A few thoughs on PotentialPlayers.com and Bryce Brown

#26
#26
I believe Butler brings negative criticism to these players. Some who know the family have said Butler is just helping these kids make important decisions when their high school coach or a parent wasn't able to do so. This might be true, but regardless, he has made these kids look bad by all the talk of them having an agent and not letting them speak to anyone else unless they go through him first. He might mean well, but I just think it looks bad personally and it it brings a lot of negative criticism to these kids.
 
#27
#27
Good thread, I am extremely skeptical about the motives surrounding Butler's involvement with these kids, and a poster above made a great comment on how this smells like the path being followed in b-ball with the AAU.

Frankly, I'd put 3:1 odds that whatever program lands Brown gets in trouble with the NCAA in the next few years for said involvement... and not of the secondary violation type either. This whole deal just looks like trouble to me.
 
#28
#28
vol_freak said:
I heard Butler on ESPN radio and he claims to have mentored kids that made it to the NFL.
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What does mentored mean in this situation.
Is he a trainer, advisor, or something else.
I keep seeing this term used, and it just seems weird for the circumstances.
 
#29
#29
My take on Butler: He solely wants to pad his own stats and get his name out to the public. I get the impression that what he is doing is doing nothing but hurting these kids, and he doesn't even care. He is no mentor, he is, in fact, a parasite. He makes money off the success of others and the world would be better if he disappeared.
 
#30
#30
Volingatorland said:
My take on Butler: He solely wants to pad his own stats and get his name out to the public. I get the impression that what he is doing is doing nothing but hurting these kids, and he doesn't even care. He is no mentor, he is, in fact, a parasite. He makes money off the success of others and the world would be better if he disappeared.
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I agree. Brown has parents for cryin' out loud... and you would have to think they are much more concerned about his well-being than Butler. Isn't that enough, can't they do the research, spend the time? I mean, come-on, what is Butler's motive, really. He's just doing this out of the goodness of his heart? OK, so is he helping some 5'5 135 db choose what division III school to attend? If so, I'll believe in him. Otherwise, he's bad news all the way.
 
#31
#31
General Jack said:
I agree. Brown has parents for cryin' out loud... and you would have to think they are much more concerned about his well-being than Butler. Isn't that enough, can't they do the research, spend the time? I mean, come-on, what is Butler's motive, really. He's just doing this out of the goodness of his heart? OK, so is he helping some 5'5 135 db choose what division III school to attend? If so, I'll believe in him. Otherwise, he's bad news all the way.
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What ever happened to the days when kids went to schools that they had dreamed of playing football for their entire lives? I just don't understand why college recruiting has become such a conglomerate. Says a lot for the state of athletics today.
 
#32
#32
What becomes of the Bryce Brown and Brian Butler relationship once he enrolls at school? At times it seems like Bryce answers to Butler in a weird way... wherever he goes to school, I have to imagine that the coaches will not want Butler involved with him anymore.
 
#33
#33
Volingatorland said:
What ever happened to the days when kids went to schools that they had dreamed of playing football for their entire lives? I just don't understand why college recruiting has become such a conglomerate. Says a lot for the state of athletics today.
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I hear you.

But the unfortunate truth is that much of the problem is us, the fans. We, along with the billion dollar industry that college football has become, are a big reason that recruiting is the way that it is... sadly. There is a reason that lacrosse and women's gymnastics are generally immune from these issues... nobody cares.
 
#34
#34
Rheltnie Vol said:
What becomes of the Bryce Brown and Brian Butler relationship once he enrolls at school? At times it seems like Bryce answers to Butler in a weird way... wherever he goes to school, I have to imagine that the coaches will not want Butler involved with him anymore.
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You'd have to cut that off cold turkey... but I doubt its possible. I'd imagine that there will be some pretty shady stuff that goes into landing BB... and Butler will know it all.
 
#35
#35
It may be more the implementation than it is the concept that's creating so many issues.

Basically, by most counts and corroborating evidence, BB is an outstanding recruit who doesn't have a very good relationship with his high school coach and thus can't rely on the traditional mentoring that many players get. I'm sure that would be concerning to parents who want nothing but the best for their child.

Professionalism in working with this recruits is of utmost importance. Butler may still be 'learning the ropes' himself. But, I'm just not convinced there any real ill-intent on anyone's part. It just not the best PR campaign conducted, but it's also an extremely low-budget one.

There are high stakes in this type of decision. Who would you turn to if you were BB's parents? Butler may have been the only option available to them. :dunno:
 
#36
#36
utmba93 said:
It may be more the implementation than it is the concept that's creating so many issues.

Basically, by most counts and corroborating evidence, BB is an outstanding recruit who doesn't have a very good relationship with his high school coach and thus can't rely on the traditional mentoring that many players get. I'm sure that would be concerning to parents who want nothing but the best for their child.

Professionalism in working with this recruits is of utmost importance. Butler may still be 'learning the ropes' himself. But, I'm just not convinced there any real ill-intent on anyone's part. It just not the best PR campaign conducted, but it's also an extremely low-budget one.

There are high stakes in this type of decision. Who would you turn to if you were BB's parents? Butler may have been the only option available to them. :dunno:
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Why do his parents have to turn to anyone? Most recruits do just fine without a leech like Butler tagging along.
 
#37
#37
General Jack said:
There is a reason that lacrosse and women's gymnastics are generally immune from these issues... nobody cares.
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The top lacrosse recruit, Steele Stanwick, was committed to Duke for the entire season and then announced he was signing with Duke only to say "psyche! Virginia." on live ESPN.

It's happening in more sports than football.
 
#38
#38
Midfielder10 said:
The top lacrosse recruit, Steele Stanwick, was committed to Duke for the entire season and then announced he was signing with Duke only to say "psyche! Virginia." on live ESPN.

It's happening in more sports than football.
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Speaking in generalities I stand by my point.
 
#40
#40
My view on the entire situation is that he is just a guy who thinks that since he's already been 0-2 in his career, might as well take on kids with impressionable minds. There's nothing that those kids want less than to be bossed around by some arrogant coach who thinks he knows everything.

Instead, they entrust their futures to an out-of-work rapper turned off-market cell phone store owner. He shows that all he cares about is the player. He doesn't care if the player helps the team win, he only cares that the player excels. This is the problem with athletes these days. They would rather win a personal award than a team award. Brian Butler is feeding this terrible addiction. He cheats the system and ruins sports on the level that had, until recently, been pure. High school football used to be that great competition friday nights. It was the day that kids went out and gave their all to win games and feel good for the following week. This great pasttime has been replaced with "mentors" and coasting. No more do players play to win. They play to stay healthy and work less. Gone are the days of fighting for yards. You will not be seeing many running backs that lower the shoulder to pick up 6 yards instead of 5. Instead, you'll be seeing the back that runs out of bounds at 4 yards instead of 5.

I long for the times where sports were about winning, not getting 100 yards and feeling good, while losing by 6.
 
#42
#42
crusse10 said:
My view on the entire situation is that he is just a guy who thinks that since he's already been 0-2 in his career, might as well take on kids with impressionable minds. There's nothing that those kids want less than to be bossed around by some arrogant coach who thinks he knows everything.

Instead, they entrust their futures to an out-of-work rapper turned off-market cell phone store owner. He shows that all he cares about is the player. He doesn't care if the player helps the team win, he only cares that the player excels. This is the problem with athletes these days. They would rather win a personal award than a team award. Brian Butler is feeding this terrible addiction. He cheats the system and ruins sports on the level that had, until recently, been pure. High school football used to be that great competition friday nights. It was the day that kids went out and gave their all to win games and feel good for the following week. This great pasttime has been replaced with "mentors" and coasting. No more do players play to win. They play to stay healthy and work less. Gone are the days of fighting for yards. You will not be seeing many running backs that lower the shoulder to pick up 6 yards instead of 5. Instead, you'll be seeing the back that runs out of bounds at 4 yards instead of 5.

I long for the times where sports were about winning, not getting 100 yards and feeling good, while losing by 6.
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I agree for the most part. I think it almost always the "big name" HS programs and thier players that are prone to this behavior, but that doesn't make it any better.
IMO, small town programs are still about team pride and winning for the most part.
 
#43
#43
The long term question and bottom line is does the NCAA and it's member schools,want at some point in the not to distant future,(10 years or less),to be dealing with Professional Personal Mentors For every student athlete.

The economics of it is,someone pays.At some point in time,either the families,Colleges or the NCAA pays.To believe that Internet reporting fee is going to be the norm is naive.We are looking at the possibility that the athletes at the collegiate level will end up being paid for services rendered! Multi-million dollar endorsement deals for teenagers? Who's to say(?)that playing in exchange for an education will no longer be the norm.Ultimately It could affect us all in one place,the pocketbook.


The biggest question would be how would it affect the game?
 
#44
#44
well what ever the reasons,it seems to me that Bryce Brown has all ready made a questionable decsion to be with Butler,just seems awfully fishy to me,i wonder if Bryces family has paid Butler any money? and if Butler will get any money if he makes it to the NFL?anyway i look at this makes me think Butler is his agent,which could be NCCA trouble coming,and do you think TN should make it a prerequisite that Butler is not around the campus at all ?I would hope so,I would like to have Bryce playing for the Vols,it just seems like a lot of baggage coming with him
 
#45
#45
What ever happened to the days when kids went to schools that they had dreamed of playing football for their entire lives? I just don't understand why college recruiting has become such a conglomerate. Says a lot for the state of athletics today.
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You can blame athletic departments and coaches who are allowed to change schools and break their contracts without any reprecussions.
A kid NEEDS to find the right slot or they would lose out on a yr having to transfer.
I dont see what the big deal is, this is the MOST important decision in these young athletes lives. Let them take as much time as they need to find a spot they feel comfortable at.
this one decision will go along way in determining their future.
and success could mean Millions, If it were you, you would study every aspect of every decision too, if you didnt you'd be a fool
 
#46
#46
crusse10 said:
You will not be seeing many running backs that lower the shoulder to pick up 6 yards instead of 5. Instead, you'll be seeing the back that runs out of bounds at 4 yards instead of 5.
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Pretty much Knowshon Moreno. I watched this year as he'd run a play at 50% speed/ability then take himself out of the next play. It's pathetic.
 
#47
#47
Its almost impossible to blame a kid for protecting himself when he knows that he will be a first rounder in a few months
 
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