Tee Shepard focusing on health per ESPN

[Irishman77]

Cornerback Tee Shepard has not been heard from since he recently withdrew from the University of Notre Dame and moved back to his hometown of Fresno, Calif.

Shepard was in attendance on Saturday at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Las Vegas and he confirmed that the reason for his departure from Notre Dame was “health-related”, as had been rumored on various social media outlets.

“I had known since high school that there was something with my heart, but I never knew it was anything serious,” Shepard said. “When I took my physical at Notre Dame, they saw it right away. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I dropped out and came home to figure out what to do next.

Shepard focusing on health - Football Recruiting - West Region Blog - ESPN

 

[D-BOE34]

Still don't understand why he won't be back though. Either way, I wish him the best on a strong healthy life.

 

[tussin]

Unfortunate... not sure that withdrawing from the university is the right move. I'd imagine that ND would do everything to let him go home for a year and figure things out while still maintaining his status as a student. Best of luck to him though (unless he's playing against ND).

Maybe I'm wrong though...

 

[Irish2015]

I'm sorry but I don't by it. Why would his physical just show up with a heart problem at the beggining of spring practice? Why would they not give him a physical at the beggining of winter conditioning and have figured it out then? While he may have had something wrong with his heart, I still believe it was grades that caused his unfortunate depature.

 

[Emcee77]

Does the article say anything about the possibility of Tee coming back? I'm not a subscriber.

 

[koonja]

We get his scholarship back, right? Not to sound insensitive, and best of luck to Tee but that's all ND should care about at this point. I've had enough of Tee and his cousin, lol. I don't dislike them or anything. Wish they were here but I'm tired of the circus that seems to always surround them. I love stars but at this point I'm ready to become captain cliche; I only care about the guys that are here. Wish Tee the best and I hope, hope, hope that he ends up back here, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Redbar]

As a middle aged man, I can sort of relate to how it feels to not be able to compete at a level that you used to or would want to be able to. I know Tee's situation is different in that he is a young guy still very much in his prime and I can't imagine how difficult it is to process that kind of news especially considering how much confidence and determination he carries inside his head and chest. I know from his personality that he will overcome this as he has overcome many adversities in his life and I am so proud that this young man selected Notre Dame as his school of choice. Have no idea how this will work itself out but as far as I am concerned he will always be Irish and I sincerely hope he knows that and will keep watching and pulling for us until he can resolve his health issues in the way that will allow for him to have the happiest and most productive of lives. Godspeed Tee.

 

[jimmymac]

IT DOESNT ADD UP. If he had a heart condition that prevented him from playing football, why wouldn't he stay at ND and get a degree? Something is being hidden from public eye and I believe (with good reason) that it was due to academics.

 

[Praytorian]

We can believe what we want. I believe it to probably be a combination of both. Ya mess around and see your grades, THEN you get hit with a health problem.
A serious health problem (cause anything to do with your heart when your 18 is serious to you) and grades might make me want to go home and be with my friends and family.
So unless your T. Shepard, or someone close enough that he confides in you, you will never know everything. We can still all think what we want, but if you go bashing a kid without knowing the facts don't be surprised if someone comes down on you.
I've made some pretty big mistakes in my life, but I have learned from them. Why would people not give him the the same opportunity? He without sin cast the first stone.

 

[IrishInFl]

I'm sorry but I don't by it. Why would his physical just show up with a heart problem at the beggining of spring practice? Why would they not give him a physical at the beggining of winter conditioning and have figured it out then? While he may have had something wrong with his heart, I still believe it was grades that caused his unfortunate depature.

Agreed. If it were a problem with his heart, why would any school take to to play football? And wouldn't leaving ND be the absolute WORST thing he could do? If he really had a serious, career ending condition, the school would probably still honor his scholarship, so why leave a prestigious college for state u?

 

[AvesEvo]

If I were 18 and found out that I had a serious health problem, I would want to be back with my family.

 

[IrishInFl]

If I were 18 and found out that I had a serious health problem, I would want to be back with my family.

Tell that to Frankie Telfort, who made the correct decision in staying with his school.

Telfort adjusting to life after football

 

[Ndaccountant]

Tell that to Frankie Telfort, who made the correct decision in staying with his school.

Telfort adjusting to life after football

Without having any idean as to what the condition is, if there was any hope of getting cleared somewhere else, he might just leave.

I am sure there is more to the story, there usually is. But, I really don't think the split left either side jaded.

 

[TerryTate]

That's one of the reasons he left, but it's not the primary reason.

ND has used the HIPPA clause as reason not to discuss it any further.

Not going to class/doing homework is the real reason.


He'll be playing ball in Cali when it's all said and done

 

[irishpat183]

We'll see.....

I have a bad feeling that he'll use the health issue to sit out a year and will be playing ball somewhere else next year.

 

[dublinirish]

he will probably hit JC this year and then enjoy another recruiting circus in a year or two

 

[RDU Irish]

My bet is on same condition as Telfort and a high probability he never plays again. ND would DEFINITELY stand by the schollie and he could have gotten a big time education. I am just not seeing the maturity to cash in that chip. The question to me is, will the family push/pay for him to get an education somewhere closer to home if there is no schollie? I hope the answer is yes.

I can see how difficult it would be to deal with this so far from family, but part of the draw of ND is knowing you have the support structure to get a degree if that type of thing happens.

All the best to Tee and his family, I hope they can find peace with whatever is going on.

 

[50milesSE ND]

If I were 18 and found out that I had a serious health problem, I would want to be back with my family.

TRUE THAT

 

[Chamellion]

Possibly could have gotten worse recently.

You're 18 and find out you have a major medical problem that prevents you from doing the thing you love and (basically) came to school to do?

We have no room to judge.

 

[tko]

i'm sensing a thread closing.

 

[GBdomer]

Hes playing ball in Cali. Didnt go to class. Was up late all the time. But he does have a heart problem. Good luck to the kid. Ill be rooting for him.

 

[IrishLax]

His actions after this will tell you all you need to know. If he ends up at USC in the fall and applies for a hardship waiver to play right away AND is cleared by their medical staff you will know he was executing an exit strategy the moment Deontay flipped to Houston. Because USC's medical staff doesn't screw around and if it was something serious he wouldn't be cleared.

If he ends up taking time off or ends up playing at a JC or Fresno State or some place like that then you know health was the primary driver. But I couldn't care less either way... its time to move on. Good luck to Tee.

 

[ThePiombino]

His actions after this will tell you all you need to know. If he ends up at USC in the fall and applies for a hardship waiver to play right away AND is cleared by their medical staff you will know he was executing an exit strategy the moment Deontay flipped to Houston. Because USC's medical staff doesn't screw around and if it was something serious he wouldn't be cleared.

If he ends up taking time off or ends up playing at a JC or Fresno State or some place like that then you know health was the primary driver. But I couldn't care less either way... its time to move on. Good luck to Tee.

Decent points.

 

[Rack Em]

His actions after this will tell you all you need to know. If he ends up at USC in the fall and applies for a hardship waiver to play right away AND is cleared by their medical staff you will know he was executing an exit strategy the moment Deontay flipped to Houston. Because USC's medical staff doesn't screw around and if it was something serious he wouldn't be cleared.

If he ends up taking time off or ends up playing at a JC or Fresno State or some place like that then you know health was the primary driver. But I couldn't care less either way... its time to move on. Good luck to Tee.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me...

 

[BeauBenken]

Apparently...

 

[rikkitikki08]

My guess is the kid just freaked out......i know damn well if i found out i heart condition then i would want to be near my family. But at the same time dropping out may have not been the best route to take. I know when i was 18 i was as dumb as they come

 

[Cackalacky]

He was in attendance at a 7-on-7 passing event in Las Vegas..... I wonder if he was partaking or just in attendance? And he was not at home but in Las Vegas.....

Methinks he will be playing somewhere else next year.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Character is exposed when heat is applied, he choose the correct path based on his beliefs. However, when i hear it for health issues and in the same breadth he is out playing ball at All Star games....makes me wonder.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Character is exposed when heat is applied, he choose the correct path based on his beliefs. However, when i hear it for health issues and in the same breadth he is out playing ball at All Star games....makes me wonder.

Very Suspect indeed, but im not bash the kid. The kind of kids i want at ND are the ones who want to be there.....he obviously did not. So in my opinion its for the best

 

[IrishInFl]

Sounds like a conspiracy to me...