The Simmons Situation - Nuttier than Charlie Sheen (Updated)

This is Charlie Sheen Crazy

I have been holding most of my football posts until after basketball season, but this just can't wait.

Delvon Simmons is currently a signed Tar Heel commit.  Currently being the operative word.  For those of you that don't know, Simmons is defensive tackle that is a 4* Rivals Top 100,  5* Scout Top 50, U.S. Army All-American.

Delvon Simmons had an interesting recruitment.  Each recruit is granted five official visits (OV) for which the recruit is hosted by a school and the school picks up the bill, including travel expenses.  Now, Simmons OV'ed to Oregon, USC, Texas Tech, Rutgers, and Iowa.  Notice anyone missing.  That's right sports fans.  No UNC.  While Simmons did unofficially visit Chapel Hill over the summer, he never OV'ed.  Further, Coach Davis never had an in-home with Simmons and his family.  However, come Signing Day on Feb 2, Simmons pulled the stunner and signed his letter-of-intent (LOI) with the Heels.  Now, this was not completely out of left field.  Prior to Blake's departure, Simmons had significant interest in Chapel Hill, but that seemed to pass after the NCAA came into town and Blake left it.  Despite perception, John Shoop stayed on his recruitment and Simmons penned his LOI on Signing Day.

As of Signing Day, Simmons is a Tar Heel looking forward to building a relationship with his Position Coach Brian Baker and Head Coach Butch Davis.  Unfortunately, Baker wasn't long for the Heels.  The Cowboys made him an offer (more than doubling his salary) he couldn't refuse and he was out the door before he even signed his contract.  His cup of coffee with the Heels would come to pass despite repeatedly affirming to Coach Davis during the interview process that he would not return to the NFL if an opportunity was presented.  Reportedly he turned down a couple of offers before succumbing to Dallas.  Can't be mad at a man for doubling his salary, but he should have not made the commitment to UNC if he wasn't fully vested in the position.  After all, his purported commitment as a coach influenced people's actions and, obviously, has some fallout.    

Fast forward to March 8 and word of Simmons request for a release is made public.  According to Simmons high school football coach, Jim Ward, Simmons requested a release from his LOI from UNC three weeks ago.  While there is not a lot of information available, Ward did offer Baker's departure as one of the reasons.  Last Friday, Coach Davis and three additional coaches flew to McKeesport, PA to meet with Simmons in an attempt to re-establish his commitment to UNC, but were unsuccessful.  <>  A UNC spokesman said Wednesday the school has not received Simmons' official request.  Ward said that was inaccurate and Simmons technically made the request three and half weeks ago.  Ward is quoted as saying,

"We requested a release, were told we're going to get one.  That's all I can really say at the time. I don't want to get into why. ... I'm not the kind of coach who favors these kind of things, when kids get out of their commitments. I don't even want them out of verbal commitments, but it's justifiable, very justifiable him wanting to get the release and I support him."

While this was an odd recruitment, Simmons latest revelations are a head-scratcher.  How can a non-existent relationship with a coach that leaves for the NFL justify a request for a release from a LOI?  Baker and Simmons never even met face to face.  Ward asserts that Simmons commitment was driven by assurances from UNC that Baker and his 15 years of NFL experience would put Simmons in a position to get to the NFL.  This not just in, Butch Davis will put you in that position.  The whole football world knows that.  You know I love to show my work, so here it is.  UNC had the most players represented at this year's NFL Combine.  From the outside looking in, it appears there is some impropriety and Brian Baker's departure is just the convenient excuse that Simmons is relying on.  As a close follower of the UNC program, there are several red flags that lead me to believe that the staff is suspicious of the stated motives. 

First of all, UNC and this staff have a solid record with accommodating transfer requests.  Brandon Willis was granted a transfer to UCLA after his father found a job in the Southern California-area.  UNC handled his transfer so well, he is transferring back, albeit under less than ideal circumstance as his Grandmother is of failing health.  Compounding the difficulty of his Grandmother's failing health and part of the reason for Willis' original move across country with his father is that Willis' mother passed during his senior year in high school.  Despite the tragic circumstance predicating the transfer, Willis is still returning to Chapel Hill. This illustrates and establishes a track record for how well the staff handles these situations.

Why would Simmons be any different?  I don't think Coach Davis and three additional coaches make the trip to McKeesport if the circumstances surrounding the request aren't suspect.  I also don't think Simmons would still be waiting to hear from Coach Davis if Coach Davis felt there wasn't a reason to slow play it and provide some time for due diligence.  Rumor has it that Coach Davis is sitting on this until he can gain a better understanding of Simmons motives and receive a list of the schools that Simmons is considering.

<>  Since yesterday, Ward has contacted ESPN to deny that Simmons has been recruited, essentially disputing any tampering charges.  As the designated spokesmen for Simmons, Ward said he is not ready to come forward with the reasoning behind the request for the release.  This coach-player relationship further adds to the confusion.  Ward is new to the coaching position at McKeesport and his previous head coaching experience was less than successful.

Ward's background includes two stints as a head coach, one in South Allegheny from 2000-02. The Gladiators were 3-27 when the South Allegheny school board removed Ward in favor of Terry George.

Ward moved on to Clairton, where he had been an assistant before South Allegheny hired him, and to Jeannette for the 2007 and '08 seasons. Last season, Ward led Yough to a 3-7 record.

Ward's compensation for being McKeesport's head football coach is $7,063.50.  Despite going 9-2 with two D-1 athletes, Ward is really earning his money this year, dealing with the national media in a opaque and unforthcoming way.  He is not doing himself or Delvon Simmons any favors with the way he has controlled the information flow of this situation. 

This is where I take a huge reach, but it is a blog and you have to love the idle speculation that matriculates out of a situation like this.  First, I don't believe in coincidence.  Secondly, I believe that in the gray world of recruiting, circumstantial evidence can be enough.  Also, I maintain a "more likely than not" standard when it suits me and it suits me here.  Now, back to the Simmons situation.

The schools rumored to be in the mix for Simmons are Texas Tech and USC.  I have already made strong overtures insinuating  that tampering may be involved in Simmons' change of heart.  Unfortunately, tampering charges are difficult to prove without cooperating parties, which are not likely to come forward.  Ward has already made a public statement disputing any insinuations of tampering.  What else is he suppose to say?  He has obviously read Tressel's book, The Winner's Manual.

One thing that struck me as odd a few weeks ago was a article posted by Gerry Fraley.  I typically hyperlink articles that I reference, but in this case I will not.  Site hits are tracked and I would prefer not to increase his traffic unnecessarily.  On Feb. 18, approximately two weeks after signing day and Baker's announcement for the Cowboy's job, Fraley posted an article that stated in select parts:

If Delvon Simmons, a highly recruited defensive tackle, has an illustrious collegiate career at North Carolina , Tar Heels coach Butch Davis will owe a debt to his former employer: the Dallas Cowboys.

In January, he hired former Carolina Panthers defensive-line coach Brian Baker for the same job. Baker said the move was in keeping with his goal of becoming a college head coach.

Baker's first duty with the Tar Heels was to help recruit Simmons, from McKeesport, Pa. The selling point was Baker had developed numerous defensive linemen during his 15 years in the NFL and could show Simmons the way as his position coach.

The sales pitch worked. Simmons signed with the Tar Heels in what was considered a surprise by recruiting devotees.

While Baker was wooing Simmons, he was also in negotiations for a quick return to the NFL with the Cowboys. The club waited until after signing day to announce Baker's departure from UNC to join Garrett's staff.

Baker said Thursday he made the move because of the large pay increase and the chance to be with a prominent and promising club. Both are acceptable reasons for the move. Nothing underhanded.

Simmons does not have the same options. He is the victim of a bait-and-switch: signing with UNC because of Baker but never getting a chance to work with him. There have been no comments from Simmons about Baker's move to the Cowboys after signing day and whether and earlier announcement would have affected his thinking.

This struck me as odd, because why?  (1)  What was the point of talking about Brian Baker's time at UNC for a Cowboys reporter?  I mean, I know football is big in Texas, but after UT poached Mack Brown, what interest should there be for his viewer ship, which are Dallas Cowboy fans, in recruiting at UNC?  (2)  The notion that Baker was the sole reason for his commitment contradicts all of Simmons' statements following his commitment.  Simmons spoke of getting to know Baker and Coach Davis, having never met Baker in person and only speaking to him briefly by phone.  Shoop was the primary recruiter for Simmons and the Pittsburgh area, as a native of the Steele City.  Any reports to the contrary are wrong.  Baker was not the primary recruiter for Simmons.  Shoop maintained the relationship with Simmons following Blakes departure and the little contact between Simmons and Baker could not be viewed significant enough to establish anything more than a casual rapport.  Shoop was credited by Coach Davis on signing day for the recruitment of Simmons.  The notion of a bait-and-switch is grossly overblown.

Then, there was a follow up article by Fraley recently published on March 10.

A top recruit has asked out of his commitment to North Carolina, and a new Dallas Cowboys' assistant coach is at the center of the storm.

. . . .

Simmons surprised recruiting followers by signing with UNC, and Baker moved to the Cowboys shortly after signing day. Simmons has now asked UNC for a release from his letter of intent.

Texas Tech was among the final group of school that Simmons considered before signing with UNC.

Simmons' high-school coach, Jim Ward, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the main reason Simmons turned sour on North Carolina is because Baker left for the Cowboys. UNC sold Simmons on the idea that Baker knew what it would take to get him to the NFL. Baker has 15 years of NFL coaching experience.

Ward told the newspaper that Simmons has asked for a release to a certain schools, which he would not name. 

Now, I know this is all sounds like conspiracy theory paranoia, but so what?  As I said before, I don't believe in coincidences.  Fraley went out of his way to do the first story and his follow up article explicitly identifies only Texas Tech as a finalist in Simmons recruitment and no other school.  I should also note that Fraley has ties to Pittsburgh.  Additionally, Texas Tech insiders were all over this story before it really even broke in the UNC insider community.  My point is, Fraley puts something in print that can be handed to Simmons from a credible news source and that is all you need to get the ball rolling.  Circumstantial yes, but I don't believe in coincidences and this all too coincidental. 

Now, Simmons has requested a release from his LOI.  If he did this three weeks ago and did it officially, UNC will have to act soon.  The NCAA imposes a 30 day time limit on a school's response.  Normally, I would never condone withholding a release or not granting a conditional transfer, but I have never be cognizant of a potential tampering situation involving the Tar Heels either.  As a result, I would not begrudge Coach Davis if he declined the request and notified the NCAA if appropriate.  Let me emphasize, if and only if appropriate based on the information available to the staff.