Comments on: Jack Keefer sounds off on Dominique Ferguson

By: thom12

thom12 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:40:12 +0000

Remember Jeff Robinson could not get into Purdue due to grades. I guess Ferguson was smart enough to see this and left just in time, so that his college plans, would not be put on hold or slowed down.

By: thom12

thom12 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:40:12 +0000

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:21:52 +0000

Frankly, I have very little simpathy for this kid. I have been observing the recruiting process for a couple of years and I don't get the impression that these young men are just innocent kids. The boys that play just for the fun of playing and wil never play major college or pro ball get my respect and concern. The Fergusons and Odens are hired guns looking for a way to promote themselves and to get the best shot they can get at the next level. They hold press conferences, are fawned over and are treated like royalty. If this the path they choose to walk, they get the good with the bad.

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:31:35 +0000

Gleas and Craig….I agree with you both….

I had an incident in high school where I got some bad advice from an outside party, skipped a big game, went on a college visit. My H.S. coach talked to me about it and my parents and it was done. Not one bit to the local media. I would have been CRUSHED if he did because I idolized my high school coach, and I regret to this day 20 years later I missed that game and let him down.

I don't think kids idolize their h.s. coaches anymore given they have an AAU coach and a personal trainer that are in their ears as well. Jack at some point should have gone to the family (which they are VERY good people, I know personally) and talked to them one on one……

By: BGleas

BGleas — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:01:57 +0000

I don't think anyone is chalking his shortcomings up to his age. We're just saying due to his age, it's pretty classless of an adult educator to air those shortcomings in the media. DF most certainly isn't acting responsibly (from what we know) in the classroom and maybe in other areas, but that doesn't belong in the media, especially from a jilted coach.

By: bahickma

bahickma — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:25:00 +0000

I don’t buy into the sentiment that Keefer did nothing about or ignored Ferguson’s academic troubles. All you ever hear about with Keefer’s kids are how well they do in the classroom, how good of character they have, and how disciplined they are. For a coach whose garnered as much success and accolades as Keefer has, I find it extremely hard to believe that he would go out of his way to publicly embarrass the kid for no reason other than he left Lawrence North.

Also, I hate referring to Ferguson as a “kid.” He’s a 17 or 18 year old child, sure, but even at that age we all make decisions for ourselves. Sure, some of them are really short-sighted and never even approach the long-term, but the decisions he does have to make aren’t that hard. Go to class or don’t? Do your home or don’t? Play basketball or don’t? It’s not like anyone’s asking him to lead a military invasion into a forward area or anything. To simply chalk his academic shortcomings up to his age isn’t good enough and shouldn’t be considered a valid excuse. We protect him by saying he’s a kid now, but if he were just another year older people would be bitching and moaning about how he is an adult and has to make his own decisions, etc.

By: Ron in Jeffersonville

Ron in Jeffersonville — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:44:32 +0000

Let me start a new question. Does anyone really think this kid is going to collage? I don't think the coach was wrong in pushing for him to go to class. According to the IHSAA rules, he has to maintain a certain grade point ave to even play. I feel that is why he is transferring (to get away from that rule). I don't see him in collage/ nor pros. This is a sad case of a talented player, that didn't want to be a student athlete. I am not trying to bash here, but how many times have we seen this very thing?
Oh yea, the coach was wrong of any comments once it came out he was leaving.

By: BGleas

BGleas — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:44:36 +0000

Bible thumping? No. Conservative? Yes. I could go into a whole thing about GW, but I don't think we want to turn this post into that. We can if you want though?

I'm with you on DF/Keefer. I'm not trying to say DF is some great kid, I don't know him or have ever met him. I feel it's just wrong for a high school coach to dog a player in the media, I find that extremely classless.

I played high school and college basketball and was never a great student (although I was a team player and hard worker) and I can't imagine what it would have been like if my high school coach told the local media that I was struggling in the classroom, which definitely would have gotten spun into being lazy.

By: CraiginOR

CraiginOR — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:05:49 +0000

BGleas…I hope you're not a Bible thumper or a conservative who thinks GW is the intellectual nexus of the Republican party. I agree with you on your Keefer/media point. Ferguson has to live with his drama-to-drama diva lifestyle, real or imagined. Military school will only help. I never wanted to talk about his bball karma because I knew I'd have to forgive his (ahem) character if he decided to attend IU. Keefer is another story, my dad would say “he's bitchin because someone has him by the short hairs”. Sounds like sour grapes to me. Keefer is the adult and supposed professional so he looks really lame.

By: psvirsky

psvirsky — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:09:54 +0000

Maybe it's just me, but I really got the impression from listening to him on JMV that Keefer's beef lies almost solely with DF's handlers and not his parents or DF himself. It sounded as though DF's got some people telling him all sorts of stuff about his future as a ball player and that a lot of it is pretty detrimental to him. Keefer definitely came off pretty angry and said some stuff he shouldn't have, but it really wasn't aimed mostly at DF. And like a few people have pointed out, he repeatedly said that DF's a good kid who's getting horrible advice.

So to me Keefer shouldn't have said stuff about his academics but he's really just upset with DF's handlers and DF is probably going to need to make some changes to his people if he wants to get anywhere

By: DavisX

DavisX — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:03:50 +0000

My son has recently commited to play ball at a wonderful university, and let me tell you the first stop on everyone of his visits was the academic department. This information that Keefer publicly spoke of certainly won't help his recruiting, but the schools who are recruiting him would know very quickly if Dominique was going to have problems getting in or staying eligible. I think this was very unclassy of the coach. Like Kelin said-was Keefer worried about this before, or was it just suddenly an issue when his star player left?

I fault the parents who should know that their son will not play ball forever, and needs a good education. Unfortunately some parents treat their kids like lotto tickets hoping one day they will pay off! Very sad.

By: MillaRed

MillaRed — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:49:26 +0000

If only Keefer held up high academic standards like Kelvin Sampson…….

By the way, is there is a reason this guy looks 100 years old and still coaches high school ball?

You can't bash kids in the media. If a local coach went public about anything personal in my kids life I would go postal.

By: MillaRed

MillaRed — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:43:58 +0000

Because they are minors and have different rights. Imagine if this were your kid.

By: IUKYLE94

IUKYLE94 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:48:12 +0000

You said his grades were quoted and that didn't happen, “You say he didn't provide any confidential info, then go and prove it by quoting WHAT his grades are.” what was said is he's not eligible to play at the next level, his dad said said it and so did Keefer, that's why he transferred. Comprehend, or should I type slower for you?

By: GFDave

GFDave — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:31:45 +0000

I did not say that you reported his grades, I said that Keefer did and that you proved that Keefer did it by quoting what Keefer said. Keefer said Dom is not eligible to play, and of course that means Dom's got poor grades. Just because he didn't give us his report card doesn't mean we don't now know that it was bad. Keefer wasn't specific, but he sure did tell us all that Dom is not doing well. Comprehend, or should I type slower?

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:49:34 +0000

Jack Keefer seems to be a hot topic…wow reminds me of the Mike Davis days….well maybe not, Davis would have produced 4 times the amount of post…nevertheless for an offseason topic…good job ALex…

By: IUKYLE94

IUKYLE94 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:24:59 +0000

GF Dave, I didn't provide any info. regarding his grades. I said that according to Keefer he's not eligible to play at the next level. I then went on to say that it only takes a 2.0 to remain in good standing at the HS level which isn't necessarily good enough to play in college. NO WHERE in what I said or the article Keefer was quoted in mentioned his specific grades. Everything I've said was reported in the newspaper. I think it's hilarious that people comment and attribute things to people that were never said. Try reading my post again and point out where I said anything about his specific grades. Reading comprehension man, reading comprehension.

By: GFDave

GFDave — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:03:46 +0000

Its not being thin skinned to disagree with the ethics of this situation. Keefer crossed the line when he revealed the academic information. It is a violation of the teacher/coach-student/player relationship. I wouldn't be surprised if a law or two had been broken.

You say he didn't provide any confidential info, then go and prove that he did by quoting what his grades are. Is that your business to know? It is not.

I think it hilarious that people posting anonymously on the internet don't care about the privacy of others.

By: IUKYLE94

IUKYLE94 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:09:52 +0000

Kelin, I didn't compare Walker and Ferguson. I said to continually enable a kid instead of providing quality parental guidance is what eventually causes that kind of situation. Keefer should've been the bigger person but he wasn't and I don't think what he said is a problem unless it's factually incorrect. He didn't provide any confidential info. He said the kids not eligible nor is he doing what it takes to become eligible at the next level. He didn't say he wasn't able to play HS ball, it only takes a 2.0gpa to stay in good standing. As as we all know this isn't necessarily enough to play in college.

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:29:31 +0000

Comparing Antoine Walker and Dom Fergunson is a bit of a stretch. I don't think anyone is thin skinned on here about what Keefer said about DF, it is saying it in the media...newspaper and radio. That is unheard of at the high school level as we ALL understand these are high school kids! Keefer may echo many coaches across this state about players on their team, but you DO NOT put that out there about a kid....again a kid!

As Jack is finding out, this is becoming a reflection and spotlight on him and his program. I am for certain he DOES NOT want this spotlight.

Dear Jack answer these questions:
1. Since Dom was having these 'academic issues' why did you continue to play him?
2. What did you do to help him?
3. Would any other coach at any other level start a kid for an entire season, if he didn't fit the 'Wildcat' way?
4. Is winning more important than academics at LN
5. In your comments you mentioned he didn't want to be part of a possible championship team? Didn't he play last year? and also.....You do know Bloomington South is going to win it again don't you? (thats for me personally)