BYU 2022

[smartcookie]

Public statement posted by Duke player on Instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/Ch0BJnoO4Cf

[Brutus Buckeye]

Pretty sure there's a separate thread for that particular topic.

[mintonetteman]

marnvbc I have no idea why you have your axes to grind, but I am sure you will use this latest issue to blast your typical negativity and to further your club drama. I had not watched Eden Bower in person (still have not), but on television, I have not seen a more impressive volleyball body. I had no idea how long she was or what she touches (I really want to know this). But, on the replays, it was pretty clear she was an impressively high block. Actually played better against the bigger WSU block which I thought was a good sign. She has a long way to go, but if I am BYU it makes all the sense in the world to spend considerable time developing her. Also, I was very interested to see how she passed when she was in serve recieve -- she actually looked pretty good. And, BYU has an incredible track record of developing really good pins. I am still a huge fan of Callahan--told everyone they were sleeping on her. Love Stowell, for other reasons. But, I predicted Callahan would be better. But it was pretty clear on TV that neither has the upside. Kudos to E. Bower for beating them out -- for now. Feel the same way with the libero position--saw things that point me to McComber...but I think I get why they play Knudsen. Clear that Knudsen won the job--but for now. But, just with the pin hitters...hope it stays competitive for a long time. Good for our team.

I will say this my non-BYU volleyball friends (same ones that gave me the scoop on Callahan), individuals that I trust have told me that if and when BYU gets Eden Bower, Kate Prior and Claire Little (who is a very long athletic player) playing to their potential, they will have legit shot at getting back to the Final Four. Again, IF those kids hit their potential. Add to that an Erin Livingston who is soooo dynamic, and a setter that IMO is really distributing the ball well --- we just need develop consistent passers. But hey, that's another post!

[mintonetteman]

One more point, I was surprised that Callahan and Stowell did not play back row...or Billiter. Thought we may be developing them as future DS.

[marnvbc2]

I am hearing rumors that people in Texas, in and around the DFW metro are calling into talk sports talk radio shows and ripping the "God Mother" (not really related) of the Duke vb player as a racist and that she has scrubbed her twitter account the last 2 days of very racist items she posted over the years. She is running for office as a democrat in Tarrant Co and has put some very vile postings on her twitter over the years. She is a lightening rod for controversy and she actually posted that the Duke vb player would be having more to say about the racist comment issue at BYU the day before the actual post was made. Jay Bilas re-posted the response by the Duke player who was allegedly the target of racist remarks in the BYU facility. This whole situation needs to be looked into and all video of the match between BYU and Duke .... including all angles covered by BYUtv whether it was shown live or was simply recording the event but not seen by the TV audience needs to be reviewed. The student section in question just isn't that big of an area. BYU did ban a non BYU student from attending any BYU events but again, I am hearing that some Duke team members expressed their belief that the guy in question "might be him" to security. They were not sure and they didn't identify anyone during the match as the perp. This ID took place after the match as people were leaving the arena. I am not saying that Duke has done anything wrong or that there wasn't a racial incident that needs to be dealt with in a strong and swift manner. There probably is fire where there is smoke, but without the facts we don't know for sure who started the issue or actually heard or said what. I am not in the know on this situation but I was second hand told that there was a threatening issue in the stands and that fans were concerned and went to find authorities to report the behavior and it was thought to be related to the man yelling at Duke players ..... now it appears that this situation may not be related to racial slurs being hurled at anyone. I am going to hold my opinion and let the facts be uncovered as the interviews of all people in the student section that is closest to the floor are completed. There is simply too many moving parts to this story to tell what likely happened in that student section without more investigation. There might by multiple name callers/threateners in those stands who need to have charges brought against them or as some in Texas have suggested there might something else altogether at work here. I am not going to comment anymore about the incident until all facts are vetted and all parties are interviewed and heard from. This could get messy before it ends.

[VT Five-0]

Aug 29, 2022 15:50:05 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

I am hearing rumors that people in Texas, in and around the DFW metro are calling into talk sports talk radio shows and ripping the "God Mother" (not really related) of the Duke vb player as a racist and that she has scrubbed her twitter account the last 2 days of very racist items she posted over the years. She is running for office as a democrat in Tarrant Co and has put some very vile postings on her twitter over the years. She is a lightening rod for controversy and she actually posted that the Duke vb player would be having more to say about the racist comment issue at BYU the day before the actual post was made. Jay Bilas re-posted the response by the Duke player who was allegedly the target of racist remarks in the BYU facility. This whole situation needs to be looked into and all video of the match between BYU and Duke .... including all angles covered by BYUtv whether it was shown live or was simply recording the event but not seen by the TV audience needs to be reviewed. The student section in question just isn't that big of an area. BYU did ban a non BYU student from attending any BYU events but again, I am hearing that some Duke team members expressed their belief that the guy in question "might be him" to security. They were not sure and they didn't identify anyone during the match as the perp. This ID took place after the match as people were leaving the arena. I am not saying that Duke has done anything wrong or that there wasn't a racial incident that needs to be dealt with in a strong and swift manner. There probably is fire where there is smoke, but without the facts we don't know for sure who started the issue or actually heard or said what. I am not in the know on this situation but I was second hand told that there was a threatening issue in the stands and that fans were concerned and went to find authorities to report the behavior and it was thought to be related to the man yelling at Duke players ..... now it appears that this situation may not be related to racial slurs being hurled at anyone. I am going to hold my opinion and let the facts be uncovered as the interviews of all people in the student section that is closest to the floor are completed. There is simply too many moving parts to this story to tell what likely happened in that student section without more investigation. There might by multiple name callers/threateners in those stands who need to have charges brought against them or as some in Texas have suggested there might something else altogether at work here. I am not going to comment anymore about the incident until all facts are vetted and all parties are interviewed and heard from. This could get messy before it ends.

Rumors are not facts! Keep rumors to yourself.

[azvb]

Aug 29, 2022 15:50:05 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

I am hearing rumors that people in Texas, in and around the DFW metro are calling into talk sports talk radio shows and ripping the "God Mother" (not really related) of the Duke vb player as a racist and that she has scrubbed her twitter account the last 2 days of very racist items she posted over the years. She is running for office as a democrat in Tarrant Co and has put some very vile postings on her twitter over the years. She is a lightening rod for controversy and she actually posted that the Duke vb player would be having more to say about the racist comment issue at BYU the day before the actual post was made. Jay Bilas re-posted the response by the Duke player who was allegedly the target of racist remarks in the BYU facility. This whole situation needs to be looked into and all video of the match between BYU and Duke .... including all angles covered by BYUtv whether it was shown live or was simply recording the event but not seen by the TV audience needs to be reviewed. The student section in question just isn't that big of an area. BYU did ban a non BYU student from attending any BYU events but again, I am hearing that some Duke team members expressed their belief that the guy in question "might be him" to security. They were not sure and they didn't identify anyone during the match as the perp. This ID took place after the match as people were leaving the arena. I am not saying that Duke has done anything wrong or that there wasn't a racial incident that needs to be dealt with in a strong and swift manner. There probably is fire where there is smoke, but without the facts we don't know for sure who started the issue or actually heard or said what. I am not in the know on this situation but I was second hand told that there was a threatening issue in the stands and that fans were concerned and went to find authorities to report the behavior and it was thought to be related to the man yelling at Duke players ..... now it appears that this situation may not be related to racial slurs being hurled at anyone. I am going to hold my opinion and let the facts be uncovered as the interviews of all people in the student section that is closest to the floor are completed. There is simply too many moving parts to this story to tell what likely happened in that student section without more investigation. There might by multiple name callers/threateners in those stands who need to have charges brought against them or as some in Texas have suggested there might something else altogether at work here. I am not going to comment anymore about the incident until all facts are vetted and all parties are interviewed and heard from. This could get messy before it ends.

There’s a separate thread for this.

[marnvbc2]

Aug 29, 2022 15:41:58 GMT -5 mintonetteman said:

One more point, I was surprised that Callahan and Stowell did not play back row...or Billiter. Thought we may be developing them as future DS.

If you call me out for pointing out issues that are obvious weaknesses in a program (like other threads do on this site with most college programs ) you are simply mad that I point out BYU's deficiencies.  I don't have any axes to grind with BYU.  But, I can certainly point out areas that need to be looked at to improve a program.  If that is an axe to grind in your book, then fine.  If I don't mention that recruiting, passing and playing time need to be looked at inside of Heather's staff .... it doesn't make the issue go away.  They are still issues!  If there is a weakness then go address it.  I said that E Bower would not be a 6 rotation player.  I said she is not a great jumper or blocker.  I stand by those stmts.  Lots of pins in this country aren't 6 rotations players.  It is what it is.  Callahan and Stowell are in the same boat.  Callahan and Livingston are athletically gifted enough (IMO) to be successful on the backrow and we will see what the hard work in the off season has done for Livingston.  She might just have turned the corner.  I hope she has.  I hope Grimmer can do the same.  The fact that Dayton was put in during the scrimmage, to pass, gave me insight that Heather thinks she is better than Callahan and Stowell.  That isn't good because Dayton isn't close to elite level in the passing dept.  She is not built for quickness or success back there and she needs to leave the roster with M Bower.  Billiter was the one player I really wanted to see on the backrow and I admit I am confused by lack of opportunity for her.  Is she just not good enough to play a set back there against competition that isn't threatening to beat BYU?  All these questions are not axes to grind.  But I think it would help the program to give some shots to players to allow them to show themselves and everyone else what they can or can't do.  But, there is a lot of season remaining.  My worry (and  I have complained about this before, another axe) is that BYU doesn't have a history of playing much of their bench at all, unless injury occurs.  One comment out of left field .... out of all the players who surprised me on the upside, Whitney Llarenas holds the top spot.  David Hyte is a great coach of MB's and I don't know who decided to allow a bench player into the match but when Prior entered and played a few rotations, anyone with vb knowledge could see the enormous potential in that girl.  She is the real deal.  At least the same, but probably better jumping ability than Eschenberg.  Prior will end up  with more muscle and better movement than most BYU MB's of all time.  She just gave up a redshirt year be playing, so I hope that was smart on BYU's part. I wouldn't have done that.  However, there is a chance that BYU runs into Wisc again and they will need Prior to block the 6'9" MB in Madison.  But, BYU is loaded at MB this year.  Prior can be brought along and then dominate next season.  

Still the playing time and obvious starters in the BYU tourney make everyone realize that half the roster (or more) just got put on notice that they will be on the bench for the remainder of their career behind those that played and are younger than they are.  It is a big message sent .... just don't know how many players received it.  I also don't know why BYU won't take an opportunity to speak with players that they don't believe have the upside to start and encourage them to go where they can play when the season is over.  BYU needs 6-7 roster spots for L/DS's for next season to find 2 who are keepers.  Have to get it done and allow for open competition on the backrow.  Since they don't have luck in identifying "players" in recruiting circles they just need to go with a numbers approach.  We shall see what we learn as the schedule unfolds.

[marnvbc2]

Aug 29, 2022 16:25:59 GMT -5 VT Five-0 said:

Aug 29, 2022 15:50:05 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

I am hearing rumors that people in Texas, in and around the DFW metro are calling into talk sports talk radio shows and ripping the "God Mother" (not really related) of the Duke vb player as a racist and that she has scrubbed her twitter account the last 2 days of very racist items she posted over the years. She is running for office as a democrat in Tarrant Co and has put some very vile postings on her twitter over the years. She is a lightening rod for controversy and she actually posted that the Duke vb player would be having more to say about the racist comment issue at BYU the day before the actual post was made. Jay Bilas re-posted the response by the Duke player who was allegedly the target of racist remarks in the BYU facility. This whole situation needs to be looked into and all video of the match between BYU and Duke .... including all angles covered by BYUtv whether it was shown live or was simply recording the event but not seen by the TV audience needs to be reviewed. The student section in question just isn't that big of an area. BYU did ban a non BYU student from attending any BYU events but again, I am hearing that some Duke team members expressed their belief that the guy in question "might be him" to security. They were not sure and they didn't identify anyone during the match as the perp. This ID took place after the match as people were leaving the arena. I am not saying that Duke has done anything wrong or that there wasn't a racial incident that needs to be dealt with in a strong and swift manner. There probably is fire where there is smoke, but without the facts we don't know for sure who started the issue or actually heard or said what. I am not in the know on this situation but I was second hand told that there was a threatening issue in the stands and that fans were concerned and went to find authorities to report the behavior and it was thought to be related to the man yelling at Duke players ..... now it appears that this situation may not be related to racial slurs being hurled at anyone. I am going to hold my opinion and let the facts be uncovered as the interviews of all people in the student section that is closest to the floor are completed. There is simply too many moving parts to this story to tell what likely happened in that student section without more investigation. There might by multiple name callers/threateners in those stands who need to have charges brought against them or as some in Texas have suggested there might something else altogether at work here. I am not going to comment anymore about the incident until all facts are vetted and all parties are interviewed and heard from. This could get messy before it ends.

Rumors are not facts! Keep rumors to yourself.

[marnvbc2]

Aug 29, 2022 16:50:03 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

Aug 29, 2022 16:25:59 GMT -5 VT Five-0 said:

Rumors are not facts! Keep rumors to yourself.

I will keep rumors to myself on this.  You can check the ladies twitter and see it was scrubbed so that isn't a rumor.

[eotexas5]

Aug 29, 2022 16:51:25 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

Aug 29, 2022 16:50:03 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

I will keep rumors to myself on this.  You can check the ladies twitter and see it was scrubbed so that isn't a rumor.

What does her Twitter account have anything to do with her granddaughter being called a racial slur? There's literally no correlation there...

[bkedane]

Aug 29, 2022 16:39:48 GMT -5 marnvbc2 said:

Aug 29, 2022 15:41:58 GMT -5 mintonetteman said:

One more point, I was surprised that Callahan and Stowell did not play back row...or Billiter. Thought we may be developing them as future DS.

If you call me out for pointing out issues that are obvious weaknesses in a program (like other threads do on this site with most college programs ) you are simply mad that I point out BYU's deficiencies.  I don't have any axes to grind with BYU.  But, I can certainly point out areas that need to be looked at to improve a program.  If that is an axe to grind in your book, then fine.  If I don't mention that recruiting, passing and playing time need to be looked at inside of Heather's staff .... it doesn't make the issue go away.  They are still issues!  If there is a weakness then go address it.  I said that E Bower would not be a 6 rotation player.  I said she is not a great jumper or blocker.  I stand by those stmts.  Lots of pins in this country aren't 6 rotations players.  It is what it is.  Callahan and Stowell are in the same boat.  Callahan and Livingston are athletically gifted enough (IMO) to be successful on the backrow and we will see what the hard work in the off season has done for Livingston.  She might just have turned the corner.  I hope she has.  I hope Grimmer can do the same.  The fact that Dayton was put in during the scrimmage, to pass, gave me insight that Heather thinks she is better than Callahan and Stowell.  That isn't good because Dayton isn't close to elite level in the passing dept.  She is not built for quickness or success back there and she needs to leave the roster with M Bower.  Billiter was the one player I really wanted to see on the backrow and I admit I am confused by lack of opportunity for her.  Is she just not good enough to play a set back there against competition that isn't threatening to beat BYU?  All these questions are not axes to grind.  But I think it would help the program to give some shots to players to allow them to show themselves and everyone else what they can or can't do.  But, there is a lot of season remaining.  My worry (and  I have complained about this before, another axe) is that BYU doesn't have a history of playing much of their bench at all, unless injury occurs.  One comment out of left field .... out of all the players who surprised me on the upside, Whitney Llarenas holds the top spot.  David Hyte is a great coach of MB's and I don't know who decided to allow a bench player into the match but when Prior entered and played a few rotations, anyone with vb knowledge could see the enormous potential in that girl.  She is the real deal.  At least the same, but probably better jumping ability than Eschenberg.  Prior will end up  with more muscle and better movement than most BYU MB's of all time.  She just gave up a redshirt year be playing, so I hope that was smart on BYU's part. I wouldn't have done that.  However, there is a chance that BYU runs into Wisc again and they will need Prior to block the 6'9" MB in Madison.  But, BYU is loaded at MB this year.  Prior can be brought along and then dominate next season.  

Still the playing time and obvious starters in the BYU tourney make everyone realize that half the roster (or more) just got put on notice that they will be on the bench for the remainder of their career behind those that played and are younger than they are.  It is a big message sent .... just don't know how many players received it.  I also don't know why BYU won't take an opportunity to speak with players that they don't believe have the upside to start and encourage them to go where they can play when the season is over.  BYU needs 6-7 roster spots for L/DS's for next season to find 2 who are keepers.  Have to get it done and allow for open competition on the backrow.  Since they don't have luck in identifying "players" in recruiting circles they just need to go with a numbers approach.  We shall see what we learn as the schedule unfolds.

Do you really think the BYU non-starters do not get to compete for playing time in practice?

The current reserves have surely been put on notice that they are not the current starters. That does not mean that they do not get this opportunity in the future.

Like some other top programs, at BYU the staff seems to not follow the "give them a chance in a real match" approach to choosing lineups. They seem to choose lineups based almost entirely on practice evaluations. Some other top programs do the same and others do it the other way, more like what you keep saying BYU needs to do. Which approach is best? Looking at recent final four and championship teams it looks like both approaches are taken. I don't know which approach is best.

What i do find bizzare is the repeated idea that the coaching staff needs to give playing time in matches to reserves so that *fans* can see them and evaluate lineups. Among the various reasons to play the reserves at times, this one is surely the worst.

[azvb]

BYU used to use the “cauldron”. Don’t know if Heather uses it.

[pelagius]

Aug 29, 2022 15:35:19 GMT -5 mintonetteman said:

I had not watched Eden Bower in person (still have not), but on television, I have not seen a more impressive volleyball body. I had no idea how long she was or what she touches (I really want to know this). But, on the replays, it was pretty clear she was an impressively high block. Actually played better against the bigger WSU block which I thought was a good sign. She has a long way to go, but if I am BYU it makes all the sense in the world to spend considerable time developing her. Also, I was very interested to see how she passed when she was in serve recieve -- she actually looked pretty good.

Totally agree with this, and I've seen her in person three times now. She is very long, moves well, and I think adjust to sets well. Yes, she doesn't jump well, but she seems quite athletic in other ways.

Like you, I was impressed by her passing. She's only passing in the one rotation, but teams did target her and she has looked pretty good. That doesn't mean she hold up if she was a consistent target for multiple rotations, but it's encouraging.

[mintonetteman]

Hey, 6 to 7 roster spots could include a second tier Club V libero...great idea.