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Post by Henry Skrimshander on Apr 3, 2024 15:25:55 GMT -8
Might as well end that 8-minute mingle, then, since the players are essentially hired help and the hired help doesn't mix with the "customers."
At Jimmy's memorial service, Lester, Payton and others all remarked how special the Corvallis community was to them, how it supported them, gave them a home for the rest of their lives, etc. Lifetime friendships were made. Baseball and WBB feel like two programs where that still applied here. Sorry to say, that is disappearing. College athletics has become nothing more than a business decision.
It's a huge loss for WBB fans, who seemed to have developed an extra-close relationship with the players they cheer for and financially support through tickets sales, NIL donations, the booster group, and by simply making time time in their busy days to maybe help an out-of-town kid feel a little bit loved and more comfortable in a strange surrounding. And it's a loss for the players, too, not just the fans.
But, no need to ever get close to or care about another player again. College sports are just a business.
Please respect my decision.
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Post by ricke71 on Apr 3, 2024 15:30:29 GMT -8
It's impossible to put myself in their place - I'm a 75 year old man, an OSU graduate, I grew up in Oregon, and I have (or had) nothing more than neighborhood level skills at any sport. But, it's easy to see why a young woman, who: a.) has 2 or more years of eligibility left b.) has special skills or great all-around skill c.) hails from a State that has 1 or more universities that will play in a P-5 conference (i.e. Utah, Colorado, Texas or Wisconsin) in the 2024-25 season d.) has dreams of a professional career in basketball ....would take a good hard look at moving on, ESPECIALLY when her current team is destined for a huge downgrade (in terms of conference affiliation) for the next season. I agree that playing in the WCC isn't equal to the Pac-12 as far as the competitive level but none of these points really stand up to scrutiny. OSU just made the Elite Eight. If everyone had returned (or everyone does without TVO) the national perception of the team is not going to drop. It's already been set. Did Utah make the Elite Eight? Wisconsin? was Wisconsin even in the tournament? Colorado did well but lost three games to OSU. Texas is good but AJ would not get any PT there. And all of the OSU players already chose to not stay home. Maybe they go back. Maybe. Playing for any other team isn't going to make much of a difference as far as getting a shot as a professional. Announcers were already talking about Beers as if she was pretty much a given for the WNBA. So unless there's a hefty deal in the works to leave a two-season future as a dominant team in the WCC or there's something going haywire behind the scenes, it doesn't make much sense. Remember how much it meant to Raegan to play in Boulder and have family and friends there? She was so excited. Who's to say that a little bit of actual (birth-family) homesickness isn't on the mind of a 19-20 year old? I'm just saying that while there are reasons to stay at OSU (like the potential for a great 2024-25 post-season), there are also reasons that considering a change is understandable. Whether the points that I expressed " stand up to scrutiny" or not is an interesting observation...because it is not the scrutiny by me, nor anyone other than the individual player, that matters. Rather, it's the thinking and the heart of each individual student-athlete that is the only determinant which has currency.
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Post by 02beav on Apr 3, 2024 15:56:39 GMT -8
If we're being honest, at the bare minimum, how is Reagan not going to Colorado and Gardiner to Utah?
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Post by rgeorge on Apr 3, 2024 15:56:45 GMT -8
The lesson for all of us — not lecturing, I’m talking to myself too — these are free and independent women with their own lives and families and futures, and they should live and do as they please. We all know this, but yet we allow ourselves to say “we are family!” We are not— I have a family, they have a family, and they are not the same. I like watching them play basketball, but other than that we likely have nothing in common. They don’t consider my feelings when making life decisions, and they shouldn’t. That would be stupid. Well said!! Like I've said and been scolded before. It's not like ALL schools spout the "family" mantra. It's "program speak"... I support the university not the players per se. As you say they certainly aren't my family, and I'm not theirs. And, I've always found over blown athlete adoration to be weird. None of really "know" them. We know the what, not the who. I do despise social media and all the negative it can invite. I wish some of the athletes would just stay off or keep the posts generic. Otherwise if they want to live in that world they can't be surprised by the backlash.
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Post by grayman on Apr 3, 2024 15:58:56 GMT -8
I agree that playing in the WCC isn't equal to the Pac-12 as far as the competitive level but none of these points really stand up to scrutiny. OSU just made the Elite Eight. If everyone had returned (or everyone does without TVO) the national perception of the team is not going to drop. It's already been set. Did Utah make the Elite Eight? Wisconsin? was Wisconsin even in the tournament? Colorado did well but lost three games to OSU. Texas is good but AJ would not get any PT there. And all of the OSU players already chose to not stay home. Maybe they go back. Maybe.Playing for any other team isn't going to make much of a difference as far as getting a shot as a professional. Announcers were already talking about Beers as if she was pretty much a given for the WNBA. So unless there's a hefty deal in the works to leave a two-season future as a dominant team in the WCC or there's something going haywire behind the scenes, it doesn't make much sense. Remember how much it meant to Raegan to play in Boulder and have family and friends there? She was so excited. Who's to say that a little bit of actual (birth-family) homesickness isn't on the mind of a 19-20 year old? I'm just saying that while there are reasons to stay at OSU (like the potential for a great 2024-25 post-season), there are also reasons that considering a change is understandable. Whether the points that I expressed " stand up to scrutiny" or not is an interesting observation...because it is not the scrutiny by me, nor anyone other than the individual player, that matters. Rather, it's the thinking and the heart of each individual student-athlete that is the only determinant which has currency. All that stuff might happen but just because players enjoy going home doesn't mean much. Saying that the points don't stand up to scrutiny probably was a little overly harsh way to put it. My point is I don't think using the move to the WCC as a reason to leave really stands up to scrutiny, at least not when considering the facts that have already been established. The players can choose to do anything they want. Beers and Gardiner can decide to drop out of school to become tour guides in Egypt. I'm just saying that if this situation blows up into wholesale departures from the program, I think there's more to the story than some players feeling homesick or whatever.
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Post by grayman on Apr 3, 2024 16:05:50 GMT -8
If we're being honest, at the bare minimum, how is Reagan not going to Colorado and Gardiner to Utah? They might, but why? If they stay, they will most likely be on a better team, even without TVO. I think both could do better if they just want to play for a school in a power conference anyway.
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ftd
Sophomore
"I think real leaders show up when times are hard." Trent Bray 11/29/2023
Posts: 2,214
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Post by ftd on Apr 3, 2024 16:09:27 GMT -8
the portal is a fickle monster...We lost Brown, Jones, and I forgot who else a couple years ago...If they all stuck around, who wouldn't we have on this years team?
It hurt losing all of them back then but we bounced back...
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Post by ricke71 on Apr 3, 2024 16:23:50 GMT -8
the portal is a fickle monster...We lost Brown, Jones, and I forgot who else a couple years ago...If they all stuck around, who wouldn't we have on this years team? It hurt losing all of them back then but we bounced back... We "bounced back" as a member of a P-5 Conference, arguably one of the top 1 or 2 WBB Conferences in the Nation. Might that matter?
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Post by grayman on Apr 3, 2024 16:27:09 GMT -8
Regarding the idea that players want to transfer back home, this has just not been the case with most OSU transfers. Taylor Jones is from Dallas and transferred to Texas. and Sasha Goforth (who might not have transferred at all if she had never gotten ill) went back to Arkansas. Not sure she really counts because it involved exceptional circumstances. Kennedy Brown is from Kansas and went to Duke. Greta Kampschroeder is from Illinois and went to Michigan. Destiny Slocum is from Idaho and transferred to OSU from Maryland, then went to Arkansas. Taylor Kalmer is from Arizona and went to San Diego State. Breanna Brown is from Oakland and went to Georgia Tech. Not saying it doesn't happen but maybe the chances aren't as high as some might think.
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ftd
Sophomore
"I think real leaders show up when times are hard." Trent Bray 11/29/2023
Posts: 2,214
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Post by ftd on Apr 3, 2024 16:36:30 GMT -8
the portal is a fickle monster...We lost Brown, Jones, and I forgot who else a couple years ago...If they all stuck around, who wouldn't we have on this years team? It hurt losing all of them back then but we bounced back... We "bounced back" as a member of a P-5 Conference, arguably one of the top 1 or 2 WBB Conferences in the Nation. Might that matter? Indeed it might...
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Post by lebaneaver on Apr 3, 2024 16:43:44 GMT -8
We "bounced back" as a member of a P-5 Conference, arguably one of the top 1 or 2 WBB Conferences in the Nation. Might that matter? Indeed it might... We'll see.
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Post by ricke71 on Apr 3, 2024 16:54:28 GMT -8
Regarding the idea that players want to transfer back home, this has just not been the case with most OSU transfers. Taylor Jones is from Dallas and transferred to Texas. and Sasha Goforth (who might not have transferred at all if she had never gotten ill) went back to Arkansas. Not sure she really counts because it involved exceptional circumstances. Kennedy Brown is from Kansas and went to Duke. Greta Kampschroeder is from Illinois and went to Michigan. Destiny Slocum is from Idaho and transferred to OSU from Maryland, then went to Arkansas. Taylor Kalmer is from Arizona and went to San Diego State. Breanna Brown is from Oakland and went to Georgia Tech. Not saying it doesn't happen but maybe the chances aren't as high as some might think. minor updates: Savannah Samuel, from Georgia headed to West Virginia Patricia Morris from Calif., headed to Texas. Jasmine Simmons from Australia....went home.
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Post by ffymdr123 on Apr 3, 2024 17:33:08 GMT -8
I'm sure there are multipe thoughts and reasons in play when a player decides to transfer and it's a complex decision but my basic general thoughts and feelings are that I am of the opinion, without any factual evidence, that the main reason most of the players that decide to transfer out is due to the fact of not being in a P5 conference for at least the next 2 years.
All these players are highly regarded, competitive athletes and one of the main reasons they chose OSU was because it was in the best WBB conference in the country with some of the best teams and some of the best players. The culture and coaching staff was a big draw of course but being challenged and competing against the best is what these kids have been dreaming about and working towards since high school or before. Multiple players have stated that over and over since the day they arrived on campus. You can't just take the fight out of the dog. Some of these players have WNBA aspirations and playing in the WCC for the next 2 years in not going to further that cause either.
NIL has little to no bearing on their decision in my opinion. Some may end up with NIL deals when they sign with a new school but it's not their reason for entering the portal in the first place I don't think.
Just some of my thoughts simplified on what is a very complicated topic these days, college sports. l don't know anything, just needed to get some of these thoughts out before I explode. Not finger pointing or getting player specific, just a ramble mostly. I'm just sad over the whole thing. This season was the most enjoyabe season I have ever had watching Oregon State Women's Basketball. I'll stay hopefull but think it will be a few years for a season like this to happen again.
Regardless, with the players, as well as any of the coaching staff for that matter, there is not much anyone can do about it. If somebody thinks a different situation is better for them and wants to move on then they are going to go.
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rafer
Sophomore
Posts: 1,603
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Post by rafer on Apr 3, 2024 19:25:45 GMT -8
I'm sure there are multipe thoughts and reasons in play when a player decides to transfer and it's a complex decision but my basic general thoughts and feelings are that I am of the opinion, without any factual evidence, that the main reason most of the players that decide to transfer out is due to the fact of not being in a P5 conference for at least the next 2 years. All these players are highly regarded, competitive athletes and one of the main reasons they chose OSU was because it was in the best WBB conference in the country with some of the best teams and some of the best players. The culture and coaching staff was a big draw of course but being challenged and competing against the best is what these kids have been dreaming about and working towards since high school or before. Multiple players have stated that over and over since the day they arrived on campus. You can't just take the fight out of the dog. Some of these players have WNBA aspirations and playing in the WCC for the next 2 years in not going to further that cause either. NIL has little to no bearing on their decision in my opinion. Some may end up with NIL deals when they sign with a new school but it's not their reason for entering the portal in the first place I don't think. Just some of my thoughts simplified on what is a very complicated topic these days, college sports. l don't know anything, just needed to get some of these thoughts out before I explode. Not finger pointing or getting player specific, just a ramble mostly. I'm just sad over the whole thing. This season was the most enjoyabe season I have ever had watching Oregon State Women's Basketball. I'll stay hopefull but think it will be a few years for a season like this to happen again. Regardless, with the players, as well as any of the coaching staff for that matter, there is not much anyone can do about it. If somebody thinks a different situation is better for them and wants to move on then they are going to go. Bottom line, when the portal gets all your best players every year, you WILL cease to exist as a college sport. Who is going to pay $$ to watch MWC minor league WBB at OSU? The attendance will shrink to nada in a very short time, especially should 2 or 3 more starters leave as rumored. You might as well give free tickets cause you're to going to sell many to folks that loved the TEAM this year. We're all waiting for the other shoe to drop, I think it's close, sadly.
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Post by believeinthebeavs on Apr 3, 2024 19:45:10 GMT -8
MWC? It's worse than that, WCC.
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