re: Update: Odoh in summer school trying to graduate. LSU waiting on eligibility?

He was already released to any school outside of the Sun Belt and CUSA, except for LSU. The only significance of this new information is the release to LSU. It wouldn't make sense to release him to LSU if LSU didn't want him.

Also, Ricky V wouldn't have been so defensive if LSU didn't want him, even calling him a "player who could help your team." Seems he would have said something like, "this isn't an issue, because Johnny isn't recruiting him."

I'm interested to see how this plays out.

Holy
shite

I would think Odoh at 5 job at 4

quote:

---

So if we get Odoh & Pollard, is this what the lineup will look like next season?

starters:
job
calvin
pollard
shane or malik
hickey

bench:
odoh
coleman
stringer
isaac
eddie
jalen....what's his future playing time look like?

---

If that lineup were to somehow happen we will make a run in the tourney...I think we are a tourney team already if we take odoh.

I hope Malik has the type of impact right away I think he can

Mr. Villarreal,


I do appreciate the fact that you have taken the time out of you day to reply to the emails that have been sent to you. Below are some of your responses in which you have put the decision of not releasing players, solely on your coach. However, you are quoted by Andy Katz, that this is YOUR policy. If you notice, in the following paragraph, it states that you were adamant that Odoh was recruited by Jones with Mean Green funds. I’m curious as to how much the cost were to recruit a player who was 45 minutes away. And if I’m not mistaken, didn’t your team just pick up recruits that were recruited using another schools funds by a coach who is now on your staff. Here is that link and paragraph.



LINK



North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal said Thursday night that he has a policy that he doesn’t release players who have signed with North Texas or leave the program during their career. Conversely, he won’t allow his coaches, even new ones like men’s basketball coach Tony Benford, to cut a player based on ability. He said the only way a player will be released is if there is an academic or behavior issue. This is relevant because signee John Odoh may want to follow former coach Johnny Jones to LSU. Villarreal said Odoh hasn’t asked for a release yet. If he does, don’t expect a release -- or at least not one to LSU. Villarreal was adamant that Odoh was recruited by Jones with Mean Green funds. Players may leave, but without a release, meaning they would then have to pay their own scholarships.


If you are misquoted, than I completely understand your following replies and you should definitely let Mr. Katz know about it. If not however, I am ASKING that you please explain to me how this doesn’t absolutely contradict itself. I also ASK that you please explain to me why you won’t release Mr. Odoh to LSU.







I should be ashamed! Be honest with yourself that your concern is not for a young foreign man but a player that could possibly help your basketball team. And try being informed when you send an e-mail. The decision to release or not release John is not the Athletic Director's but the incoming head coach's as it was with Johnny when he came to North Texas and now at LSU. However I will support my coach's decision whatever that might be just as Joe will support Johnny's decisions concerning his team

Rick Villarreal

P.M. I don't measure myself as a man by your or any other man's standards. I answer to a higher power and I always strive to do the right thing. Just ask your new head basketball coach.





When Johnny came to North Texas, we had a player that Johnny did not want released and I supported his decision. That young man ended transferring on his own dime. Money spent on the process never has been a sticking point for me in this or any situation concerning student-athletes. John the decision to release John Odoh is not mine to make. It is the decision of the head coach which I will support in whatever direction he decides to go. And although we play LSU his year, we do not have them on the schedule moving forward through 2020 and doesn't erase the pettiness of your threat not to schedule games. When this is all over I hope you and others who have sent these type messages are as quick to write back.

Respectfully,



I don’t know if you will reply to this message, but if you do it will be much appreciated.

Thank you,

His reply:




David,

My quote to Mr. Katz was that my policy is that I don’t release players in interim periods where we are hiring new coaches or if existing coaches don’t want to release student-athletes. The final decision to release players either way is left up to the coach. I even cited an example to him. Conversely I don’t allow coaches to “cut” kids upon coming in as new coaches or even as existing coaches based on athletic performance. That would only occur in the event of academic or personal failure or misconduct. Mr. Katz’s wording (He said the only way a player will be released is if there is an academic or behavior issue) confuses the issue. Not included is the statement I made to Andy and what a lot of people don’t want to hear is that I have a responsibility to protect both the student-athlete and the athletic program with these policies and I must maintain consistency in doing so, I know that you would expect the AD of your or any program to do the same.

Let me assure you also that the decision making process here has nothing to do with recruiting funds spent on Mr. Odoh.

I have and never intend to be the final voice on a release (precluding very unusual circumstances) as I am never and never intend to be the voice when it comes to who we recruit and sign. Check with any of my coaches and they will verify this.

I cannot control what eventually ends up in a blog or a newspaper. This would not be the first time that a short blog doesn’t reflect the full context of a conversation. Sadly, when all is said and done and this episode is over, I will be proven out but of course that will after all the writing has been done.

Again regards,

Rick Villarreal

JoJo doin work


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Well, he was Curley Hallman's admin assistant. That's enough to wreck anyone's confidence.

Bubba, how long before you think some news hits about him and LSU?

Well, he's under no time limit, because he can't sign. The NCAA only allows a recruit to sign one letter. Once he is released, he can only sign scholarship papers with the new school, not a new Letter of Intent. So the deadline is irrelevant.

He reportedly has to take some summer school to graduate, so he won't be enrolling at LSU for the summer.

It all depends on if he wants to look at other schools, or if he is set on LSU. If he is set on LSU, it could be announced within the week.

Assuming LSU wants him, they probably don't want it to drag out, especially if they are slow-playing other recruits.