From NT: Transferring OU TE speaks
Former OU tight end Austin Haywood
CAMPUS CORNER — Some good stuff in this story about Austin Haywood from the Norman Transcript.
Of particular interest to me, though you had to read a ways to find it, was Haywood accepting blame for how things turned out at OU.
“The main reason was I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do,” Haywood said. “I just had a bad attitude about things. It was my fault it didn’t work out.”
It’s nice to hear young people – heck, anyone – taking responsibility. We reported that, as a final straw, Haywood got into a shouting match with his position coach, Bruce Kittle. He left the team, attempted to come back and then ultimately told us he was heading to Central Arkansas.
I thought the Central Arkansas coach’s comment about what happened at OU was interesting, also.
“It was addressed directly,” Clint Conque said. “We are all human. We all make mistakes. But we live in a society of second opportunities. But his situation at Oklahoma was addressed directly.”
Tight end already would have been a recruiting priority for the Sooners, who lost James Hanna and Trent Ratterree to graduation, but Haywood’s departure made it an even bigger need. Freshman Taylor McNamara, who was cleared Wednesday for enrollment, is expected to help, as is JUCO transfer Brannon Green. OU is still targeting other tight ends, both in the 2012 and 2013 classes.
= Trav
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Comments
If Stoops had bought him some bigger, more gaudy earrings, he might have stayed. Only thing missing in that picture is his gang affiliation tattooed around his neck. Lucky Central Ark.
Oh, well, at least he admitted it was his fault.
Good luck to him at Central Arkansas.
OU appears to have found a couple more TE’s to replace those that have graduated or split.
You have to give the kid credit for taking responsibility for his actions. You don’t see that often anymore. I hope for the kids sake he gets his head right and takes advantage of what he has been blessed with. If he doesn’t he will regret it the rest of his life. This years recruiting has began like the circus coming to town. One day they are here and the next they are gone. Including the coaching staff!! Interesting how that all panned out. Much more than just by chance or how the cards fell. Sooner fans have not seen this kind of uncertainty for many years about the upcoming season (correction seasons!!}.
Feb. 1. Today is the day when some of these kids will be made bigger than life. The big “It’s all about me” day. Only 50% will be a factor in future games. Less than 5% will make it to the pro’s. 5% will end up like Mr. Haywood, a ball bag-quitter. That leaves you with @15 real dedicated, disciplined, determined young men that had the right stuff to make it through to the end. Were a factor on and off the field. They gave it their best, everyday, with the skills god gave them. That all that can ask of anybody. It is what it is. Good luck to them all. Some of them will need it. Hoo-Wah!
Sometimes we forget these kids are 18-20 year olds. They make mistakes. They get a little too big for their britches….they learn a hard lesson.
Conway is a nice town
He’ll end up like Bomar, Jarboe etc…don’t need his kind.