'10 MN OL Seantrel Henderson (Miami Commit)

[BGIF]

All I'm going to say about this is...

If I were a top flight recruit and I had my choice of school. I would pick a university with high prestige and dignity. A school that would mature me into a gentlemen. A school that makes a better person. I'm not trying to say ND is the only school in the country that meets this criteria (Because they certainly are not).

But what I'm trying to get at is USC meets none of these criteria. They are proven cheaters with a sub-par graduation rate.

They are a terrible school with a horrible history.

USC is junk.

Best of luck.. I guess?

During this morning's recruiting coverage Jack Nolan asked 3 ND DBs already enrolled at ND Badger, Boyd and Wood why they chose ND. I believe it was the one sitting of the right (Wood, I think) that replied that ND has a reputation for making you into a better person. Not the high testerone, "to rip heads off" response a lot of football fans would like to hear but a mature endorsement of the university. It might well be the reason Nix sent a LOI into ND today.

 

[irish4ever]

Wouldn't it be frickin' fantastic to see the NCAA FINALLY take the blinders off (and grow a set) and put these muther fuckers @ U$C on probation (reduced scholarships, no post season play, etc.) for couple of years?!? I would laugh my ass off at these dumb fucks going this route!!!

 

[chyrspchuck]

BGIF I agree with you completely, the possibility to become a better man might have played into why Louis Nix commited to ND

I also feel, not to discredit Seantrell because he could be an upstanding guy for all we know, that James fit's better with our group of guys we have.

I feel like the gentlemen we have in this class all seem to present themselves in a manner above reproach, like they are here to become better individuals and contribute to a team.

I think sometimes when guys think they are the MAN, they don't want to buy into what somebody like BK is selling.

I guess what I'm saying is, I really like this class with or without SH.

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

USC is still USC.....it's pretty damn nice out there.......you play against top flight competition in practice and the scenery is pretty nice out there.....LOL..... I know some want to make this about morals and being a good person but you can be a good person and still go to USC....besides, lets be realistic here......with that ACT score SH was going to struggle at ND......he is better off at USC..

 

[irishtrain]

Wouldn't it be frickin' fantastic to see the NCAA FINALLY take the blinders off (and grow a set) and put these muther fuckers @ U$C on probation (reduced scholarships, no post season play, etc.) for couple of years?!? I would laugh my ass off at these dumb fucks going this route!!!

Irish4ever-wish I had the %^$#@ to say what you said, I'll say it in another way. I hope Henderson has an injury free 4 yrs at southern cal, gets a degree of some type and looses 4 games to Notre Dame.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Check out this article by the New York Times. Unbelievable. Completely different family and kid than I thought. Actually, if you look through this thread, I posted worries about him months ago, but the way his dad handled his recruitment, I thought the rumors were wrong, and they had their stuff together. Nope:

Top Football Recruit Chooses U.S.C. - NYTimes.com

February 4, 2010
Top Football Recruit Chooses U.S.C.
By THAYER EVANS

After pondering his college future all day Tuesday, Seantrel Henderson, an offensive lineman who is considered by most analysts to be the nation’s top high school football recruit this year, lay in the bed of his hotel room in Midtown Manhattan, reflecting on his options. Dozing off after 9 p.m., he was Southern California dreaming after deciding he would play for the Trojans.

“I just felt the most comfortable there,” Henderson said. “I felt like it was the greatest spot for me with L.A. and everything.”

On Wednesday, national signing day, at a television studio in Chelsea Piers, Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound left tackle from Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, announced his decision on the CBS College Sports Network by wearing a white U.S.C. jersey and a cardinal Trojans cap. For an offensive lineman to be considered the top recruit is a rare feat.

Henderson and his family provided a reporter for The New York Times with an inside look at his final week of recruitment. It included updates on Florida Coach Urban Meyer’s health, Southern California’s precarious situation with the N.C.A.A. and a flurry of text messages from two Heisman Trophy candidates.

And while Henderson put on a U.S.C. cap to announce his decision, he had essentially narrowed his choices to U.S.C., Ohio State and Miami, in that order, on Tuesday. Florida, Minnesota and Notre Dame were also in the running.

Coaches were not allowed to send text messages to Henderson, but that did not stop his former high school teammate Michael Floyd, a Notre Dame wide receiver, or Terrelle Pryor, the Ohio State quarterback, from doing so before he announced his decision.

Henderson said Floyd wrote in a text message to beware of “fake coaches out there” that “want you for the wrong reasons,” but he also encouraged him to “go where you want to go.” He said Pryor wrote in a text message that he should “come to Ohio State and help win games” and that he needed “more linemen.”

The decision of Henderson, who has yet to qualify academically, capped a frantic final recruiting week.

It started last Wednesday with a visit by Southern Cal coaches: Lane Kiffin, the head coach; his father, Monte, the defensive coordinator; Ed Orgeron, the assistant head coach; and James Cregg, the offensive line coach. They were at Cretin-Derham Hall on the same day ESPN was taping a “Homecoming” episode for Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who attended the Catholic school.

Their appearance posed a quandary for onlookers forced to choose between watching Kiffin and the Hendersons and attending Mauer’s celebration.

Sean Henderson recalled telling his son in his freshman year, “If you really, really kill it, who knows, you might get a call from U.S.C. someday.”

In May, that dream came to be with a call from Pete Carroll, then U.S.C.’s coach.

“It was on then,” his father said.

During his son’s recruitment, Sean Henderson said, recruiters from other colleges mentioned that the Trojans might face penalties from an N.C.A.A. investigation of their athletic program. But while visiting the Hendersons last week in Minneapolis, Lane Kiffin told them not to be worried, Sean Henderson said.

“As far as he’s been informed — he was very, very choosy with his words — there shouldn’t be anything going wrong because there was no knowledge of anything going on by the staff,” Sean Henderson said.

The Hendersons asked Kiffin to be clear about what impact the N.C.A.A. might have on the Trojans’ football program, Sean Henderson said. Just before Seantreal chose U.S.C. on Wednesday, Kiffin reiterated not to listen to others who said the Trojans might face sanctions. “We don’t want it to have any negative effect on Seantrel’s future,” he said.

The day after U.S.C.’s visit, Miami Coach Randy Shannon made his home visit, but it was delayed by an hour and a half while Seantrel was having his hair done.

After declaring that he thought he was bound for U.S.C. just after midnight Friday, Henderson and his father left freezing temperatures in Minneapolis in a limousine sent by Miami to head to the airport to make their official visit to the university in Coral Gables, Fla. The trip was Henderson’s fifth and final official N.C.A.A. visit, and it came on the weekend of the Pro Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

That night, Seantrel Henderson was taken to a Miami club, where he met the former Miami stars Willis McGahee and Bryant McKinnie. The next day, McKinnie was kicked off the National Football Conference Pro Bowl team after two unexcused absences from practice. Henderson is often compared to McKinnie, a left tackle, because of their similar size and ability.

On Saturday night he went to a South Beach nightclub, where he met Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed, another former Miami player.

“Come to the U.,” Henderson recalled Reed telling him. “This is where it’s at.”

While in Miami, Sean Henderson said his son told him, “Wow, Dad, this trip right here is making my decision even harder.” Besides the Hurricanes’ storied history, father and son liked that the university is private and that the team was 9-4 last season and seemed to have a bright future. They also liked the warm weather, but had concerns about Miami’s fast pace.

After returning to Minneapolis on Sunday, Henderson and his family took one last unofficial visit to Minnesota, which is about a 10-minute drive from his father’s house. Inside the club area at T.C.F. Bank Stadium, the Gophers had an aisle set up for him to walk down with 10 poster boards on each side showing different marketing displays. One of them showed a group of children wearing No. 77 Minnesota jerseys, Henderson’s high school number, and holding up a sign that read, “We love you, Seantrel.”

Upon Henderson’s arrival, the Minnesota coaches and their wives applauded. The Gophers had 77 index cards on tables and each one had a different reason he should attend Minnesota.

But the biggest attention grabber was a life-size cardboard cutout of Henderson in a Gophers uniform.

“It was crazy,” Sean Henderson said.

After eating, the Minnesota coaches and Sean Henderson watched the Pro Bowl while Seantrel played video games. Before the Hendersons left, Minnesota Coach Tim Brewster gave his final pitch to Seantrel’s father.

“Sean, you know we’ve got the most love for you here,” the elder Henderson recalled Brewster telling him. “We’re going to take good care of Seantrel. We’ve been recruiting him since ninth grade. Who’s going to do him better than we will? You know this is the right place for him. Staying home would be a good thing.”

But Henderson said he would have been passing up “greater opportunities on a bigger stage” by attending Minnesota.

“I can always come back home,” Henderson said.

As the Hendersons started to receive letters of intent Monday, the Ohio State running backs coach Dick Tressel, who is known as Doc, sent an e-mail message to Henderson’s father referring to a performance by the rappers Lil Wayne, Eminem and Drake during Sunday’s Grammy Awards. When Tressel, the older brother of Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel, visited the Hendersons in December, Seantrel made his father freestyle rap for him.

“That was a Grammy performance made me think of u!” Tressel wrote.

Seantrel and his father said they liked the stability of the Ohio State coaching staff but not the university’s large class sizes. During Tressel’s home visit last month, he told Seantrel in great detail what his first year would be like for the Buckeyes.

Henderson’s father described the talk as “pretty long-winded” and “kind of dry.” Afterward, Tressel mentioned to the Hendersons that he was always told he talked a lot.

“He’s so informative and so to the point and so much about business, that it was a little boring,” Sean Henderson said.

Excluding Florida and Notre Dame, all of Henderson’s finalists sent him letters of intent. Dan McCarney, the Gators’ assistant head coach, told Henderson’s father Monday that they were sending the documents only to players who were certain that they would sign with them.

The Hendersons never really clicked with Florida.

Last month Meyer was scheduled to make an in-home visit to the Hendersons, but only McCarney made the trip. In an e-mail message to Sean Henderson on Jan. 26, Meyer wrote that he tried to make it but his doctor and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley would not let him go.

He wrote that the Gators’ recruiting class was No. 1 this year and that Seantrel was “the last missing piece.”

Meyer wrote that this year’s class reminded him of Florida’s 2006 recruiting class, which featured quarterback Tim Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner; wide receiver Percy Harvin, an N.F.L. first-round pick; and Brandon Spikes, an all-American linebacker. That class helped the Gators win two national championships.

“They wanted to come together to be the best, and they did!” Meyer wrote.

When reports first surfaced in January that Carroll was leaving U.S.C. to coach the Seattle Seahawks, Sean Henderson was stuck in an elevator for nearly two hours. He learned of the news in a text message from his son.

The Hendersons liked U.S.C. at the time, but ended up not talking to Carroll again.

“We deserved a direct phone call, honestly,” Sean Henderson said.

Carroll’s departure briefly tainted U.S.C. for the Hendersons, but Kiffin repaired the damage. On Monday, less than three weeks after Carroll left, Kiffin and Sean Henderson were talking like old friends about whether Monte Kiffin had called the elder Henderson’s father. The elder Kiffin, who has two separate coaching stints with the Minnesota Vikings, and Seantrel’s grandfather will both turn 70 next month, three days apart.

Sean Henderson and Lane Kiffin graduated four years apart from Minneapolis area high schools. Henderson also thought it was interesting that U.S.C. would appear before the N.C.A.A.’s committee on infractions between Feb. 19 and 21 because Seantrel’s two sisters have birthdays on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.

“It’s just a lot,” he said. “It kind of seems like fate to a certain extent.”

They were just looking for a reason to go to SC. Can't believe they believed Kiffin's lies.

Even though Ego Ferguson didn't choose ND, I still really respect the way he and his dad (especially his dad of course) went about the whole process. They didn't fool everyone like the Hendersons did (Hanratty said it all along, they wanted SC), they actually did go on a barnstorming tour and visited all kinds of schools, with an open mind. He took care of business in the classroom and on the field, and just seemed like a great kid. And his dad (despite his weird voice LOL) made certain his son did his due diligence. I hate losing kids like that of course, but I'll still root for him because he and his family seem like genuine people.

But I feel duped by the Hendersons. I was feeling that way before the article came out, and now I feel even it even stronger. The braid thing and the 'smaller classroom sizes' thing (so you do care about education, but then again you haven't taken care of business in the classroom and then you choose SC???) and the 'too fast' thing (but you choose SC over Columbus???) has me shaking my head...

 

[vernfootball1]

Yea seems like he just wanted to go to LA did not matter about u$c it kinda seems like he just wanted to get to the bright lights, and you can't come up with the excuse the classes were to big, like seriously that is probably one one of the last things you say, that's almost as bad as saying I did not like the bookstore.

 

[vernfootball1]

WWWWWOOOOOOOWWWWWWW HES SUPPOSEDLY NOT SIGNING WITH SC ANYMORE

Sports - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com


NNNNNOOOOOO WAAAAAYYYYY THHISS IS INSSSSAAANNNNEEE


Top recruit Seantrel Henderson will not sign #USC LOI because of specter NCAA probation. ... (via @PeteThamelNYT)
Sports - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com

 

[NDinL.A.]

Wait, does it mean that he won't SIGN the LOI until after the investigation comes out, or that he won't sign period? This was being speculated about this weekend, that he wouldn't actually sign until he knew they were clear. So it's like he's verballed right now I personally believe. However, we're at least 4th, so it won't effect us...

 

[vernfootball1]

Wait, does it mean that he won't SIGN the LOI until after the investigation comes out, or that he won't sign period? This was being speculated about this weekend, that he wouldn't actually sign until he knew they were clear. So it's like he's verballed right now I personally believe. However, we're at least 4th, so it won't effect us...

Im pretty sure from what I have seen it's he's until after the investigation come to sign to see what happens, but yea he will still end up at osu or the u

 

[johnnykillz]

This is awesome!

Come to ND son. Forget Miami.

Make up that big 'ol head of yours and head to South Bend!

 

[vernfootball1]

FWIW I have been hearing a rumor he did not qualify, and will go to JC, stupidest thing I've heard, but it's out there

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

However, we're at least 4th, so it won't effect us...

I'd say it affects us if he goes from a team we play every year to a team that isn't on our schedule over the next 3 years like the U or pOSU.

 

[IrishAddiction]

Lol. Im actually glad we didnt send a LOI to him. Its like kelly saying "we arent stupid kid, we can tell by talking to you where your heart is."

 

[fitz_bu47]

At least they are smart enough to try and see if sc will be hammered by the ncaa before he signs.....like NDinLA said, doesn't matter to us, and after reading that article, I don't want him or his dad anyway.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Ummm, I want him. If he can pass his classes and play I don't care about his personality.

 

[Steve]

I started watching CBS College Sports at about 5:20. 10 minutes before he committed. They were interviewing Seantrel and his parents and as soon as I saw his dad, I knew he wasn't going to ND. It felt like his dad was more excited to go to L.A. than Seantrel was. I haven't read back on this thread yet, but did anybody else get that feeling?

 

[BGIF]

I started watching CBS College Sports at about 5:20. 10 minutes before he committed. They were interviewing Seantrel and his parents and as soon as I saw his dad, I knew he wasn't going to ND. It felt like his dad was more excited to go to L.A. than Seantrel was. I haven't read back on this thread yet, but did anybody else get that feeling?

Didn't watch the show.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Wait... what? He decommitted after he comitted?

 

[BGIF]

This is awesome!

Come to ND son. Forget Miami.

Make up that big 'ol head of yours and head to South Bend!

He won't be coming. In the NY Times story the writer noted that he received Letters of Intent from all but two of his finalists, Florida and ND. He added that Florida only sent LOI's to recruits they were sure would sign with UF. The writer gave no explanation of why ND didn't send an LOI. Apparently Henderson had no cleared ND Admissions. Another poster in this thread mentioned a rumor that Henderson would go JUCO. Could be, but he won't be going to ND unless he meets ND Admissions requirements.

I suspect that door has closed.

The sad part is Henderson probably had a better success of receiving a college education at ND than at any of the other programs. They'll slide him into the do nothing stay eligibile for as many years as necessary program.

 

[chyrspchuck]

glad we didn't send a loi.....

aren't usc classes as big as ohio state?

 

[BGIF]

glad we didn't send a loi.....

aren't usc classes as big as ohio state?

Classes sizes can vary from school to school. It's one of the parameters U.S. News and World Report uses when ranking colleges. I have no idea how the schools on his short list compare.

Practically it shouldn't have impacted his decision. Smaller classes tend to promote more individual attention. Considering Henderson's struggle to meet the NCAA mimimum requirements, I should think they would have paid more attention to evaluating the Tutorial Support Programs and graduation rates at the various schools if academics was really a deciding factor. One of the key elements of ND's program is teaching the athlete how to study, how to write a paper, how to take a test, how to focus, how to use his time wisely. In essence how to be a good student.

During interviews on NSD one of the new ND enrollee DBs was discussing academics at ND with Jack Nolan and noted that ND athletes have a mandatory 2 hour study hall.

Contrast that time commitment with a struggling HS student athlete that repeatedly comments on the desire for city life, things to do, the nightlife in L.A. and/or Miami.

Someone earlier mentioned they seemed to finding a way to justify a USC decision.

 

[chyrspchuck]

Someone earlier mentioned they seemed to finding a way to justify a USC decision.

Yeah that NYT article was clear indication.....the investigation trial date is the same as my sister's bday nonsense. Oh well.

I'm happy with the guys we have on our team.

 

[BGIF]

...

I'm happy with the guys we have on our team.

I'm happy too.

But to paraphrase Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof:


Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan,
If I were a happier man?

 

[irish4ever]

I'm happy too.

But to paraphrase Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof:


Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan,
If I were a happier man?

I never trust the wisdom of a fiddler!

 

[johnnykillz]

I never trust the wisdom of a fiddler!

Roger that.

Fiddlers put on a show.

Poets, now I could trust a poet.

 

[RECON Daddy]

In the words of Nelson from the Simpsons, "Ha Ha".

YouTube - The Simpsons - I Said Ha Ha

I think we got the better of the deal in James. Good luck to Henderson in whatever team he chooses.

 

[buckeyerish]

Something doesnt sit well with me in regards to Henderson going to that west coast weasel.

1. How could Kiffin have any credibility to lure a kid at this point?
2. (It is very evident) NCAA sanctions are right around the corner.
3. He doesnt sign because of the possible NCAA sanctions, though he gives his verbal commit.
4. He claims that his parents "want to be in warm weather", while currently living in Minnesota.
5. Do potential NCAA sanctions have anything to do with the climate in southern California?
6. The reason he was going to USC now coaches in Seattle.


Things dont add up. Kiffin is up to no good.

 

[irish4ever]

Something doesnt sit well with me in regards to Henderson going to that west coast weasel.

1. How could Kiffin have any credibility to lure a kid at this point?
2. (It is very evident) NCAA sanctions are right around the corner.
3. He doesnt sign because of the possible NCAA sanctions, though he gives his verbal commit.
4. He claims that his parents "want to be in warm weather", while currently living in Minnesota.
5. Do potential NCAA sanctions have anything to do with the climate in southern California?
6. The reason he was going to USC now coaches in Seattle.


Things dont add up. Kiffin is up to no good.

Just "let it go". He became a "dick wad" and a hated enemy of the Irish once he inked a contract w/ the "cfb devil" (aka U$C).

 

[NDinL.A.]

Something doesnt sit well with me in regards to Henderson going to that west coast weasel.

1. How could Kiffin have any credibility to lure a kid at this point?
2. (It is very evident) NCAA sanctions are right around the corner.
3. He doesnt sign because of the possible NCAA sanctions, though he gives his verbal commit.
4. He claims that his parents "want to be in warm weather", while currently living in Minnesota.
5. Do potential NCAA sanctions have anything to do with the climate in southern California?
6. The reason he was going to USC now coaches in Seattle.


Things dont add up. Kiffin is up to no good.

It adds up perfectly. We were duped. The dad was never about education, the dad was about himself and pimping out his cash cow son. Sorry, it's the truth. If they were about education they wouldn't have been put in the spot of not qualifying in the first place. Even worse, apparently the dad is an aspiring rapper (no, that's not a joke nor a missprint), and where better to go than L.A.? They had eyes on L.A. the entire time. Ohio State was a fallback in case they didn't get the SC offer, but even the dad said, upon finally receiving the SC offer, "That's the one we've been waiting for."

I'm dissapointed in myself that I ever believed those lies...