'Hired guns' unloaded?
If this proposal was in effect at the present time, Western's present and future could be different
Kyle Dierking
Issue date: 10/19/05 Section: Sports
The senior has provided not only leadership to a young Leathernecks defense, but he has recorded two sacks and 24 total tackles. If the rule was already put into place, Lukabu would be unable to find that middle ground of receiving playing time and being a part of a competitive college football program.
"Personally for me, it would be very frustrating and upsetting," Luakabu said. "It hurts the players more than anything. I hope they don't ever establish that rule for people in my shoes."
Although Lukabu came having not received his bachelor's degree yet, another former Leatherneck, Phil Archer came to Western in 2003 with a degree in-hand from the University of Minnesota, looking for an opportunity to provide a spark to a defense that went to the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs that year.
"I think he felt that he wasn't going to get the playing opportunity that he deserved," Patterson said. "He wanted to play, he didn't want to sit. He came down here and had one great year. He probably has greater loyalty to Western Illinois than he does Minnesota for that kind of reason."
While Archer was in ideal academic standing, the one thing the Leathernecks football program has strayed away from is bringing in a player with one year remaining who lacks focus on schoolwork.
"Our position is that if a student-athlete has a chance to come and help our program, but most importantly have a chance to succeed academically, then we'll take a look at them," Van Alstine said. "We're not going to close the door on it completely. We just want to make sure there is some expectations for academic success."
The rule change will certainly shape the recruiting landscape for the Leathernecks football team, but it also will be a regulation that everyone will be affected by.
"Anytime that there are rules that make the playing field as level as possible, I think those are good rules," Van Alstine said. "Certainly, there are programs across the country that are going to take advantage of it one way or the other. It's a rule, let's live by it and do the best we can accordingly."
"Personally for me, it would be very frustrating and upsetting," Luakabu said. "It hurts the players more than anything. I hope they don't ever establish that rule for people in my shoes."
Although Lukabu came having not received his bachelor's degree yet, another former Leatherneck, Phil Archer came to Western in 2003 with a degree in-hand from the University of Minnesota, looking for an opportunity to provide a spark to a defense that went to the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs that year.
"I think he felt that he wasn't going to get the playing opportunity that he deserved," Patterson said. "He wanted to play, he didn't want to sit. He came down here and had one great year. He probably has greater loyalty to Western Illinois than he does Minnesota for that kind of reason."
While Archer was in ideal academic standing, the one thing the Leathernecks football program has strayed away from is bringing in a player with one year remaining who lacks focus on schoolwork.
"Our position is that if a student-athlete has a chance to come and help our program, but most importantly have a chance to succeed academically, then we'll take a look at them," Van Alstine said. "We're not going to close the door on it completely. We just want to make sure there is some expectations for academic success."
The rule change will certainly shape the recruiting landscape for the Leathernecks football team, but it also will be a regulation that everyone will be affected by.
"Anytime that there are rules that make the playing field as level as possible, I think those are good rules," Van Alstine said. "Certainly, there are programs across the country that are going to take advantage of it one way or the other. It's a rule, let's live by it and do the best we can accordingly."
Be the first to comment on this story