Holdren transferring to Illinois

[89rabbit]

This is sad news for our program.  :'(

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.../NEWS/60501017

SDSU's Holdren transferring to Illinois

By CHRIS SOLARI
csolari@argusleader.com
May 1, 2006

Steve Holdren, a star basketball player who was injured this season, is leaving South Dakota State University's men's team.

The 6-foot-5 guard-forward from Champaign, Ill., said Monday that he plans to transfer to his hometown University of Illinois to play for the Fighting Illini.

"The opportunity to come and play (at SDSU) has been great for me, especially to play for Coach (Scott) Nagy. He's undoubtably the best coach I've ever had," said Holdren, who scored 28 points for the Jacks against the Illini on Nov. 18. "He's a great person and a great guy. I wish that no matter where I went that he could be my coach.

"But my heart was (at Illinois) because I grew up always wanting to play there. Just the idea of going home and playing there, it was just an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."  .  .  .  (read more)



And so the frustration mounts, but we will be ok because we are the Jackrabbits and Scott Nagy is our coach.  



Go State!    

[thebluehatman]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

and thus my hanging carrot is revealed.

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

>

[rcjacks]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

It is going to be a long year next year guys & gals. We thought this year was tough. With all of this attrition, Dakota State will be able to beat us next year!! The juco route is not good at this point either as the good ones are all picked out by now.

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

not good

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

Dang!

[Jacks15]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

and the hits just keep on coming

[SD-STATE]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

Coming off a ACL injury, does he honestly have a chance to see any playing time, he's a good basketball player, but this is Illinois we're talking about. I'm dumbfounded, I... just... don't ....understand. :'(

[rabidrabbit]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

Coming off a ACL injury, does he honestly have a chance to see any playing time, he's a good basketball player, but this is Illinois we're talking about. I'm dumbfounded, I... just... don't ....understand.  :'(

I agree this leave the bunnies looking really tough for the upcoming year. Hoowever, not understanding wanting to play in your hometown, at the major college there-in, where you've been watching basketball games since knee-hi to a grasshopper? Yes, this hurts. But VERY understandable. > >

[SDSUJack3031]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

He's not even for sure going to play. He's hoping for a walk-on spot.

[thebluehatman]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

acl injury and all i hope the best for steve even though if he was to make the team i think PT would be low. also mentioned was the fact doesn't he have to wait a year to play if he transfers within a division 1 school. i guess im at a loss for words here about this situation.

[jackmd]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

acl injury and all i hope the best for steve even though if he was to make the team i think PT would be low.  also mentioned was the fact doesn't he have to wait a year to play if he transfers within a division 1 school.  i guess im at a loss for words here about this situation.

Shouldn't be any loss for words. Holdren decided to leave. He assigned no fault to Nagy. If you want to be upset, be upset with Steve. I am disappointed because he is an exciting player to watch and would have been the leader on the court for us this year. I know Steve and his parents and they are great people. I am sure this was a very difficult decision for him to make.

What a series of bad breaks for the Jacks and Coach Nagy in particular. The growing pains will continue.

[Rabbitlivinginverm]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

[quote author=thebluehatman link=1146515117/0#10 date=1146582325]acl injury and all i hope the best for steve even though if he was to make the team i think PT would be low.  also mentioned was the fact doesn't he have to wait a year to play if he transfers within a division 1 school.  i guess im at a loss for words here about this situation.

 The growing pains will continue.[/quote]

I'm not singling your post out Jack MD, so please don't take it that way. But this seems to be a reoccurring theme and I wonder when will we stop looking at what's happening as "growing pains" and realize that it could be more than that? I have a hard time believing all this negative stuff is happening because we moved from D2 to DI.

[89rabbit]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

[quote author=jackmd link=1146515117/0#11 date=1146586938][quote author=thebluehatman link=1146515117/0#10 date=1146582325]acl injury and all i hope the best for steve even though if he was to make the team i think PT would be low.  also mentioned was the fact doesn't he have to wait a year to play if he transfers within a division 1 school.  i guess im at a loss for words here about this situation.

 The growing pains will continue.[/quote]

I'm not singling your post out Jack MD, so please don't take it that way.  But this seems to be a reoccurring theme and I wonder when will we stop looking at what's happening as "growing pains" and realize that it could be more than that?  I have a hard time believing all this negative stuff is happening because we moved from D2 to DI.
[/quote]

OK,

Let’s try this again in the past three seasons we have had 10 players leave/may leave the program.  None have indicated publicly that the reason they left had anything to do with our coaching staff of athletic department and the latest said exactly the opposite publicly .  .  . "The opportunity to come and play (at SDSU) has been great for me, especially to play for Coach (Scott) Nagy. He's undoubtably the best coach I've ever had," said Holdren.  Let’s break out the reason that they have left or may leave and you tell me what the Coaching staff or athletic department could have or should have done to keep them around.

Off court issues:

Berte (accusations of off court issues at this point)
Green
Gilbert (accusations of off court issues at this point)
Wenig - if not this reason then the next (depending on whom you talk to)

Injury/Illness

Jones
Wenig - if not this reason then the later (depending on whom you talk to)

Transfer

Moeller - (to play at D-II Minnesota State for chance at a National Championship in his Sr. year)
Holdren - (to pay at Big 10 Illinois in his home town for the father of one of his good friends and play with one of his high school teammates)

Personal/family Issues

Beran

Graduating with eligibility left

Heien

Lack of playing time

Keller  


Call it what you want.  I call it bad luck.  I understad that this situation is very frustrating, but I really don't see any blame here.  Off the Court issues - The coaches can't be with the players 24/7 and if they mess up bad enough they will no longer be part of the program. Illness/injuries - These things happen.  Transfers - although I don't agree with either’s rational, I can understand it.  Personal/Family issues - My dad died a little over a year ago and I am much older then Ben and I will tell you it messed me up.  Graduating with eligibility left - Can't really make the kid stick around he will be accomplishing his primary goal (getting a college education) in May and SDSU was not even paying for his education.  Lack of playing time - Not to be mean but he just wasn't good enough to play at this level.  That is how I see it.  I would like to see your break down.  

[Jacks-D1]

Re: Holdren transferring to Illinois

Nice spin. Now lets have someone else spin it the other way and state reasons why everyone is leaving because there are problems with the coaching staff.