Relax about Destiny Williams. No one in CU knew about her until the coach recruited her. I am sure the coach would love to keep her. If I were a coach I would want my players to do what I wanted as opposed to 12 players doing their own thing. So Illini fans please just relax and let the Coach do her work without the grumbling.

Posted by Jam on November 20, 2009 at 9:21 PM

So Destiny is going to transfer somewhere where a coach will handle her better.

Posted by RPeterE on November 21, 2009 at 2:08 PM

Wonder if "Big Sis" Jenna Smith really looked after Destiny or just was shunned.

Posted by RPeterE on November 21, 2009 at 2:12 PM

A scholarship is a contract between the University and the player. It is a huge step from high school that brings a lot of demands such as going to class, working long hours in practice, and bending to the demands of others. It is a job to be a student-athlete (male or female). It requires effort. Relationships are important, but the student-athlete needs to remember that he/she made a commitment. If someone cannot handle this then yes they should move to somewhere else where perhaps they can do better.

Posted by Jam on November 23, 2009 at 8:22 AM

It's easy to cite the rules and contractual legalese but reality is that you have individuals with their own unique needs and expectations. Everyone is different and some just need extra counseling, extra attention, extra effort. Coaches and college sports administrators should know that and be willing to accommodate athletes with extra needs. This isn't communism.

Posted by RPeterE on November 23, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Really, the community hype worries me as much or more than whether we get the big player. Remember the big, bad saga between Allison Curtin and Coach Grenz? The SAD thing is, people stayed away from Illinois WBB in droves, because they "didn't like" coach Grentz, and really, most of us knew precious little about the situation. I am trying not to judge. But, I do agree with the observation of Coach Grentz, that women are less able to "get away with" being outspoken and opinionated. Jeff Jordan waffled about this year, and nobody is saying "it is because Bruce Webber is a difficult person". I think both the female coaches and female players are more heavily judged than male coaches or players.

I do think that Destiny should think long and hard about spending an entire year of eligibity on seven minutes of basketball!

Posted by Donna on November 27, 2009 at 9:26 PM

the redshirt rule should be changed. Its not fair to the player to only play for 7 minutes in your first game and that blows your redshirt year.

Posted by dave1956 on November 28, 2009 at 2:16 PM

I am glad to have found your blog Tony. It is nice to be able to read about the team.

I support coach Law in all she does as the Illini coach. I like her style. She reminds me of Coach Summitt at Tennessee and C Viv at Rutgers with her discipline.

One player is not bigger than the team.

Perhaps Destiny should buy into coach Law's system and come back to the team with a new attitude. I would think she would by accepted back if she came back ready to abide by the team rules. The season is young. She does not have to lose a year of eligibility if she makes things right.

If she thinks Illinois is no longer a good fit for her then so be it. Let her find the proper fit at another school. I wish her well either way.

Posted by KMarie on November 29, 2009 at 12:22 PM

I think the kids leave the colleges a lot more than they used to.

Good coaches are not easy people, in some respects. Think Pat Summitt is easygoing? Last year Tennesse fielded the fourth youngest squad in the country; somebody - several somebodies - left that program! I'll bet Gene-O from UConn is not easygoing either. We all know Vivian Stringer does things like take uniforms. She is also very successful.

Posted by Donna on December 4, 2009 at 10:13 PM