Reeves Nelson update

Okay, kid. You have a BASKETBALL scholarship to UC-Freaking-LA. A school with 11 national national titles, 17 Final Fours and 3 consecutive Final Fours. You are going to jeopardize that opportunity so you can play football for ONE final season?

Man, I'm liking this kid already. (pffffff...)

as much as i want to agree with you, i have to say that i personally quit football early in my high school career and it has been one of my greatest regrets, so i really can't blame him. i can sorta see where he's coming from. when you love the sport, there's nothing more satisfying than playing real football.

and this is coming from somebody who loves basketball just as much. i've gone months where i play ball everyday, and as much as i love it the satisfaction really doesn't approach football.

if he gets hurt and cant play basketball anymore, im sure he will still be able to grow to be an adult, have a wife and a full time job.

and maybe even someday, a cat with worms.

That's it, I'm going to USC if fans are going to criticize me for this. Let me be High School athlete!

I don't think it's a smart decision to play a dangerous collision sport like football if you are an elite and gifted athelete. Sure you may have some great memories if all goes well in football and you don't get seriously injured. But if you do get injured, you are risking your future as a professional basketball player. That is something you might regret for the rest of your life! Good luck Nelson.

So long as he doesn't play football once at UCLA he shouldn't be worried about injury.

Wow, I think I actually agree with VB for once.

He needs to mature a bit and realize the enormity of this.

This is rediculous, if he get's injured he loses his scholorship. If he want to play football he has every right. You only get one chance to play as a senior in High School, and It IS WORTH DOING. Don't be selfish fans people. If you have been there you know what I mean. My best friend recieved a basketball Scholorship to play basketball at UC Berkley and he and I both started on our football teams and were never injured seriously. It was one of my greatest memories in my life and I wouldn't have traded it for a Scholorship to anywhere! I believe in FATE. If he was meant to play for UCLA, than he will!

I think this a bit of an overreaction. Yes, he is risking a LOT. However, how many D1 bball players played football also? There are plenty of football players who risk playing basketball after their season. So, it's not like this is so unusual.

Obviously, as a UCLA fan, I'd rather him not play football but what can you do. It does worry me though that basketball isn't that high of a priority for him to override a good feeling on Friday nights.

Also, I can never understand when religion comes into as a way of shucking personal responsibility:

"It isn't really in my hands whether I get hurt or not," Nelson wrote. "If you think about it, it's in God's hands. What He wants to happen will happen, and I trust in that plan."

So should he do a little freeway jaywalking too and see if getting hurt is in God's plan. If God helps those who help themselves, then it would also stand that He hurts those who hurt themselves.

Hope the kid has fun and stays healthy!

I think it is an excellent choice. It shows the kid is grounded and understands what is important in life. Most people only have four years of there life to play contact football. To give that up on the chance that you will get injured and the chance that that injury will affect you ability to play basketball is ridiculus. There is nothing in the world like contact football, so... let the kid be a kid.

Ronald Curry, Tony Gonzalez and many, many others played both high school football and basketball. Career anding injuries happen everywhere - pick up games, driving in cars and walking down the street. Live it up while you can!

This is ridiculous. Give the kid a break. Whoops, no pun intended. Many athletes play multiple sports in HS. You take a chance getting injured in any sport you play. Terrell Pryor was a top prospect in both FB and BB, and he turned out just fine. This pulling his scholie if he gets hurt stuff is BS. This should not and will not happen, if anybody has any integrity. This kid will probably NEVER play FB again. Let him enjoy himself and be a kid while he can. This is his last and only chance to play a sport he loves. Besides, playing FB will toughen him up for Ben Ball Defense. This is a positive. If any of you EVER played FB,you would understand.

Fine by me...

I'm too lazy to read the story. Did he play Football in the past or is this his first year?

At my school all of the good athletes were 2-sporters but once they figured out which sport would grab them a scholarship, they would quit the other ones.

I was wondering can he play offensive line?We could use him.

Let the kid be a kid. And think about the pride of UCLA: Jackie Robinson. Hmm... seem like he played more than 1 sport.

Go for it Reeves - do whatever you want! Also, if you want to stay at UCLA for all 4 years for the memories then please do that too! We're happy to have you!

Go Bruins!

The "memories" you would accumulate playing one year of high school football pale in comparison to the amazing memories you would have playing basketball for an elite college program and beyond.

This really is a no-brainer and he's making the short-sighted decision.

It's not just about the "memories." It's about living, and he's doing it.

Since when are we against going out and living every day? If he loves football, he should play it and you shouldn't judge him if he doesn't. You should go out and live life too, if anything, instead of worrying about it.

Yeah, seriously guys. RELAX. What if he was your kid or if it was you? How many of you guys played multiple sports in HS? I did. I played FB, Baseball, and I wrestled. It was great. It kept me active, in shape, and added to my versatility. Football will make him stronger, tougher, and more disciplined. Playing football will make him relish banging in the middle and love Ben's Defensive drills. It will make him exactly what we are looking for. This is exactly the type of PF we need. What's wrong with you all? Many players play multiple sports. Besides, it's only HS football, not College ball. Look at his size, he will probably DOMINATE.

You can't live your life in fear or with regrets. You only live once. There aren't any guarantees in life and you should never live with regrets. He's not guaranteed an NBA contract right now. You guys are sad and being really selfish. You guys sound like the disgruntled DAD trying to relive his glory days through his son. Let him live and grow from his own decisions. He said it himself that even if he gets hurt, he won't regret it. You guys aren't listening to what he said. You only hear what you choose to. He also said that there are things that are more important than sports and that memories and what makes you happy is more important. Yet you guys want to chastize him for that, because of your own selfish desire to win a championship? Please, reanalyze your priorities, this kid certainly has his right. How sad, that a 16-17 year old kid has more wisdom than many of us.

BruinFaithful--Very articulate and thoughtful; my main comment is that teenagers often make bad decisions under the heading of "let me be a kid" then turn around to regret those choices when things turn out badly. I know nothing of your past athleticism but Reeves Nelson is (or was two seasons ago) an elite basketball player who has a 4 year full paid ride to one of the best universities in the world to play for a great coach in a phenomenal program. To gamble with all that by playing one year of HS FB (catching passes over the middle no less) is a very risky move, IMO, and I only hope that Nelson and his family thought through all the implications when he decided to be a kid for another year.

Reeves,

You are being very very selfish. After all, you owe it to all these fans to stay healthy and commit every fiber of your being to the basketball court. The fans are counting on you - don't you see it? So please - stay off the football field and don't get hurt. You owe it to the fans on this board. And, whatever you do, don't get in a car - those things are REALLY dangerous. And also, when you get to Pauley - don't let Ben talk you into any of those practice sessions of his - I can recall several of our past team members hurt at those things!!

Reeves,

You are being very very selfish. After all, you owe it to all these fans to stay healthy and commit every fiber of your being to the basketball court. The fans are counting on you - don't you see it? So please - stay off the football field and don't get hurt. You owe it to the fans on this board. And, whatever you do, don't get in a car - those things are REALLY dangerous. And also, when you get to Pauley - don't let Ben talk you into any of those practice sessions of his - I can recall several of our past team members hurt at those things!!

Reeves,

You are being very very selfish. After all, you owe it to all these fans to stay healthy and commit every fiber of your being to the basketball court. The fans are counting on you - don't you see it? So please - stay off the football field and don't get hurt. You owe it to the fans on this board. And, whatever you do, don't get in a car - those things are REALLY dangerous. And also, when you get to Pauley - don't let Ben talk you into any of those practice sessions of his - I can recall several of our past team members hurt at those things!!

Bruingirl:

First, let me say thank you, and secondly let me say that I respectfully disagree. I think you have forgotten what it is like to be 16 and/or a HS athlete. This is the LAST time he will EVER play football again. You don't know what that is like. If he was my kid, I would say "Have fun son." Really, whether or not he makes a bad decision and ends up regretting it, is his choice to make. He can just as easily get hurt playing BB. Look at Cedric Bozeman, two major knee injuries and surgeries. Besides, he NEVER said let me be a kid. Please read the whole story again. He has very well thought out reasons for playing. He didn't just make some reckless decision. He consulted with friends, family, his HS coaches, and Ben Howland. He even got Ben's blessing. Ben even admitted he played HS FB, so how could Ben be a hypocrite and ask or expect him not to play? He even wrote a freaken two page letter outlining all his reasons. Anybody who has ever played under those Friday Night Lights would certainly understand. Please don't criticize unless you ever have.

George, let me say that I think your sarcasm hits the nail on the head. I guess people have forgotten what Ben's practices are like and the stories of K Love getting slammed to the ground by Aboya. Better yet, what about Collison punching Farmar in the face during practice? Then again, with Farmar's mouth, who could blame him. Shoot, forget HS Football, Ben's practices are way more physical and dangerous. HAHAHAHA. It's like getting assaulted out there ever day.

I should have been an attorney. This would have been my Johnny Cochran "if it doesn't fit" closing.