) to make sure that he talked to his parents because the last thing you want to do is have a young kid make a decision and us not be in contact with the parents. That would be a mistake on our part. We wanted to make sure the kid had all the information before he makes a decision like that."
Hiben said Wednesday that he knew he would lose his football scholarship if he voluntarily left the team, and has already talked with members of the school's financial aid department.
Weis said he told Hiben at the time he was being recruited, and this week, that he would be able to study architecture in Rome during his junior year.
"What I basically was saying to him was that I'd be totally supportive of his academic interests and make the architecture major go for him no matter what, by allowing him his third year to go to Rome, which I thought was above and beyond the call of duty for me to do that," Weis said. "It was addressed both before he came here and it was addressed after he brought it up again, and with academic support people in hand. It wasn't like a closed door, me just saying it to him. I made sure that he heard it reiterated that this would go. That's what really has us all bothered. We're so pro-academics."
Hiben, reached late Thursday night, said he knew about a third year in Rome when he was recruited, but no firm agreement was reached over whether or not he would take that year off from football to study in Rome.
"Nothing was ever agreed upon," Hiben said. "The general feeling was that we'll make it happen one way or another."
Hiben anticipated scheduling conflicts as early as his sophomore year this fall, before he would be off to Rome to study.
"It becomes impossible starting next fall. I obviously knew about the third year in Rome," he said before adding, "I have no bitter feelings toward the football program whatsoever."
"I don't blame coach Weis. I don't blame anyone," said Hiben. "I hope it's clear it was my choice."
From SoBe Trib:
On Wednesday, Notre Dame freshman tight end Joey Hiben confirmed that he was giving up football so he could devote more time toward studying architecture.
A day later, Irish football coach Charlie Weis shared his thoughts on Hiben's decision.
Hiben, during a cell phone interview with The Tribune on Wednesday, cited the time demands of both as his reason for choosing to leave the football team.
"What it really comes down to," Hiben said, "is architecture is more important than football to me."
A day after a university spokesman said Weis declined comment on the matter, the coach voiced his opinion.
"Here's the problem I have,'' Weis said. "When a kid wants to leave the football program, I have no problem with that if that's what they so choose. But when the implication is that Notre Dame football would not allow him to pursue his academic dreams, I think that sends a very bad message.
"Just basically, this kid is saying he's choosing architecture over football because he had to make a choice, and that's not the case. He wanted to make that choice. He didn't have to make that choice. There's a big difference between the two.''
"I think it's very important for anyone, for the next architecture major out there that I'm talking to in recruiting, to understand that this kid leaving the program had nothing to do with him not being able to get a degree in architecture and play football. It had absolutely nothing to do with it," Weis said.
"It had to do with the fact that he didn't want to play football anymore. And there's a big difference between what he said to you and what the truth really is. I'm not putting the kid under the bus because I wish him well. He's a good kid. This is not an adversarial relationship. It was a very cordial relationship. I just think it came down to he just didn't want to play football anymore."
Hiben committed to the Notre Dame program in 2004 while Tyrone Willingham was still the head coach. Willingham was fired in November of that year and Weis was hired in December. Hiben signed with Notre Dame in February 2005 and played in seven games as a true freshman but did not catch a pass.
When Weis arrived at his office on Monday, he was told that Hiben had called twice to try to set up a meeting with him. Weis, Hiben and two academic advisors met that day to address concerns Hiben had about football and his major, and when Hiben left, Weis was under the impression that everything was fine.
"He walked out of the office on Monday reassured, relieved, whatever it was, that everything was going to be just fine," Weis said.
According to Weis, Hiben went through offseason workouts Tuesday morning.
Hiben later that day met with director of personnel development Ron Powlus, and it was during that meeting that Hiben informed Powlus that he was leaving the team.
"On Tuesday, when he spoke to Ron, his mind was made up," Weis said. "So Ron called his parents (in Chaska, Minn.) to make sure that he talked to his parents because the last thing you want to do is have a young kid make a decision and us not be in contact with the parents. That would be a mistake on our part. We wanted to make sure the kid had all the information before he makes a decision like that."
Hiben said Wednesday that he knew he would lose his football scholarship if he voluntarily left the team, and has already talked with members of the school's financial aid department.
Weis said he told Hiben at the time he was being recruited, and this week, that he would be able to study architecture in Rome during his junior year.
"What I basically was saying to him was that I'd be totally supportive of his academic interests and make the architecture major go for him no matter what, by allowing him his third year to go to Rome, which I thought was above and beyond the call of duty for me to do that," Weis said. "It was addressed both before he came here and it was addressed after he brought it up again, and with academic support people in hand. It wasn't like a closed door, me just saying it to him. I made sure that he heard it reiterated that this would go. That's what really has us all bothered. We're so pro-academics."
Hiben, reached late Thursday night, said he knew about a third year in Rome when he was recruited, but no firm agreement was reached over whether or not he would take that year off from football to study in Rome.
"Nothing was ever agreed upon," Hiben said. "The general feeling was that we'll make it happen one way or another."
Hiben anticipated scheduling conflicts as early as his sophomore year this fall, before he would be off to Rome to study.
"It becomes impossible starting next fall. I obviously knew about the third year in Rome," he said before adding, "I have no bitter feelings toward the football program whatsoever."
"I don't blame coach Weis. I don't blame anyone," said Hiben. "I hope it's clear it was my choice."
