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Post by bigfan on Feb 24, 2005 16:01:19 GMT -5
Is a 2 year training all that Cook can give a young lady and then she is expected to preform perfectly and if not she is out? This has been the reality of big time football and basketball for years; produce or leave. It is now starting to happen in big-time womens sports. That is why they have a four years, to develop them into the player they want. Cook had to take some blame in this. Cook is not to blame, he has a responsibility to produce and to win for his program and school. His program generates a tremendous amount of money because of its winning success. The players are basically hired guns. They are recruited to win, if they do not too bad. These are the rules and the reality of big-time college athletics.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 16:17:45 GMT -5
All of this implies McCormick was mediocre or worse. She was not. She's not the best libero in the country, but she's better than most.
She was a scapegoat, plain and simple.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Feb 24, 2005 16:21:52 GMT -5
This has been the reality of big time football and basketball for years; produce or leave. It is now starting to happen in big-time womens sports. Cook is not to blame, he has a responsibility to produce and to win for his program and school. His program generates a tremendous amount of money because of its winning success. The players are basically hired guns. They are recruited to win, if they do not too bad. These are the rules and the reality of big-time college athletics. That is why everyone calls them coach. They are there to teach these girls not direct them. And when you say produce, do you mean if I can't make them preform the way I want in 2 years time then your gone. I wonder if that is how it was layed out to Amanda when he recruited her?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 16:25:27 GMT -5
Wow---so many thoughts so little time.
On Cook being a jerk. If you don't know him personally, haven't sat through a clinic he's run, talked to him personally or witnessed him coach in practice you do not have a right to call him a jerk. He is more personable than a lot of D 1 Coaches I have personally talked to. He goes out of his way to say hello to us "little" people even though we don't have players that will ever play in his program. He also gets his players to produce, Jenny Kropp and Kim Beherends come to mind. They didn't play worth squat for Petitt but was amazing under Cook and his staff. He almost obsesses on his player's well being, this is common knowledge among the volleyball community in Nebraska.
On recruiting defensive specialists being the same as liberos. I disagree and this is why. Currently volleyball is one a few sports(I'm trying to think of other examples but struggling) that has a position used in the college level that we aren't using in high school. Well you say but they can do it in club it isn't that easy. Many kids were/are reluctant to play libero in club because they couldn't play that position on their high school team. Most high school teams that have amazing passers, defenders on their teams have them on the court all six rotations, not just three. There are a lot of small kids playing outside hitter in high school that can just pass nails. Many parents do not want to pay money for their kids to play a position in club that they will not play in high school. Now that the libero is being adopted by high schools I think that more kids will aspire to be great at that position. Nebraska offered a libero scholarship to the setter that is going to Creighton as she is just a great defensive player, she wanted to remain setting. I just don't think the overall caliber of liberos acrossed the country has even begun to reach greatness. I think it will over the next couple years with the adoption of this use in the high schools.
Finally I can't ever remember reading Cook being publically critical of Amanda. He commented after the loss last December that he underestimated the value of the libero role and that NU would be reevaluating that role's importance.
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Post by huskervbfan on Feb 24, 2005 16:27:17 GMT -5
I thought McCormick was the brunt of a lot of criticism from Cook. I follow Husker volleyball pretty closely but I must have missed a lot. Can you point to any comments on the net where "McCormick was the brunt of a lot of criticism from Cook."? I recall one brief comment about McCormick and I also recall brief comments about nearly every player not playing to their full potential at one time or another. Can ANYONE point to more than one simple comment where Cook may have criticized McCormick? Unless this can be substantiated, it is getting blown WAY out of proportion.
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Post by vbking on Feb 24, 2005 16:32:32 GMT -5
So, where does this leave Nebraska in terms of passing? If Saleaumua does move to libero, what other outside hitter(s) can pass? Can any of the other outside hitters pass without being a liability? Nebraska will be a better passing team next year that they were this past year. Jen S. is a great passer, Pavan is an excellent passer and with Larsen coming in the Huskers has 3 great passers.
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Post by Kampy on Feb 24, 2005 16:33:29 GMT -5
Can ANYONE point to more than one simple comment where Cook may have criticized McCormick? Unless this can be substantiated, it is getting blown WAY out of proportion. I agree. I don't believe McCormick was criticized excessively or unduly by the coaches.
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Post by FreeBall on Feb 24, 2005 16:34:27 GMT -5
So, where does this leave Nebraska in terms of passing? If Saleaumua does move to libero, what other outside hitter(s) can pass? Can any of the other outside hitters pass without being a liability? I hope to see a lineup with Saleaumua at Libero, and Larson and Houghtelling at OH. Points to consider: 1. Saleaumua has been NU's best passer and defender the past 3 seasons and having her in the backrow for 11 out of 12 rotations would lead to improved defensive play. 2. I have not seen Larson play, but everything that I have heard indicates that she is a very capable passer and defender. 3. For the most part I was surprised and pleased with Houghtelling's defensive play last year. She made a quick transition from MB to OH and handled passing and defensive responsibilities quite well under those circumstances. I expect more consistency and even steadier play out of her this coming season. 4. One thing that is missing from the discussion up to this point is the play of Pavan in the backrow. For a tall player she is an excellent passer and gives the Huskers options in their serve receive patterns. With Saleaumua and Larson handling the bulk of the passing, I don't think that the combination of Pavan and Houghtelling as secondary passers would be much of a liability.
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Post by bigfan on Feb 24, 2005 16:39:22 GMT -5
They are there to teach these girls not direct them. They should be doing both. And when you say produce, do you mean if I can't make them preform the way I want in 2 years time then your gone. Big time programs tell incoming players we put the best players on the floor regardless of year. I wonder if that is how it was layed out to Amanda when he recruited her? Ask Amanda or Mr. Cook
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Post by FreeBall on Feb 24, 2005 16:51:01 GMT -5
I think too much emphasis is being placed on the "Cook was overly critical of Amanda" angle. Is it possible that the decision to move Saleaumua to Libero has already been made (to make the best use of the talents of the players on the team) and that the possible departure of McCormick is related primarily to this?
As stated by another poster earlier in the thread, McCormick came in with only a two year scholarship and would have to pay her own way the next two years. She may not be willing to do this if she has to be in a backup role one or both of the next two seasons. If she wants to be on the floor and needs to transfer to do so, I wish her the best wherever she ends up.
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Post by berrylogan on Feb 24, 2005 17:00:31 GMT -5
Being a volleyball fan from Logansport, Indiana, I did not see any Nebraska matches during the season, but I did travel to Louisville and watched the Huskers play in the NCAA regionals. McCormick was outstanding in both matches. She kept the Huskers in the USC match with precision ball control and relentless defense. She played nearly a perfect match until her two ball handling errors in the final game which both came about off of two very tough serves. For 99% of the match, she was brilliant. For anyone to blame the NCAA loss on McCormick would be a complete injustice and tradgedy unless someone wants to blame the Nebraska defeat on the final point of the match.
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Post by BearClause on Feb 24, 2005 17:05:28 GMT -5
I hope to see a lineup with Saleaumua at Libero, and Larson and Houghtelling at OH. Points to consider: 1. Saleaumua has been NU's best passer and defender the past 3 seasons and having her in the backrow for 7 out of 8 rotations would lead to improved defensive play. Don't you mean "11 out of 12 rotations", assuming that you consider service and serve-receive different rotations?
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Post by bookandsnake on Feb 24, 2005 17:10:40 GMT -5
I don't think Cook is a jerk at all. But to say he "protected" McCormick is laughable. Ask around.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 17:21:18 GMT -5
This was the quote, although I think there were others.
"It was a good match, obviously we didn't take advantage of our opportunities to win and USC did. I think the difference was Keao Burdine, she showed why she was the MVP of the last two final fours. I thought their libero did a great job and that was probably the difference in the match. "
Mountain out of a mole hill? Dunno.
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Post by FreeBall on Feb 24, 2005 17:32:03 GMT -5
[quote author=BearClause link=board=general&thread=1109162443&start=41#2 date=1109282728] Don't you mean "11 out of 12 rotations", assuming that you consider service and serve-receive different rotations? [/quote]
Yes - Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I have modified the original post accordingly.
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