Pete Watson Leaves UNC

This is my understanding. When you sign the letter of intent you are binding with the school; however, when a coaching change takes place you are given the opportunity to look elsewhere if you wish. It happens in sports like basketball all the time so I assume the same case goes for running. Pete Watson abandoning his team overnight would surely give those athletes such as your son or daughtor a chance to evaluate the decision. Yes, you choose a school for the school, but a coach is big part of the 4 year plan for an athlete.

My guess is when the athletes heard Watson was gone they began seeking out options.

That is my personal take, I could be completely wrong.

A lot of behind the scenes stuff could have taken place here. The former coach could have given a 'head's up' to certain athletes,etc. In UNC's case, you have a departing distance coach; a likely departing director, as well as a brand new AD, so nobody wants to rock the boat. A release would allow a kid to go immediately, and I believe that they wouldn't have to sit out as long as it's not an intraconference transfer. And it can happen in just 1-2 days

In order to talk to any coach, the athlete must be granted a release from the head coach. So Craddock would have to release these guys to talk to anyone. Otherwise they are in violation of NCAA rules, which would not be good for them OR the coaches they are talking to. Even if they just don't sign a letter for next year, they still must be granted a release or sit out a year.

Maybe what you mean is they have made up their minds to leave. Hopefully they will work through the process the right way and not jeopardize themselves or anyone else.

your take is completely wrong.

you are bound to your NLI. If you transfer in the first year it is a 2 year sit out.

after that, you must sit for ALL transfers unless the school grants a 1 time transfer exception. But the key word here is EXCEPTION.

it is not a given, no matter how much message board cry babies try to say it is not fair. Those are the rules you play by, end of story.

Coach leaving is not a reason in any sport. And in football and basketball it is an automatic sit a year, those sports don't even have the exception available.

so, for kids, parents and high school coaches: if you don't think even successful college coaches will sit in front of you and tell you that their school is the best place on earth, and that they will take care of your kid, this scenario shows you 3 coaches, and 3 schools who acted exactly opposite of that. so if kids, parents, and hs coaches continue to steer kids towards some hot shot magical coach that is fine, but don't wine about the consequence of being left in a place you don't like. the rules are clear from the start, and this is just the wake up call of the moment. pick a school because it is where you want to be studying and living for 4 years, not because of some coach.

Wrong ^ your only 2 guys transfered. deal with it

The release is not granted by the coach, it is granted by the AD. Some just rubber stamp the coaches wishes, some release, and some are bound by bound by conference agreements not to release an athlete within the conference. There are two releases which have to be obtained. One is to talk to other schools and the other would be to transfer. An athlete can appeal denial of a release.

Sick of hearing how one-sided the "agreement" is. Have you ever thought that no mattr how good your track or cross country team is, it loses money for the University?And then at the same time, don't bother to say thanks if your kid ends up horsing around in college, barely staying eligible, causing problems, having a poor lifestyle, not scoring any points at conference, and feel he/she earned their scholarship in high school because more the norm is that an AD will NEVER let a coach slash a kids scholarship no matter how much warranted until a million chances have expired..

don't see how wrote:

Who are the 2? Don't see how they could pull that off in 3 days time unless they already had permission from compliance to talk to other coaches and had transfer paperwork already submitted - in other words they had plans to transfer prior to any of this happening

Besides Alex Deir, who else is leaving?

Jake was visiting syracuse the last few days. He's leaving as well.

alex dear failed out, he did not transfer. he will be going to a juco somewhere.

They can all tranfer and most always will get a release out of conference. AD will protect their teams strength and weakness in conference but ultimately don't want to hold anyone back as there will be someone ready to replace them. So ACC TRANSFER 1 YEAR, OUT OF CONFERENCE -IMMEDIATE RELEASE IN MOST CASES.

UNC is a very professional program and they mean no harm towards athletes decision after a coach decides to leave, especially in a non-revenue sport. Hopefully anyone that transfers is also thinking about his DEGREE.

What I think -

VanHoy is on stage... If gets these kids to run faster this year then last year then he has a fair shot to keep spot.

He was some nice young kids to work with. Look at their results, how many Frosh/Soph were in his top 7 in Cross this year?

Better question - who is in line to take the director of T&F at the end of this year? Someone in house?

Hurysz will be at syracuse or oklahoma state. Word

Jake might have visited Syracuse. That would make sense given his background. I could see them on his list.

Glad to see that Jake is a man of high character and that he will stick it out with his teammates.

Sure where ever he goes that his new teammates will be more then sure he has their back.

TOOL!!!!!

Hook 'em!

You bash hurysz but are the same poster praising dunbar on going to oregon...oh ok. Tool. Go break 16 and come back on here

Only 1 left unc. Alex Deir. He did not transfer we left because of academic struggles.

Can't believe we have not heard from Rob the DNF yet.