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DEL.ICIO.USReport: Cruz Williams nixes Petrino, Arkansas; chooses La. Tech, Dooley
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Fayetteville, Ark. - Highly touted receiver Cruz Williams won’t enroll at Arkansas and instead will play for Louisiana Tech, according to a news report.
The News-Star of Monroe, La., reported Thursday that the 6-4, 208 pound receiver out of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock will play for Louisiana Tech Coach Derek Dooley.
Williams told the News Star that it no longer felt like a good fit when he went to the Fayetteville campus a couple of months ago.
Williams caught 105 passes for 1,306 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior and was a top recruit of new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino. Williams had committed to Arkansas while Houston Nutt was still coach and had stuck with that commitment after Petrino was hired.
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By Tampa Dawg
June 13, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
A very wise decision by this young man and his family. Petrino will be leaving in a year for some other sucker with money!
By Yari
June 13, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
What goes around comes back around! This time in advance.
By smart kid
June 13, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Smart kid. Petrino is scum and will likely be gone half way through the season.
By gahawg
June 13, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
This transfer had nothing to do with Petrino. This kid didn’t have the grades necessary to qualify and rather than admitting that he decides to spin it as a problem with the coach. But I wouldn’t expect the AJC to do their homework on this because it sounds so much better them being able to publish another Petrino bashing story.
By KnowsTheTruth
June 13, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Um, the kid’s transcript didn’t qualify. Get a clue.
By nomoreseven
June 13, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
What a hatchet job. Williams was academically ineligible to play for an SEC school due to grades.
The AJC needs to tell the entire truth when it prints stories like this.
By Woo Pig Sooie
June 13, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
He didn’t qualify academically for the UA…Guess no one decided to write that.
By Hunter
June 13, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Why does this article not state the fact that Cruz didn’t make the grades the U of A requires for incoming freshmen?
Don’t let facts get in the way of a good agenda.
By nomoreseven
June 13, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
What a hatchet job. Williams was academically ineligible to play for an SEC school due to grades.
The AJC needs to tell the entire truth when it prints stories like this.
By Hunter
June 13, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Why does this article not state the fact that Cruz didn’t make the grades the U of A requires for incoming freshmen?
Don’t let facts get in the way of a good agenda.
By Woo Pig Sooie
June 13, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
He didn’t qualify academically for the UA…Guess no one decided to write that.
By Woo Pig Sooie
June 13, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
He didn’t qualify academically for the UA…Guess no one decided to write that.
By aurtherthewhiner
June 13, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Awww…poor Falcons…Vickless….Coachlesss…so blame Petrino for everything.
Why not bash your dogfighting QB who ruined your season last year?
By aurtherthewhiner
June 13, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Awww…poor Falcons…Vickless….Coachlesss…so blame Petrino for everything.
Why not bash your dogfighting QB who ruined your season last year?
By Ted
June 13, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Maybe you should ask Cruz about the fact that the SEC does not accept partial qualifiers.
By Falcons Fans = Sour Grapes
June 13, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you just go ahead and blame Petrino for the gas prices too?
By Hoggystyle
June 13, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
All of you people are just p** off cause Petrino left your laughingstock of an NFL franchise, and your morally bankrupt A. Blank waiting at the alter while he took a better job, FOR LESS $$$$ I MIGHT ADD! Just how bad does it suck to be a Fal-con fan these days? BBBWWWHAAAAHHHAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By RB
June 13, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Atlanta still is b*tching about Petrino? Shouldn’t you be concentrating on the trash of a football team the Falcons will be trotting out next year? Love how the first three peons who posted ate up every bit of this article, before those in Fayetteville who really know what happened chimed in with facts to make them look stupid.
By SEC Fan
June 13, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Wow, now that’s what I’d expect from a weekly rag with an agenda instead of the AJC.
Tabloid reporting does sell papers or subscriptions though. All the way down here at MSU, even we realize that Mr. Williams is ineligible because of grades.
Perhaps he’d have felt some love from the heartless Petrino had he done some freakin academic work. Petrino should bill him for the time he wasted recruiting his no studying arse.
By TB
June 13, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Seems to me that the AJC and the fine folks of Atlanta might want to spend more time worring about how to turn around one of the worst franchises in the NFL - and less about the Arkansas Razorbacks.
We’re doing just fine without you. Bobby Petrino is too.
By Earl
June 13, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Cruz did not have the grades to enroll at an SEC school…..He does not have the class to admit that so he blames coach Petrino..What was Petrino supposed to do, say ok Cruz we are going to break the rules and let you in….I don’t like bashing recruits but Cruz brought all this on himself…
By Earl
June 13, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Cruz did not have the grades to enroll at an SEC school…..He does not have the class to admit that so he blames coach Petrino..What was Petrino supposed to do, say ok Cruz we are going to break the rules and let you in….I don’t like bashing recruits but Cruz brought all this on himself…
By Dan Reeves
June 13, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
“He turned the Louisville program around. I know for a fact Petrino, his brother and his staff are going to turn the Razorbacks into a winning machine…” - Cruz Williams (prior to finding out that he was academically ineligible to play for Arkansas.
By Knows the Real Story
June 13, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
I wish that I had the print copy in my possession. Then, I’d have something to wipe with.
The kid didn’t qualify academically, period.
By bigboy
June 13, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Ok, he left because of Petrino….if he is a great player with the grades and all, why La Tech?? Wouldn’t he have gone to a BCS school?
Some people hate Petrino so much they can’t see thru to the real issue. Cruz didn’t have the core courses to get into the U of A. That is his fault, his parents fault, and the PA advisors fault. Not Petrino’s.
Is it also Petrino’s fault that gas is over 4 bucks a gallon?
By Knows the Real Story
June 13, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
I wish that I had the print copy in my possession. Then, I’d have something to wipe with.
The kid didn’t qualify academically, period.
By Michael Vick
June 13, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
Woof Woof… All I can say is thank God for Georgia (makes the rest of the South feel so much better).
Get your facts straight - What little class Georgia had left for the Razorbacks!
By Helmet
June 13, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Anyone who has paid even a bit of attention to this situation would know that he came up short in core requirements. I read plenty of junk from this paper a few months ago that I should have known better to expect a true account of this situation. Pathetic.
By Helmet
June 13, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Anyone who has paid even a bit of attention to this situation would know that he came up short in core requirements. I read plenty of junk from this paper a few months ago that I should have known better than to expect a true account of this situation. Pathetic.
By big mike
June 13, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Bobby petrino is gonna blow! He’s gonna be leaving before the season is over. Arkansas get ready to lose a lot of games this fall!!!!!! Lmao!!!!!!!!
By big mike
June 13, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Bobby petrino is gonna blow! He’s gonna be leaving before the season is over. Arkansas get ready to lose a lot of games this fall!!!!!! Lmao!!!!!!!!
By Reporting Class 101
June 13, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Here is what real reporting looks like:
Link: http://nwanews.com/blogs/slophouse/2008/06/05/petrino-to-arkansas-how-it-really-happened/
By Steve
June 13, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
RB, Hoggystyle, etc:
No one in Atlanta missed Petrino. Good riddance, and you Porkers deserve what you get for hiring him in the first place.
By Brady
June 13, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
As a journalist myself, I have to admit that this is some of the worst journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Not saying I’m great, but before I write something, I get my facts straight. You left out THE ENTIRE story and only reported Cruz’s own coverup for his transfer. He was an academic casualty, he did NOT meet the requirements to play SEC football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you want to find out what really happened, look two comments up. That’s the true story. Get your facts right or get out of journalism. This is an embarrassing article to read, much less for you to write.
By Brady
June 13, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
As a journalist myself, I have to admit that this is some of the worst journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Not saying I’m great, but before I write something, I get my facts straight. You left out THE ENTIRE story and only reported Cruz’s own coverup for his transfer. He was an academic casualty, he did NOT meet the requirements to play SEC football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you want to find out what really happened, look two comments up. That’s the true story. Get your facts right or get out of journalism. This is an embarrassing article to read, much less for you to write.
By Jimmy
June 13, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Cruz did not “nix” Petrino. Cruz’s grades “nixed” him.
By Brady
June 13, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
As a journalist myself, I have to admit that this is some of the worst journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Not saying I’m great, but before I write something, I get my facts straight. You left out THE ENTIRE story and only reported Cruz’s own coverup for his transfer. He was an academic casualty, he did NOT meet the requirements to play SEC football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you want to find out what really happened, look two comments up. That’s the true story. Get your facts right or get out of journalism. This is an embarrassing article to read, much less for you to write.
By Brady
June 13, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
As a journalist myself, I have to admit that this is some of the worst journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Not saying I’m great, but before I write something, I get my facts straight. You left out THE ENTIRE story and only reported Cruz’s own coverup for his transfer. He was an academic casualty, he did NOT meet the requirements to play SEC football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you want to find out what really happened, look two comments up. That’s the true story. Get your facts right or get out of journalism. This is an embarrassing article to read, much less for you to write.
By Brady
June 13, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
As a journalist myself, I have to admit that this is some of the worst journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Not saying I’m great, but before I write something, I get my facts straight. You left out THE ENTIRE story and only reported Cruz’s own coverup for his transfer. He was an academic casualty, he did NOT meet the requirements to play SEC football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you want to find out what really happened, look two comments up. That’s the true story. Get your facts right or get out of journalism. This is an embarrassing article to read, much less for you to write.
By Blanktheliar
June 13, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Wow! I would expect more from a newspaper like the AJC. You guys are getting your info from the News Star out of Monroe? NICE.
By Blanktheliar
June 13, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Wow! I would expect more from a newspaper like the AJC. You guys are getting your info from the News Star out of Monroe? NICE.
By greg
June 13, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Glad to have Petrino, glad he left Atlanta, and this story reads much like Petrino’s stay in ATL. A owner saying one thing in private and another thing publicly and AJC doing zero investigation to find out the truth.
By the big pig
June 13, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Journalism is dead. Author: you = hack
By the big pig
June 13, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
Journalism is dead. Author: you = hack
By biggus
June 13, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Are all Georgians low class no talent hacks like the Fal=Cons and ajc writers?
By biggus
June 13, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Are all Georgians low class, no talent hacks like the Fal=Cons and ajc writers? Quit acting like jilted lovers. What the heck is the problem with you people?
By Wild Bill Hog
June 13, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Like so many kids, he didn’t take care of academics during his first couple of years in HS, and couldn’t meet the SEC requirements. It’s really a shame as he has a lot of talent. He would have seen some PT next year.
Of course, given the performance and efficiency of the Falcons’ organization, he could lead your team in receptions coming straight out of HS.
By BCS Slave
June 13, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
Petrino deserves all the bashing he gets. He cost the Atlanta Falcons a huge amount of money while giving sports fans one of the most miserable seasons in the history of the franchise and probably, in the history of pro football.
He has no character. He didn’t even have enough respect for the team or the players to finish out one season. How any recruit would consider playing for such a loser is beyond me.
By Bow Wow Redemption
June 13, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
BCS Slave, Re:Arthur Blank, Michael Vick, and Co., what’s to respect?
By mykhalc
June 13, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
ok write this…the kid’s grades SAVED him!!!
By SECCoachnDallas
June 13, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
Being called low class by an “R”kansan is the epitomy of misplaced humor! Cruz may not have had the grades to get in an SEC school, but what about the two young men at Auburn or the Springdale kids at Southern Cal or… The University of “R”kansas is not an attractive venue for a high school athlete.
Question:
What does a 12 year old girl in “R”Kansas say after sex?
Get up Daddy, you are squashing my Marlboros.
By John
June 13, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
AJC, you really should get the facts on why the guy didn’t go to Arkansas before you write a story about it.
By cityhog
June 14, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
To SECCoahnDallas:
Ever heard of Darren McFadden or Felix Jones? They found it attractive enough. Woof woof.
By ctate1906
June 14, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this
Our facilities as a whole are a lot better than Georgia’s. The springdale kids did go to Arkansas. They left because of Nutt. The same reason the two kids went to Auburn in 2006, was because of Nutt. THis had nothing to do with Petrino. I wonder if you guys are gonna blame Petrino when Georgia doesn’t make it to the promised land this year? Just because our coach didn’t want to stay in thug paradise/down low men academy doesn’t mean he is a bad guy. It seemed that nobody wanted to take that wreck of a pro organization. You see the Tuna ran to an even worse franchise record wise (Miami) than to put up with Blank and a thugged out city like Atlanta. Oh yeah Free MV7.
By Petrino the PIG
June 14, 2008 5:25 AM | Link to this
First of all, the city of Atlanta is WAY better than anywhere in Arkansas. Everyone knows that Arkansas is the worst State in the union. Also, the University of Georgia will destroy the Razorbacks this fall. In addition, I can’t believe so many Arkansas fans would come onto an Atlanta Newspaper website to defend Bobby Petrino’s honor, or lack thereof. Laughable. Also let me remind you we are talking about a high school player who is going to go to Louisiana Tech. I guess he didnt meet the high Academic Standards that Arkansas is so well known for, being such a great school and all. Bunch of geniuses like Darren McFadden over there, regular Harvard you got goin on over there. Bobby Petrino is the epitome of a lying disloyal coward, and everyone knows that, including all of those recruits. He will leave all you pig sooeyin morons in the dust whenever a top tier SEC program is stupid enough to hire him away from you in the middle of his contract. By the way, I love how all of you Pigs completely bash the AJC for this fact-based, paragraph long article not telling Arkansas and Petrino’s side of the story. So here is the best part of all of this, that THIS ARTICLE WAS NOT WRITTEN BY AJC WRITERS AS IT CAME FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ARKANSAS IS FULL OF RETARDS
By JICK AND PEIPERL
June 14, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
get over it mylanta. petrino left because of the ghetto thugs on your football team.
vick was killing dogs while being your qb. how disrespectful is that. he p** on all of you. you guys should have never fired dan reeves.
Go Broncos and VOLS!!!
By Maxx
June 14, 2008 5:49 AM | Link to this
Yea Atlanta is way better than anywhere in Arkansas. This article is really just quoting the News-Star of Monroe, La., which means nothing to me, which also means that this article should never have been written. That being said, Petrino is terrible, and it’s hilarious to see all these Razorback fans get so upset about this beat blog
By helmet
June 14, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Cruz has come up a little bit short. He has some work to do to still be eligible at La Tech.
Due to this, he wasn’t going to be able to take place in the summer activities the new freshmen needed to in order to ready themselves for the fall.
As you may know, the Hogs need WR’s. And these in BP’s first class, for the most part, were expected to compete for PT. Cruz is a good looking WR, but he simply wasn’t going to be eligible this fall. When approached about other options, he balked at the notion of possibly having to walk-on until his grades were as needed. The scholarships are tight and you just can’t give one to a kid who shows up ineligible.
Before you bash Petrino, ask yourself if you would want Richt giving a scholarship to someone who is a guaranteed academic casuality who doesn’t want to be on campus with the other new players. All while you have walk-ons who are eligible and on campus, putting in time to try to help your team. Who do you give that last schollie to?
He has 2 people to blame. His counselor, for allowing this academic situation to go this far without addressing it. And mostly, himself. If he had taken care of his core work, he would be on campus right now and likely getting PT in the fall. He knew what he had to do and didn’t. Now it’s someone else’s fault.
Unbelievably for some, I guess, is the fact that the standards at Arkansas for enrollment are higher than that of the average S.E.C team. That fact has messed up our recruiting before - but, I don’t think Cruz would have been eligible at any of our conference schools.
By Tech Fan
June 14, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Cruz didnt meet the academic requirements to enroll at an SEC school and you cannot take core classes during summer school. He had offers from programs like Arkansas, GT and Michigan, why do you think he’s going to LA Tech.
But I’m sure the AJC already knew this….
By david
June 14, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
“Shiii I didant feel the luv.” How about feeling your books Cruz you idiot and not flunking out of school? Or excuse me, flunking before you get in school. Like the Hogs will miss some little puke like Cruz williams. Also Petrino the pig why don’t you take your skirt off and put a pair of jeans on and go check out Ark.. It’s pretty cool.
By Ivan
June 15, 2008 2:03 AM | Link to this
I’m not saying the media is gay, but they will hold Arthur Blank’s shriveled old dick in their mouth until the swelling goes down.
That goes as well for you fine Jawja Bulldog folks. Woof.
By txhawg
June 16, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Petrino the Pig:
Any school that produced Quincy Carter is prohibited from academic smack talk. Listening to that guy give an interview is painful to watch.
By athenshog
June 16, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Petrino the Pig, are you too stupid to even look up the schedule before you type? Jawja and Arkansas don’t play this year. I wish Cruz Williams had taken care of things academically so he’d be at Arkansas. But he didn’t and he isn’t so I’ll wish him well.
Question for you and Falcon fans, aren’t the Falcons better off that Petrino left? He and the team weren’t on the same page and the Falcon players basically quit on him as much as he walked out on them. I don’t like the way that situation occured but think that both the Falcons and Arkansas are better off.
By HogGirl
June 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
I have met Cruz several times. He was hot stuff at the high school, but that is a small fishbowl compared to UofA. He knew all along he wouldn’t arrive with the ‘love’ of a seasoned player. Also, Cruz didn’t make the grade, plain and simple. He can spin it however he wants, but when you have to re-take th ACT 4 times to get a minimal score, something’s up. Just goes to show you, even at high priced private schools, education is second to sports.
By kevin
July 9, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Arkansas sucks with or without this guy. This is just a fact. They think they got an accomplished coach with Petrino but you will soon find out that you got a quitter and a guy with no backbone. It is not just Atlanta fans bashing this guy but if you listen to all football analysts they all say the same thing. He is a quitter and a liar. He has proven this time and time again. You will find out soon enough when he leaves for greener pastures. This should not be long since everything in Arkanas is brown and dirty.