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Post by bookandsnake on Feb 23, 2005 14:00:59 GMT -5
I thought McCormick was the brunt of a lot of criticism from Cook, and I don't think she was enjoying it.
If she goes anywhere, I would think she'd go to Kentucky to be with Skinner, and to be close to home.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 10:36:18 GMT -5
I find this whole situation and people's reaction quite interesting. I have nothing against Amanda personally but as a libero in terms of championship calliber teams she was average at her POSITION. I was told by a former Husker back in December that Amanda was unhappy almost the entire season. If Jen S is going to become the libero then this is a great move, if she's not willing to do that then it could become a liability. Amanda was not great at what she did she was simply better than the big people she went in for. I will be most anxious to see who is playing libero when the Huskers go to spring ball.
Does anyone know why Schwartz hasn't signed yet? Is she looking for a real scholarship somewhere? I haven't seen her play much but most coaches feel she could be great at the position but not in the near future.
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Post by caljr on Feb 24, 2005 11:07:20 GMT -5
I have a beef when a coach recruits a kid to be the Libero, then - after the player does a very respectable job, the coach criticizes the player publicly, puts much of the blame for not winning the title on her, and then puts her out to pasture. Somewhere along the way, the coach made the mistake. Either poor evaluation of talent initially, poor training in the Husker gym, or poor decision-making at match-time. I look for McCormick to show up playing Libero for another good program very soon.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 12:17:06 GMT -5
Public criticism, not a fan of it but I think some of you are being a little hard on Cook on his "evaluation of talent." Given the fact that the libero has only been around in club ball for 5-6 years and is just now being incorporated as an experiment into high school next year most current liberos in college that are from the US have not always been liberos. Many college athletes in all sports do not meet expectations, pressures, etc. Like Tom Osborne said of NU's upcoming football recruting class, there are so many things that can go wrong for an athlete while so few things might go right. I'd say in about 3 more years true liberos will be bountiful for the recruiting. It's really the only position right now that some schools are finding kids and turning them into liberos.
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Post by Kampy on Feb 24, 2005 12:21:02 GMT -5
Amanda was dealing with an arm/shoulder injury all year, so that may have limited her effectiveness.
Having said that, I hope the criticism isn't the main reason she is leaving. An integral player on a top-level team should be able to handle a little criticism. If I recall, Cook made no comments during the season that specifically called Amanda out.
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Post by caljr on Feb 24, 2005 12:21:25 GMT -5
How is recruiting a libero any different than recruiting a backcourt specialist? At least Nebraska was offering a full-boat and should have been able to get the best in the nation. Just because the libero rule is new does not mean that kids just started passing and playing defense in junior ball.
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Post by Kampy on Feb 24, 2005 12:25:43 GMT -5
How is recruiting a libero any different than recruiting a backcourt specialist? At least Nebraska was offering a full-boat and should have been able to get the best in the nation. Just because the libero rule is new does not mean that kids just started passing and playing defense in junior ball. I'm not sure, but I think McCormick was going to be paying her own way; if not this previous year, but next year. I'm sure someone else remembers the specifics of her scholly situation.
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Post by bookandsnake on Feb 24, 2005 13:24:24 GMT -5
Cook was VERY hard on McCormick in general. This doesn't have anything to do with how tough an athlete is. Amanda is a tough cookie. But when your whole existence on a team is beleaguered and criticized, and you're _barely_ supported by your head coach, you tend to start not believing in yourself.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2005 13:31:24 GMT -5
I've very carefully avoided this subject. Every time I type something about Cook, I regret it later.
But I'll say this much (which I've said before): the combination of Larson and Saleaumua as OHs and McCormick as libero would have been a great defensive core for the 2005 Husker squad. With Stalls, Pavan and Elmer (+ all the other bench players), I don't see offense as being a problem.
The Huskers need to be careful not to be too greedy. They could end up tweaking the reception and busting the TV.
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Post by ultravision on Feb 24, 2005 14:38:29 GMT -5
1. As I understand it, Libero at NU is a 2 year scholarship. I think her 2 years are up.
2. IMHO, Cook is a jerk. He's a winner but still a jerk nonetheless.
Given those 2 things, I could understand if she leaves. Why take that abuse for another year? Another year on your own dime.
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Post by vbking on Feb 24, 2005 15:17:03 GMT -5
....IMHO, Cook is a jerk. He's a winner but still a jerk nonetheless.... Before I get to the real reason I'm posting, let me make one other point. What makes Cook a jerk? Every coach out there can be a jerk. Is he a jerk because he is demanding? Is he a jerk because he pushes his athletes hard? Is he a jerk because he is successful? If the truth be known, he is anything but a jerk. He cares about his players, makes sure that they don't need for anything, and is genuinely concerned about their well being. But he still has a job to do because when it is all said and done, they still need to be successful. McCormick was protected by Cook all year. He knew that she did not measure up to other great liberos, but worked with her at every practice to try and make her the best player that she could become. Yes he did recruit her, but in his defense he does admit that he underestimated the value of a great libero and is now trying to correct that problem. All players that play at great programs are expected to perform and if you don't perform then you fall by the wayside. This is what has happened to McCormick. Cook is just trying to do his job; put the best team on the court that he can.
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Post by StanfordFan on Feb 24, 2005 15:46:12 GMT -5
I don't follow Nebraska that closely, so this is my only comment on the subject--If Cook did in fact criticize McCormick openly (and I have no reason to know if he did or did not do so), I think that's pretty poor form. A good coach makes the best of what he or she has. Florida and Stanford case in point. Both lacked true liberos this year. I don't think there was any doubt on that point, at least not from the comments on this board. But neither Dunning nor Wise ever criticized their liberos for not being Gentil or Zartman-esque. In fact, I don't think it's ever justified for a coach to say that any one or more specific players caused a loss.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Feb 24, 2005 15:46:54 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? That is why they have a four years, to develop them into the player they want. Most coaches redshirt a player their freshman or sophomore years to give them another year to develop. Cook had to take some blame in this. I as a coach couldn't develop her talent like I had hoped too.
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Post by roy on Feb 24, 2005 15:46:55 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?
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Post by cbrown1709 on Feb 24, 2005 15:51:57 GMT -5
I can verify that Larson can pass as well as Jen S.
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