parents really just dont understand

Parents REALLY just don't understand

Okay, imagine you're an All American quarterback in high school. As a

matter of fact, you are the player of the year according to Parade

magazine. You go on to college, go 8-0 as a starter in your freshman

year in the always tough SEC, but still decide after your freshman

season transferring is the best option for you. So you have all kinds

of suitors lined up for your services, right? Maybe USC will come

calling, or Florida State. Troy Smith just left Ohio State, they need

a QB right? Chad Henne only has one year left at Michigan, and you

have to sit out a year anyway, so that seems perfect. And what about

Oklahoma? A year removed from Bomar-gate, the Sooners are still

searching to fill a QB void. So were do you end up? Back at the school

you chose to transfer from, as a regular student. Wait, that can't be

right?!?!

This my friends is the saga of Mitch Mustain. Mustain accomplished all

of the aforementioned things, and oddly enough can't seem to find a

school now that he has been released from his commitment to Arkansas.

Today, after a search for a new home that only found one serious

taker, Mustain re-enrolled at Arkansas. He still intends to transfer

at the end of the semester.

Who wouldn't want an all American quarterback to groom for a year?

Well apparently nobody, but Tulsa. Louisville told Mustain they

weren't interested, and rumors Mustain met with Bob Stoops were found

to be unsubstantiated. Only Tulsa (where his former high school coach

is now the offensive coordinator) welcomed Mitch with open arms, but

apparently he has his eyes on playing for a BCS school. Rumor has it

Mustain tried to get back on the Razorback squad, but the team voted

against having him back. So now Mitch gets to walk around Fayetteville

for a semester, and will have to deal with Lord knows what kinds of

verbal abuse and whispers for the next 4 or so months.

How does one get into such a messed up situation? Well, this is where

the story gets tricky. Mitch didn't do much of anything, really. His

parents put him in this position. Mustain's parents, apparently not

happy with the run oriented Razorback offense, went to Arkansas

athletic director Frank Broyles and in a nutshell asked he fire head

coach Houston Nutt (yes you read that right. I'm still in shock I

typed it). Mustain played in a spread offense in high school, and the

parents were under the impression that is how things would be at

Arkansas. Great parents, huh? Things aren't going their way, so they

let it be known. Their failure to let Mustain handle his own problems

have left him untouchable to most schools. No head coach wants to

touch this package deal, and I don't blame them. Mustain will be

fortunate to play D-1 football again, much less at another BCS school.

The foolish actions of Mustain's parents have potentially ruined his

college prospects, which in turn could potentially damage his chances

at the NFL.

Let this be a lesson, parents. Allow your kids to grow up and learn on

their own. Especially at Mustain's age. It usually does more damage

than good when parents are over-protective of their children. Mustain

defenders will argue Nutt did not keep promises to Mustain and other

recruits, in regards to how the offense will be run. Still, that is no

excuse. They add new wrinkles to my job everyday. I wonder if my mom

can make the bad man stop? If Mustain was unhappy, fine. Move on, and

move on quietly. Don't burn any bridges or make a nasty scene upon

your exit. Unfortunately this is exactly what has happened, and now

his reputation is damaged. And as I watch all this unfold, I can't

help but wonder.....How would Mitch have handled all of this? I bet he

wonders, too. And better yet, I bet he wishes he would have had the