Like I said....there's always 2 sides of the story.
http://www.wildcatdaily.com/view/article.asp?sectionid=Home/News&id=178-2006-07-30-26109-19Webb's departure an academic issue
Allen Webb's departure from Kansas State's football family this week had nothing to do with Xs and Os, but the issue was one of As, Bs and Cs.
Webb, a senior-to-be, announced his intentions on Thursday to transfer to Texas College, an NAIA school located in Tyler, where he will be immediately eligible to complete his final season.
Webb told The Wichita Eagle that his scholarship had been taken away by Kansas State coach Ron Prince, and in a general comment added, "I understand the message being given to me."
Prince confirmed that he declined to pay for Webb's summer school because "... Allen did not meet some of his previous academic obligations and we were displeased with his academic performance. But he certainly could have corrected his academic issues and could have come back to play for us.
"I was not willing, however, to promise him that he would be the starting quarterback. I could not, nor would I ever do that," the Wildcat coach said. "The door was always open, and remains open for his return. We wished Allen all the luck in the world when he made the decision to leave, and we're excited about his future. I've discussed with Allen the possibility of coming back to Kansas State to complete his degree on our dime."
Webb chose not to attend summer school at K-State and spent the majority of his time at his home in Denver, Colo., during the last 60 days.
Prince said he didn't want to "paint a negative picture" of Webb, but added that he was very committed to an academic standard for all student-athletes within the Wildcat football family.
Webb is the third Wildcat — receiver Ro Grigsby and offensive lineman Ryan Schmidt, being the others — who has left the Kansas State program this summer.
To that, Prince said, "A young person enters a world of opportunity and reward when he becomes a Division I football player, or even coach. But there are also obligations. I have them as a coach, and players have them as well. We have some academic performance standards because we firmly believe the same things that make you a good student also make you a good football player. There's a discipline and a dedication involved.
"We want to make sure that the standards that apply in one area, will apply in the other," Prince said. "There's not always that understanding when you're young, but I think these same young people will thank me when they're 45."
Kansas State went into the spring season with five quarterback prospects, but that list is now down to three. Kevin Lopina was the first to leave, transferring back to his home state and enrolling at Washington State University, and now Webb has transferred to Texas College.
That leaves senior Dylan Meier, freshman Josh Freeman and sophomore Allan Evridge to vie for the starting assignment.
"From the first day, I told all the players I don't owe anyone anything. I haven't promised the job to anyone and I never had a perceived idea who I would start," Prince said. "That would not be fair to the players, or the team. Ultimately, it's their performance in games that will determine it."
The Wildcat coach knows that to develop a rhythm and chemistry, he can't wait until the Sept. 2 opener with Illinois State to decide on a starter. It's why he says he has a date, likely in the first half of August, when he will make the decision, if not the announcement.
"Every quarterback at this level has a certain level of talent. They all have the talent to play and belief that they should be the No. 1 guy," Prince said. "I like that, and appreciate that, but there will only be one who will be the starter, and another that will be the backup."
Prince calls the quarterback position "... the most challenging position in all of sports," and adds that even at the highest level there is a debate on who is good enough to play, or good enough to start.
"All of these guys have played in a game, and won. These are very confident people," Prince said. "But my concern is winning games. From the first day, I've told them that there is no day in the future I'm looking forward to more than this one. Each one of our quarterbacks have had one of those ah-ha moments where they think they've arrived. You want that type of confidence, but your decision is made based on how the rest of the team rallies around to help get into the end zone."