'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[TerryTate]

Seriously, guys, this is an important decision for an 18 year old kid. That he has to put off a bunch of grade school kids is hardly selling nuclear secrets to the Soviets. I can't believe the disproportionately negative reaction against a kid who's struggling to decide what's in his own interest.

He has taken 3 weeks more than every other recruit in the country to make his decision. He set an announcement date, had an assembly scheduled at an elementary school, and then doesn't show up.

People have a right to have a "negative reaction"

 

[Emcee77]

unbelievable that he waits till three weeks after signing day to decide and still can't. At some point you have to stop worrying over it and make a decision.

 

[IndyIrishFan1]

at a minimum he has got to show up and make up something about how important going to college is and how big a decision this is for him. To not show up is not defensible. If my kid was in that cafeteria I would be furious.

Completely agree. Go to the school and say something, don't just leave everyone there.

There are some upset teachers at (enter strange name) elementary school!

 

[SPG]

This is my first real post here....

WOW.

I can't believe that just happened.

 

[KAPLAN]

He should have told them he was not going to show. No excuse for letting them sit there for an hour.

 

[BestBIrish47]

Can we start getting psych evals on our prospects? Even if he does pick ND... what is the transfer probability 50/50?

 

[Domina Nostra]

To be fair, who knows if this is Davonte's fault. Sounds like it could be his dad's.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I think he was going to ND, then changed to Az, now are flipping back to ND, what else would explain the schizophrenic behavior of the reporter, at the begining of the day he was sure D was a Az get and a great kid by the way, now he is a self absorbed not nice person, all that is wrong about college football! What else makes sense?

From reading various articles over the past couple of months about Neal, there have been tons of comments bad mouthing the Neals and specifically the father. I guess I get the impression that most people in the area feel that Luke is an ego maniac and loves all the attention etc etc etc. I think this reporter already had a very negative impression of the Neals and specifically Luke and this whole incident pushed him over the edge.

He probably shouldn't have said it quite so blatantly. Saying that kids you don't want to be like Davonte Neal is a little over the top.

 

[Irish Fam]

Don't you think what the Neal's are doing to that school and kids is classless?

I dont think he should have ever scheduled an announcement like that. but that reporter is a grown man calling a 17-18 year old kid a bad role model...


Lets be real. There should have never have been some big announcement at an elementary school that took 600 kids out of class. But, for a grown man to take shots at a family for having some indecision is classless.

 

[Pachuco]

Couldn't have ended any better ....

Reporter, Mark Mcclune, closing out the presentation standing in front of

a colorful kid's board highlighting those important words:

CARING
FAIRNESS
RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY
TRUSTWORTHINESS
CITIZENSHIP

Haha!

Class dismissed.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Wow that was really bad. The kid has no respect to let people know. BTW if I had to make a prediction I think he goes to AZ.

 

[Dacian_Irish]

This whole announcement has become a circus! In fact recruiting as a whole has become a circus!

I feel like its competition between used car salesman!

 

[SPG]

To be fair, who knows if this is Davonte's fault. Sounds like it could be his dad's.

As others have said, he could have at least showed up, met the kids, and told them how important a decision like that is and that he isn't ready to decide. That was bad.

 

[NDhoosier]

Seriously, guys, this is an important decision for an 18 year old kid. That he has to put off a bunch of grade school kids is hardly selling nuclear secrets to the Soviets. I can't believe the disproportionately negative reaction against a kid who's struggling to decide what's in his own interest.

he made his decision last week, he has had plenty of time to think it over. He stood up over 600 8 year old kid. He deserves a negative reaction, I hope he makes up for it...

 

[palinurus]

It's not as if he told them he'd come and announce there, but snubbed them and announced on ESPN when he got a better offer from them. The kid couldn't decide. It's like a man or woman who stiffs his/her betrothed at the altar, only way less important -- sure, people are a little teed off, but better that than making a wrong decision because he doesn't want to "let down the crowd."

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

I dont think he should have ever scheduled an announcement like that. but that reporter is a grown man calling a 17-18 year old kid a bad role model...


Lets be real. There should have never have been some big announcement at an elementary school that took 600 kids out of class. But, for a grown man to take shots at a family for having some indecision is classless.

To be fair the kids were chanting "Davonte Neal just like me" and the video board showing highlights also said Davonte Neal just like you.

 

[Irish Fam]

Making 600 kids sit in a gym waiting for an hour for a decision you could have done in the privacy of your own home is classless.

agreed. but it is not some reporter's duty or place to call an entire family out and say that davonte neal shouldn't be a role model for any of those kids

 

[military_irish]

I don't know if this has been said. Not sure how much Phillip Daniels knows but he tweeted this.

Davonte' Neal has not showed up for his announcement and hundreds of kids are waiting at a elementary school. Neal wants to go to #NotreDame but his father wants him to go to Arizona. This is not a way to teach kids a lesson in loyalty or responsibility. That's why I let my son make his own decision. Never make a bad 4 year decision for your child. Let him decide and in that way he can live with that decision

 

[aubeirish]

I have no problem with him making a late decision, but standing up about 600 people in a press conference is wrong.

 

[BestBIrish47]

We should be reacting like the 600 kids that were just dismissed. Don't Care... who's down for some kickball biaches?

 

[SBjandy7]

This is why, the NCAA and the schools need to band together and say, of you don't sign your LOI on National Signing Day, you will be yanked of every scholarship. This is ridiculous. What's the point of NSD when you have guys like this and many others over the years who go 2-3 weeks past to make an announcement

 

[Irish Fam]

He has taken 3 weeks more than every other recruit in the country to make his decision. He set an announcement date, had an assembly scheduled at an elementary school, and then doesn't show up.

People have a right to have a "negative reaction"

if you think taking an adult taking a shot at a kid's character is just a negative reaction then i guess thats a whole other story.

 

[Irish Fam]

To be fair the kids were chanting "Davonte Neal just like me" and the video board showing highlights also said Davonte Neal just like you.

so its ok by you then for the reporter to say that no kids there should want to be like Davonte?

and i doubt that Davonte's family made the powerpoint... and they definitely were not the ones leading the "Davonte Neal just like me" chants

 

[Domina Nostra]

It's not as if he told them he'd come and announce there, but snubbed them and announced on ESPN when he got a better offer from them. The kid couldn't decide. It's like a man or woman who stiffs his/her betrothed at the altar, only way less important -- sure, people are a little teed off, but better that than making a wrong decision because he doesn't want to "let down the crowd."

I am not sure there always is a right and wrong decision. At some point you just have to make a decision.

 

[TerryTate]

if you think taking an adult taking a shot at a kid's character is just a negative reaction then i guess thats a whole other story.

I was referring to the people on here, not the reporter who acted like a spoiled brat.

 

[peoriairish]

 

[RuntheBall]

and the kids are like: yes, got an hour off for the decision, but he still has to decide... another hour off soon??? Sweet

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

I don't know if this has been said. Not sure how much Phillip Daniels knows but he tweeted this.

Wow if this true, then Luke Neal is doing a bad job on his part as a father.

 

[aubeirish]

Hehe, just had a good laugh. Thanks.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

and the kids are like: yes, got an hour off for the decision, but he still has to decide... another hour off soon??? Sweet

I doubt he's invited back lol