Rod Flemings

[The XtC]

To answer Hoop Fan first, yes he would need a release to come to SMU. With the release he sits out one year, without the release he sits out two. The way around that would be to go to a junior college, where he wouldnt have to sit out at all. He could play his sophomore year at a JC, then transfer to any school and be eligible as a junior.

In regards to OSU9400's question about speaking to a player who hasnt been released yet: I've said repeatedly that this is illegal, another school CANNOT recruit a player away from another D1 school, or in any way induce them to transfer, until after he has been released, and the player must contact the second school initially, the school cannot make first contact. If SMU or UNT did, as his mother is claiming, make any kind of offer to Fleming while he was still on the team at OSU, then the NCAA could bar him from transferring to either of those schools, or any other that tried to tamper with him.

That doesnt mean we're out of the picture, his mother could be just talking about scholarship offers made during his senior year in high school, or she may have initiated contact with those schools to determine if they were interested. If a player (or players legal guardian, the mother in this case) makes contact with another school, then the 2nd school is obligated to immediately inform the original school that a request to transfer has been made, and request permission from the first school to speak with the player. The 2nd school cannot be penalized if its the player (or guardian) who initiated the contact, but the 2nd school cannnot pursue the player any further, without permission from the original school. After the player recieves an unconditional release, any school can contact him.

Thats the way I remember the rule. I'll read over it again in the morning to make sure. Right now its too late, and I'm too tired to try to look it up.

If Flemings grades are poor, there is still a chance he can get into SMU. He's only been at OSU for one year. But, coming here would probably mean he would have to take some classes over again, and he would need to pass alot of hours during the year that he sits out.

[Hoop Fan]

Thanks for the info, X. Now lets think about the accusation for a minute. Wouldn't it be highly unlikely and coincidental that both UNT and SMU approached Fleming about transferring? The player or his family must have put some feelers out. Most likely it was along the lines of what X suggested. SMU and UNT recruited this guy out of high school, and when he chose OSU both probably said something like keep us in mind we'd always like to have you here. Probably the same thing Rick Barnes supposedly said to BHop. OSU should be cool and let the kid go where he wants to go. Its not like they have a shortage of talent in Stillwater.

[Stallion]

Assuming SMU finally gets its head out of its [deleted] on its transfer policy, every player SMU recruits who goes elsewhere ought to be told at the time of their commitment they have a standing offer from SMU if they wish to come back to Dallas. I'm sure that's what TCU, Houston et al do. I'm sure that's what Tubbs did here. Don't burn any bridges. That's why I laugh so hard at all of you Tinker-Bells who always talk about not being able to recruit transfers. These players are often recruited for 2-3 years by a coach and they develop relationships between player and coach. If the Coach did a good job building that relationship then the player will contact the coach when he wants to transfer.

[Hoop Fan]

yea, thats what I think, outside of the premier programs like UNC, KU etc. who can afford to say take it or leave it to a kid, every coach who gets turned down by a player will almost automatically say if 'you change your mind down the road, you have a standing offer'. Undoubtedly thats what Tubbs and Jones said to Fleming. It is highly doubtful that Tubbs or Johnny Jones both woke up recently and tried to recruit Fleming away from OSU.

[friarwolf]

this kid is a stud and a headcase - mom has a lot to do with that. he would be a huge upgrade if tubbs can handle him - a big question - and not because of my opinion of tubbs. he's just hard to handle.

anyway, we can quit dreaming. i don't think there is a snowball's chance that he qualify grade-wise and even if he did, i don't think he could stay eligible.

[Stallion]

a new post on Texas Roundball.com claims he talked to Flemings in the last few days and he said he is still at OSU to get his credits for transfer but that he won't stay at OSU. The same poster said that Flemings repeated the story to him that Flemings will not be released to play at SMU or North Texas. THIS IS WHERE PRESSURE FROM THE DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHING COMMUNITY could actually do SMU some good. I hope some calls are made-because this kind of think can really dry things up in Dallas for OSU.

[EastStang]

If they don't give him a release to SMU or UNT, I think that is something Tubbs can use. He can tell every recruit that they are signing their life away if they go to OSU because they won't release players to other schools, unless of course OSU wants to dump you then they'll be happy to release you. He could tell them Massa don't release de slaves. That'll dry up OSU recruiting real fast.

[friarwolf]

sorry guys, but the kids are smarter than that. they know how the game works and they also know flemings is a head case. so, they aren't going to lose any sleep over osu telling him he can't go certain places. if you haven't noticed, there tends to be "flavors of the month" schools. osu was last year, several years ago it was illinois. texas a couple of years ago and a&m is becoming the new darling. it will be someone else next year or one of the schools mentioned will be rediscovered again.

osu wasn't going to coddle flemings - they had terrell harris. he pouted, mommie contacted some schools and opened her big mouth about it, and osu nailed spoiled baby and mommie.

smu isn't the place for him anyway. he isn't the sharpest pencil in the drawer by a long shot............

[PonyPride]

I'm hearing he doesn't have the academics to get into SMU, making this conversation moot, if that's true.

[Stallion]

and I'll be watching all the schools that line up in a long line that apparently can get him into school. He was a full-qualifier last year.

[The Q]

This isn't about what other schoos will or won't take him.
I've heard the same thing, that he can't get in.
Next.

[Danny Noonan]

I think the sit out year for transfers is very important. And highly benefits the mid majors. Without it, the big schools would be recruiting the mid majors much like they do the jucos.

Below is a strictly hypothetical situation:

Let's say UT is gearing up for another NC run, but the only missing piece to their puzzle is running back. Rather than recruit some unproven high school kid, or a juco that may not have the academics, they give DeMyron Martin a call. What's to stop him from going to Texas and playing for a national championship? His love for SMU? Maybe, but more often or not, we'd lose that player. Heck, 1 out of 10 times is too much.

[mrydel]

For one thing it would be against all rules for UT to contact him unless he requested release and was given the same, plus permission to have the release to speak to UT. It is not like a trade but rather all rules the same except next year availablity for the mid majors. I would just like for SMU to have the same opportunity as for instance Sam Houston St. at digruntled athletes that signed with a BCS school and then do not get any playing time. I would not even mind if it was available equally to BCS and mid majors alike. I just think the sit out rule is a great disavantage to the mid majors in todays atmosphere. Not going to happen though so I guess my quest for change can end.

[Blunt Pony]

For one thing it would be against all rules for UT to contact him unless he requested release and was given the same, plus permission to have the release to speak to UT. It is not like a trade but rather all rules the same except next year availablity for the mid majors. I would just like for SMU to have the same opportunity as for instance Sam Houston St. at digruntled athletes that signed with a BCS school and then do not get any playing time. I would not even mind if it was available equally to BCS and mid majors alike. I just think the sit out rule is a great disavantage to the mid majors in todays atmosphere. Not going to happen though so I guess my quest for change can end.

The sit out rule is an advantage (if anything) to the mid major. As explained above, the mid majors would be raided every year by BCS teams if there was no sit out year. This policy should not and will not be changed.