Marcus Knight to transfer or retire?

[kemajic]

Knight broke the touchdown record his freshman year. The coaching staff only gave him 1 chance to shine this year and he did. He got screwed. You need more than 5 carries to tell how a rb is going to do. That is the problem. He wasn't given the opportunity when he was ready. One of the best backs we have had in the last 10 years.

Marcus played his freshman year at a JC. He was the TD machine here as a soph. He could smell the EZ.

 

[Griz Addict]

Knight broke the touchdown record his freshman year. The coaching staff only gave him 1 chance to shine this year and he did. He got screwed. You need more than 5 carries to tell how a rb is going to do. That is the problem. He wasn't given the opportunity when he was ready. One of the best backs we have had in the last 10 years.

Marcus played his freshman year at a JC. He was the TD machine here as a soph. He could smell the EZ.

Oh ya I forgot about that. Either way doing that at any port is tremendous. The guy isn't someone you can just replace. It's too bad how it all played out.

 

[uofmman1122]

Knight broke the touchdown record his freshman year. The coaching staff only gave him 1 chance to shine this year and he did. He got screwed. You need more than 5 carries to tell how a rb is going to do. That is the problem. He wasn't given the opportunity when he was ready. One of the best backs we have had in the last 10 years.

This is just not true. He had 74 carries this season, 2nd most on the team despite not being on the roster the last 3 games, and among the 4 main RBs had the lowest ypc of all of them. He just wasn't getting it done, which was a combination of unfortunate circumstances, but once Ostmo went off against Cal Poly, the writing was on the wall. He only got screwed by his injury and just wasn't the same guy. Ostmo, Harris and Childs were all better than him this season.

I wish nothing but the best for him and wish it had worked out better, but this isn't some conspiracy against him.

 

[Grisly Fan]

It is well known that MK hit the weight room hard for a long time as he recovered from his injury and in my estimation now has a physique more like a fullback. The few carries he had seemed to suggest he’d do best on A gap runs rather than sliding outside as, say, Childs did against SEMO. The Griz don’t line up with LJ under center much so it is difficult to make olde style use a fullback. (And yes I know fullbacks are starting to become in vogue in shotgun formations but not the current incarnation of the Griz offense) I sure hope he finds the right home because he is going to make some team very happy with his huge talent.

 

[RABIDAWG]

Damned portal! There should have been a rule that a player can't enter the portal until his team is done for the season. It hurts team cohesiveness, and to me, shows the player as a "quitter".

 

[grizeyes]

Damned portal! There should have been a rule that a player can't enter the portal until his team is done for the season. It hurts team cohesiveness, and to me, shows the player as a "quitter".

Agree ^^^ Shows self before team. Once a season is over, you've finished your commitment to the team and the university, then if you and want to make changes to improve your future in football, life, family, whatever, go for it! I wish you all the best.

Go Griz!

 

[uofmman1122]

Damned portal! There should have been a rule that a player can't enter the portal until his team is done for the season. It hurts team cohesiveness, and to me, shows the player as a "quitter".

Why would any team want to keep someone around who already knows he doesn't want to be there? The dude isn't going to play anyways, so why does it matter?

 

[SoldierGriz]

Damned portal! There should have been a rule that a player can't enter the portal until his team is done for the season. It hurts team cohesiveness, and to me, shows the player as a "quitter".

Why would any team want to keep someone around who already knows he doesn't want to be there? The dude isn't going to play anyways, so why does it matter?

I guess it matters to me for 2 reasons:

1. It creates or has the potential to create drama inside the locker room and for the Program. It's a team sport...It's a bad look - see NDSU right now...

2. It's a character issue. One should finish what they started and never, ever quit. Declaring in season is quitting. Declaring post season is moving on...there is a big difference in my opinion.

 

[uofmman1122]

Why would any team want to keep someone around who already knows he doesn't want to be there? The dude isn't going to play anyways, so why does it matter?

I guess it matters to me for 2 reasons:

1. It creates or has the potential to create drama inside the locker room and for the Program. It's a team sport...It's a bad look - see NDSU right now...

2. It's a character issue. One should finish what they started and never, ever quit. Declaring in season is quitting. Declaring post season is moving on...there is a big difference in my opinion.

So the players remaining in the NDSU locker room refusing to play wouldn't be an even bigger issue, or are you suggesting schools should force kids that don't want to be there to continue playing? I don't really agree with you there.

 

[SoldierGriz]

I guess it matters to me for 2 reasons:

1. It creates or has the potential to create drama inside the locker room and for the Program. It's a team sport...It's a bad look - see NDSU right now...

2. It's a character issue. One should finish what they started and never, ever quit. Declaring in season is quitting. Declaring post season is moving on...there is a big difference in my opinion.

So the players remaining in the NDSU locker room refusing to play wouldn't be an even bigger issue, or are you suggesting schools should force kids that don't want to be there to continue playing? I don't really agree with you there.

No...all I am saying is it wrong for players to choose to do it in-season. It's not good for the team...and demonstrates a character flaw for the athlete. Just wait until season is complete. Just my opinion.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

So the players remaining in the NDSU locker room refusing to play wouldn't be an even bigger issue, or are you suggesting schools should force kids that don't want to be there to continue playing? I don't really agree with you there.

No...all I am saying is it wrong for players to choose to do it in-season. It's not good for the team...and demonstrates a character flaw for the athlete. Just wait until season is complete. Just my opinion.

“Listen, kid. I know you don’t like playing here and you’re going to leave, but God damnit, strap on that helmet and get out there. Why? Because I said so. Put on your smiley face and help this team that you want to leave.”

 

[SoldierGriz]

No...all I am saying is it wrong for players to choose to do it in-season. It's not good for the team...and demonstrates a character flaw for the athlete. Just wait until season is complete. Just my opinion.

“Listen, kid. I know you don’t like playing here and you’re going to leave, but God damnit, strap on that helmet and get out there. Why? Because I said so. Put on your smiley face and help this team that you want to leave.”

Not what I said CDA. The player shouldn't initiate the action until the season is complete. If he does so he is quitting and coach will not play him, of course.

If the athlete says nothing, they play...or ride the bench as it was for the full season because no one knows he is quitting.

It's not OK to quit in the middle of something...at least in my line of work. Just my opinion, doesn't have to be yours.

 

[Kobezoey]

So the players remaining in the NDSU locker room refusing to play wouldn't be an even bigger issue, or are you suggesting schools should force kids that don't want to be there to continue playing? I don't really agree with you there.

No...all I am saying is it wrong for players to choose to do it in-season. It's not good for the team...and demonstrates a character flaw for the athlete. Just wait until season is complete. Just my opinion.

Totally agree that quitting anything is never a good idea. Look at the marriage problem in many families, and look at the coaches who leave all the time. . . sometimes before the season is over or before bowl games, etc. Shoot look at all the people who leave their places of work in the middle of a fiscal year to move on to a better opportunity. However, it should be noted that Marcus Knight's case does not apply to this line of thinking. I am not privileged to be able to explain his circumstance, but all should know he is not a quitter. There is much more to his story. His teammates see him very positively, and he sees them positively. His character and integrity are unquestioned by those who know him. I don't believe we should be judging a situation we know nothing about from a distance. Let's just leave this conversation feeling great about his contribution to Montana football and wish him well.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

“Listen, kid. I know you don’t like playing here and you’re going to leave, but God damnit, strap on that helmet and get out there. Why? Because I said so. Put on your smiley face and help this team that you want to leave.”

Not what I said CDA. The player shouldn't initiate the action until the season is complete. If he does so he is quitting and coach will not play him, of course.

If the athlete says nothing, they play...or ride the bench as it was for the full season because no one knows he is quitting.

It's not OK to quit in the middle of something...at least in my line of work. Just my opinion, doesn't have to be yours.

I know. Just messin’, Soldier. You have to see how a kid who knows he’s leaving can be damaging to a team if he sticks around, though. Don’t need any quiet quitters around. Just quit.

 

[uofmman1122]

So the players remaining in the NDSU locker room refusing to play wouldn't be an even bigger issue, or are you suggesting schools should force kids that don't want to be there to continue playing? I don't really agree with you there.

No...all I am saying is it wrong for players to choose to do it in-season. It's not good for the team...and demonstrates a character flaw for the athlete. Just wait until season is complete. Just my opinion.

I respect your opinion, but I honestly don't think it makes sense. So a kid realizes at some point in the middle of a season that he doesn't want to continue playing at his current school. What should he do? Continue playing even though he doesn't want to be there anymore, becoming a problem in the locker room, or just....not realize that he wants to be somewhere else until after the season? I think coach Hauck has the right idea here (and it works out best for the kids, IMO): if a guy doesn't want to be here anymore, he shouldn't be on the team. Forcing a guy to grind through it when his heart's not in it, risking injury, and not giving his all, potentially causing problems with his teammates and distractions, seems like a bad idea for everyone involved.

 

[ilovethecats]

I have no clue, but isn't this more of a matter because of the portal timing? I was under the impression if a kid waits out the season, especially those on teams playing into mid-January, they have little time to find a new situation before spring. I don't know the exact timing, but thought I read with the way the current window works, we'll see more kids leaving before the season is through.

Could be way off on that that though. :?

 

[uofmman1122]

I have no clue, but isn't this more of a matter because of the portal timing? I was under the impression if a kid waits out the season, especially those on teams playing into mid-January, they have little time to find a new situation before spring. I don't know the exact timing, but thought I read with the way the current window works, we'll see more kids leaving before the season is through.

Could be way off on that that though. :?

Yes, this is exactly right. If you miss the window, you risk not being able to join the new team until after spring ball is finished.

 

[ilovethecats]

I have no clue, but isn't this more of a matter because of the portal timing? I was under the impression if a kid waits out the season, especially those on teams playing into mid-January, they have little time to find a new situation before spring. I don't know the exact timing, but thought I read with the way the current window works, we'll see more kids leaving before the season is through.

Could be way off on that that though. :?

Yes, this is exactly right. If you miss the window, you risk not being able to join the new team until after spring ball is finished.

So it would seem that it's not as much as the kids quitting on their team as it is an issue with the current window. I'd assume if it was changed, you'd see more kids finishing out their season regardless of their intentions to enter the portal.

 

[uofmman1122]

Yes, this is exactly right. If you miss the window, you risk not being able to join the new team until after spring ball is finished.

So it would seem that it's not as much as the kids quitting on their team as it is an issue with the current window. I'd assume if it was changed, you'd see more kids finishing out their season regardless of their intentions to enter the portal.

Maybe so, although I'm still of the opinion that it's better the way it is now, and that forcing kids to play it out at situations they don't want to be at is detrimental to everyone involved.

 

[ilovethecats]

So it would seem that it's not as much as the kids quitting on their team as it is an issue with the current window. I'd assume if it was changed, you'd see more kids finishing out their season regardless of their intentions to enter the portal.

Maybe so, although I'm still of the opinion that it's better the way it is now, and that forcing kids to play it out at situations they don't want to be at is detrimental to everyone involved.

Agree completely. I understand the old school of thought. But it's not good for the team as a whole to have someone there who doesn't want to be there.

I don't know enough about the McKay situation last year for the Cats. It would appear he left at a terrible time and certainly looked selfish. But we went on a great playoff run and I don't know what that would have looked like had our old signal caller been forced to remain with the team.