Monday, August 09, 2010

Ramsey, Facebook and Defensive Line

While most of us are celebrating the start of fall practice, it is a good time to remember that football is not always fun for those who play. At times it can be a huge pressure, burden and obligation. They don't play for love of the game. They play because they are big and strong and it is a means to an end. They didn't come to BC for the same reasons we did. They came because BC was often the best school to offer them a scholarship. I say all this because it appears that Kaleb Ramsey will not be playing football for BC this season. The Herald and ESPN both confirmed the long-speculated: Ramsey didn't show up at camp today.


Although Ramsey's status just recently hit the main stream news, it no surprise to those who follow BC on message boards, social networks and in blogs. For months now Ramsey has publicly expressed his desire to leave BC on Facebook. I got tipped off to it a few times, but never reported it due to the grey area that is Facebook. I am not Ramsey's friend on FB. He made his proclamations to his "friends." Not the media. Not the coaches. In a respect for his privacy I never said a word. But he, and others, should know that when you write something on Facebook, the whole world can see.


Finally, what does this mean for our defensive line. Looking at the fresh, new depth chart, we should be fine. We have plenty of big, raw bodies to clog the middle. Neither of the young guys are Brace or Raji, but Ramsey wasn't either. If Scafe comes back and one of the other guys steps up, I don't think Ramsey will be missed at all. He always showed good upside, but to be effective, you have to want to play for BC too.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Did anyone notice Goodman is listed as a D tackle. When did that change take place?

Erik said...

Any idea when we announce captains? Think 2 or 4?

Herzlich & Castonzo? Maybe Harris for offensive captain if they want to go Junior route?

Erik said...

Herzlich missed practice "with a foot injury and is day to day"

Big Jack Krack said...

I thought Bryan Davis might be on the D-Line. Both he and Goodman have good size - technique will have to be learned on the fly.

Oh Boy - this is our soft spot depth-wise.

With all due respect to our defensive ends, will we ever get 6'7" guys who weigh in around 280?

John said...

I guess Mr. Ramsey was not really BC material. If you don't want to play, meet with your coaches and teachers and discuss it with them. That would be the way to go.

Facebook? Give us a break!

Big Jack Krack said...

Bryan Murray - sorry.

modest34b said...

ATL, let's not make patronizing excuses for Ramsey. The following is a load of hooey, if not compeletely condescending:

"At times it can be a huge pressure, burden and obligation. They don't play for love of the game. They play because they are big and strong and it is a means to an end. They didn't come to BC for the same reasons we did"

Ramsey lacks the stones to compete. End of story and good riddence.

Frank C. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
eagleboston said...

Dustbowl, I don't know how you can make a blanket statement about a player you do not even know. For example, it is quite possible that Ramsey came to BC with the best of intentions but maybe is in chronic pain due to an injury. As someone who has broken 10 bones, suffered back pain and arthritis, I can tell you when you are experiencing chronic pain, it is impossible to perform at your best. I am not sure this is Ramsey's reason for quitting, only presenting one example of why a player may decide to quit. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

ATL_eagle said...

Dustbowl, call it condescending but it is often true. Ramsey isn't some football diehard. He's a basketball player that grew out instead of up.

modest34b said...

EB - You are just offering speculation and excuses for a guy who quit on his team. Why?


ATL. Guy made a choice to go with fb not bb He should honor his commitment and his team, especially now that he is needed. Maybe he will return.

BCNorCal07 said...

Dustbowl, I'll take the "honor the commitment" argument more seriously when schools - BC included - guarantee scholarships for as long as the player is passing classes and on track to graduate. The fact is that BC only commits to its athletes on a year-to-year basis. Given that, I'll forgive the young men and women for not pledging blood oaths to the school.

ATL: it's been a while since I posted, but keep up the good work. I'm incredibly grateful for this blog and the work you do.

Scott said...

No doubt, we could use a healthy AND inspired Ramsey, but anything less will just hurt us on the field and in the locker room. I'd rather he be honest & retire now, then go through the motions and deprive a young-gun an opportunity to step up.

I can't fault him if he doesn't love the game enough to endure the rigor of big-time sports. If he's otherwise a good kid everyone likes, you simply can't condemn him to 4-5 years of personal hell. A scholarship isn't servitude. It's just a promise that, while you are here, you will give your all, support the team, and exhibit integrity. If that's too much, then go.

Plus, it's the coaches job to ensure recruits have the requisite passion/commitment ... particularly for a school like BC depends on kids playing tough, smart, and beyond their measureables.

Overall, I view this as a career ending injury ... to the brain/psyche. And for all we know, he might be depressed or in a real bad place.

Scott said...

Quick Reaction to Dustbowl's retort "I'll take the "honor the commitment" argument more seriously when schools - BC included - guarantee scholarships for as long as the player is passing classes and on track to graduate. The fact is that BC only commits to its athletes on a year-to-year basis."

All scholarships are year-to-year contracts, by NCAA rule. BC doesn't have a choice there, but obviously BC promises all of its recruits automatic renewals if they make grades, avoid trouble, and give their all. I can't think of a single instance where we pulled a scholarship (before 4 years) for sucking.

If anything, BC goes the other way. BC will only grant a transfer request if the the kid is on track to graduate, and quite often BC forces the kid to stay 1-2 semesters longer (on BC's dime) and get their grades up as a condition of the release.

Granting 5th years is a different animal, there are no certainties as to who will be invited back. But BC forces its kids to keep pace, and guarantees summer school as needed, so it's a non-issue. When a coach breaks a promise on a 5th year, it costs the kid a 2nd major or year of graduate school, but not a diploma.

With all that said, we Al pushed many kids out the door b/c they stunk ... No one knows if he forced them out (i.e., I'll pull your ride), or just told him they would never play another minute if they stay.

ashleyshumar said...

Umm, wait, why are you all talking shit on a player you have no subsequent knowledge of in the first place? Do any of you even know him personally? He didn't quit because he didn't love the game. Football was his first love and he's been playing since he was 4 years old, he quit because he was simply unhappy at Boston College and the 2 years he's spent there with the coaches. Before you try to talk shit, get your facts straight. And good riddance? He's back and hopefully with the strongest season yet. Good luck Ramsey, I'm a fan.