Ford

[HawkfaninWA]

Was reading through the article discussing each team's weak point and I came across Illinois at the bottom of the pile. Not that we need him at this point, but do you think Ford is wishing he made a different decision now? Ouch.

 

[Billso]

Ford is dead to me.

 

[Bucketochicken]

Was reading through the article discussing each team's weak point and I came across Illinois at the bottom of the pile. Not that we need him at this point, but do you think Ford is wishing he made a different decision now? Ouch.

I'm guessing there are quite a few kids there who wish they'd made a different decision.

 

[mrolympia]

guy made his choice, he chose to be a decent player on an AWFUL team than be the starting HB (probably) on a BCS-bowl caliber team.

 

[JHHawk]

guy made his choice, he chose to be a decent player on an AWFUL team than be the starting HB (probably) on a BCS-bowl caliber team.

I suspect Nate Scheelhaase might suffer the same fate. As a legacy recruit,he should have known better.

 

[SeattleHawkeye]

If Scheelhaase is lucky this is Zook's last year, and he ends up w/ a better situation for the remaining 2-3 seasons of his eligibility. As for Ford, my thought was, 'Would I rather be the best player on a crap team, or a cog in the machine of a good team?' Guess it just depends on your perspective and personality.

 

[FromFry2Ferentz]

Ford is a great player, sure would have been nice to have him last year.

 

[mrolympia]

Ford would have started last year, don't kid yourself. He would've gotten probably 1400+ yards as well.

 

[VintageHawkeye]

Haven't you guys heard?!? illannoy hired PETRINO and they are now a shoo-in to put up like 45 points per game.
Get ready to read about the blue and orange express this autumn!

one play at a time
one play at a time
one play at a time
everybody's in to it

 

[HawkfaninWA]

Ford would have started last year, don't kid yourself. He would've gotten probably 1400+ yards as well.

But he didn't and that's the point. He may be a decent player on a crap team, but if he was trying to up his stock in the draft, in the words of the old knight in Temple of Doom . . . [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCUwQIn3GrU]YouTube - He chose . . . poorly.[/ame]

 

[spliff45]

But he didn't and that's the point. He may be a decent player on a crap team, but if he was trying to up his stock in the draft, in the words of the old knight in Temple of Doom . . . YouTube - He chose . . . poorly.

That would be The Last Crusade.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

To answer your question, yes, I think he regrets it.

Nobody wants to play on a losing team then watch a team you could have gone to win BCS games & be in the national media talk as a national championship contender.

 

[SDK46]

Good thing Ford talked to CJ and told him to stay the hell out of Chump-pain!

 

[HawkfaninWA]

That would be The Last Crusade.

Ah crap, that's right. Still, the quote fits like OJ's glove. Oh wait, that's another thread.

 

[AEGHawkeye]

The guy made a rash decision and I bet he would love to leave them for anybody else right now...but hey that's what you get when you sign on with Ron Zook. I mean seriously...RON ZOOK! He got what he deserved for making that decision. Anybody but Ron Zook and I would feel somewhat bad for the kid. Zook is a proven loser...so why play for him?

 

[COLAHawk]

I don't think he does. He has been around the Illini program long enough to where he has made a human connection with the other Illinois players, and he has had the opportunity to contribute on the field already. Although it probably bothers him that the team has been doing so poorly (and he may wonder "what if?"), he has probably solidified his identity as an Illini player. And Scheelhaase has been handed the keys, so right now both players feel as if they have an opportunity to right the ship themselves. As a result, I have little doubt that neither Ford nor Scheelhaase wishes they would have come to Iowa instead.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

I don't think he does. He has been around the Illini program long enough to where he has made a human connection with the other Illinois players, and he has had the opportunity to contribute on the field already. Although it probably bothers him that the team has been doing so poorly (and he may wonder "what if?"), he has probably solidified his identity as an Illini player. And Scheelhaase has been handed the keys, so right now both players feel as if they have an opportunity to right the ship themselves. As a result, I have little doubt that neither Ford nor Scheelhaase wishes they would have come to Iowa instead.

COLAHawk -

For the most part, I agree with ya there. I think that both guys probably look at things and figure that they still made a good decision for themselves. However, that said, I'm sure that during the recruiting process, they probably felt that their decision was even better.

For instance, Ford went to Illinois after the Illini had just enjoyed a BCS bowl visit. Furthermore, Ford probably thought that he'd "inherit the keys" left by Mendenhall. I'm willing to bet that things haven't worked out exactly as he would have envisioned.

As for Scheelhaase, he's getting the nod as a starter as a RS FR. It's hard for any collegiate talent to be able to complain about that ... especially for a guy playing on a BCS conference squad. However, that said, Scheelhaase probably figured that he'd be leading a squad using his feet more ... having even more of the O flow through him, just like it did when Juice was at the helm. You have to remember that he picked the Illini because he felt that the SCHEME was a perfect fit for him. Now, while he might be the starter in 2010, he's also going to be the starter in a system that is A LOT more like the Hawkeye system. Furthermore, he has to do so with everybody around him learning a new system too. In contrast, at Iowa, he likely wouldn't have been starting quite so soon, however he would have been stepping into a better situation because all of the players surrounding him would already know the system.

 

[HawkfaninWA]

Ahh, there's the long analysis from Homer I was expecting.

The thing is, would you rather get to start early in a crappy program or be more like a USC/Texas/OSU where you usually have to wait your turn developing behind big talent (and then when you get your turn you shine)? Iowa is becoming more of a program where you wait your turn and I'm OK with that. Apparently Ford wasn't.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

Ahh, there's the long analysis from Homer I was expecting.

The thing is, would you rather get to start early in a crappy program or be more like a USC/Texas/OSU where you usually have to wait your turn developing behind big talent (and then when you get your turn you shine)? Iowa is becoming more of a program where you wait your turn and I'm OK with that. Apparently Ford wasn't.

The thing is, the primary reason why Ford was considering Iowa was because of the ridiculous opportunity that Iowa provided. Greene hadn't yet returned to the squad and, for a short while, Pugh was the only RB on a 'ship ... and he ended up leaving. Quite frankly, it didn't really appear that there would be much competition at Iowa at the RB spot when Ford was trying to make his decision. The primary reason why Ford picked the Illini is because he was an Illinois lean from the outset ... they just didn't seem to offer the chance to play early until Mendenhall bolted for the NFL early.

 

[5Hawkeyes]

To answer your question, yes, I think he regrets it.

Nobody wants to play on a losing team then watch a team you could have gone to win BCS games & be in the national media talk as a national championship contender.

I'm guessing David Barrent is feeling somewhat like this right now...too bad could have used him this year!!!