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Post by iknowiu on Apr 27, 2007 7:43:08 GMT -5
Too early to know.... Have to watch newbies, interaction with experienced players, confidence levels. Best defensive players will make a huge difference.
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Post by mervynpumpkinhead on Apr 27, 2007 9:48:25 GMT -5
Aside from the new coach dismissing 3-5 players and the assistant coach bringing in a Polish recruit who nobody knows much about - what indications are there that "things are looking up" aside from the fact that when you are 11th in the Big Ten, the only place to look is "up"? There's a new coach.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2007 10:19:00 GMT -5
I've always enjoyed going overseas. Wyoming is nice, too.
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 27, 2007 13:31:34 GMT -5
Exactly...the only place to go is up!
Regarding the international student---given the number of players in the US, the talent available, and the number of scholarships open, you'll never convince me there is a need for international talent. There is plenty of diversity within the US...but IU must be feeling a need for international diversity...maybe someone in the coaching world can explain it??? Diversity in the classroom adds to classroom discussion/learning. In collegiate sports? Why?
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Post by OverAndUnder on Apr 27, 2007 18:50:30 GMT -5
Just think how much richer we'll all be intellectually, and how much it will ease race relations in America for a handful of girls to play a season or two of volleyball with some eurochick. Maybe the NCAA could set aside a certain day for all the foreign and american volleyball players of the country to join hands to sing a song of harmony and peace.
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Post by roy on Apr 27, 2007 20:23:13 GMT -5
Just think how much richer we'll all be intellectually, and how much it will ease race relations in America for a handful of girls to play a season or two of volleyball with some eurochick. Maybe the NCAA could set aside a certain day for all the foreign and american volleyball players of the country to join hands to sing a song of harmony and peace. My take has always been that college should be an experience to broaden your horizons. Adding an international player or two (not having a whole roster with international players) is a great experience for the players. The American players may learn very different concepts in volleyball that they may not be used to. They will also (with hope) learn about other cultures and customs that the international players may bring in. It is probably the best way for these players to learn about another country.
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 28, 2007 11:04:53 GMT -5
At what point will the American girls learn about foreign volleyball.....seems like all available time will be devoted to what the coach is trying to accomplish...not international relations. In spirit, yes--it might seem like it could happen. In reality, the time crunch university students experience isn't going to be conducive to "sharing" volleyball stories. That kind of show-and-tell ends in primary school--or is reserved for "international day" held once a year outside the classroom---usually totally voluntary.
Agree that the diversity issue is important---in the classroom--where exchange of ideas happens. On the volleyball court---highly doubtful.
And maybe someone who knows can tell me if other countries are importing American girls for their volleyball teams in the spirit of cultural exchange/diversity? The truth is that today's students have grown up in a much more diverse world than any of us. WE ARE THE ONES LACKING--not them.
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Post by Ajava on Apr 29, 2007 19:34:16 GMT -5
So your telling me there is no time for these kids to spend just talking and shooting BS back and forth. The time crunch you speak of....have you ever traveled on the road with a team, in hotels, buses, restaurants, etc.
As far as the need for international talent.....if there was no need there would be no demand. As far as I can tell there's a pretty good demand for these kids now.
So diversity in the classroom is OK but not on the court. What's the difference.
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Post by D. B. Cooper on Apr 29, 2007 20:00:47 GMT -5
It's about one thing...WINNING! Don't get hung up on diversity or horizons. You get the best players you can wherever you can. But the Big 10 isn't the CAA, so regardless of where she gets the players...domestic, overseas or Mars...they better be able to play at this level.
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 30, 2007 14:31:16 GMT -5
Yes...it's about winning. See earlier statement...isn't there enough talent in the US? Just don't think it's necessary to go abroad. And, see OverandUnder's comment. So it's about winning--that I can agree with. Cannot agree that scholarships within the US should go to those from other countries as long as there are players here who can do the job. This is a big country...thousands of girls play the game. The chosen ones are few. It took a long time for our women to gain such opportunities...and now we are looking elsewhere? ? If there are NO more available US athletes (who can play the game at the highest levels AND compete in the classroom academically), then please say so. Bottom line...not my decision...but I can't rationalize it.
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 30, 2007 14:32:28 GMT -5
Yes...it's about winning. See earlier statement...isn't there enough talent in the US? Just don't think it's necessary to go abroad. And, see OverandUnder's comment. So it's about winning--that I can agree with. Cannot agree that scholarships within the US should go to those from other countries as long as there are players here who can do the job. This is a big country...thousands of girls play the game. The chosen ones are few. It took a long time for our women to gain such opportunities...and now we are looking elsewhere? ? If there are NO more available US athletes (who can play the game at the highest levels AND compete in the classroom academically), then please say so. Bottom line...not my decision...but I can't rationalize it.
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 30, 2007 14:33:30 GMT -5
Sorry....once was enough!
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Post by iu12345 on Apr 30, 2007 15:15:23 GMT -5
Since when are our American Universities restricted to US students? IU has a HUGE international population, which adds to the diversity of the campus. Furthermore, you could make a case for including race or ethnicity into a Title IX sort of deal. If an athletic department has to keep male/female ratios within 5% of the overall university ratios, maybe they should do the same for other protected classes. Anyways, I think it's rediculous to say that scholarships should be open to US athletes only. Think of how short-sighted you sound excluding entire populations from this opportunity. Don't you think at some point in the past (waaaay before this board or the internet for that matter existed) people found it rediculous to give females or African-Americans scholarships when males or Caucasians were available to fill those spots? Open your mind and expand your horizons or at least don't be surprised when others don't agree with you on this one...
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Post by iknowiu on Apr 30, 2007 19:17:26 GMT -5
While I'm "opening my mind" you can reread previous posts...never was there mention that US universities be limited or restricted to current citizens.
My comments are PURELY about a sport with 12 scholarships in a school with 35,000 plus students...in a country with thousands of elite club athletes. Never did I say diversity was a bad thing--in fact in rereading you'll find that I'm pro-diversity. Classroom experiences are a better venue IMO. Athletic traveling with ipods, homework, and sleep deprivation is not really going to make a huge difference in cultural exchange.
You've totally skipped over the point of my QUESTION...aren't there enough highly skilled, willing young women here to fill 12 positions? If you really BELIEVE that these kids are not already totally diversified in their university environment, than perhaps you are new to IU...which has MANY foreign students. And read the other posters...not everyone is on the foreign athlete bandwagon.
I accept your opinion...and my mind remains open. Just cannot rationalize the need to go hunting.
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Post by Chance on Apr 30, 2007 22:01:28 GMT -5
uh, why are you guys getting so wrapped up on "diversity issues?"
You think the coach ever sits down and goes "what can i do to promote cultural exchange between the US and country X?"
I would venture to guess that foreign players are most common on teams who are trying to climb to the elite levels, but arnt there yet (at the time of the players recruitment).
Pretend you are Nebraska. You have no reason to go overseas for players. That takes a lot of work, and you never know who might have adjustment problems. You just go out and (somewhat) have your pick of the very best american (or canadian) players.
But 2nd tier schools cant just take their pick of 1st tier players. They can only easily recruit second tier players. But since they want to be first tier, that means they need to somehow get first tier players.
There are three ways to do it.
1. Somehow convince a first tier play to come to your school. This is hard, but on rare occasions it happens (player wants to stay local, player has family connections, you get lucky, etc...).
2. Get players who are currently 2nd tier players, but have the potential to develop into first tier players (projects). So while Nebraska can get a great athlete with great skills, you might have to get a great athlete who is new to the sport, and hope you can develop her skills by the time she is a sophomore or junior.
3. Get 1st tier players who arnt being recruited by first tier schools. This generally happens for 3 reasons.
First, the player has some sort of negative issue. Maybe they have legal / character problems. Maybe they had a serious injury that caused the better schools to back off. Either way, you could be taking a risk
Second, the player is underrated, or plays in a situation that doesn't showcase her skills well. They might not play for a good club team, or maybe they play in a system that doesn't highlight them (like a WR in football on a run heavy high school team). Or maybe the player plays in the shadow of a more hyped player. The problem with underrated players is they are very hard to find.
Third, the player is from overseas. It takes a lot of effort to recruit overseas, and you could have adjustment issues, so the first tier programs might not bother doing it very much. But for a second tier program, this is a good way to try and get players who might otherwise be "too good for you."
That's why people bring in foreign players, not because of some weird diversity exchange thing.
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