What’s next for Ochs?
filed in Players on Sep.24, 2002
Ochs is done for the season because of injury. This is something I can understand. Something I have even recommended. I don’t think that Ochs should risk his health for football..
Well it is one of the top sorts stories of the day. Everybody is talking about it. As they should.
CU fans were led to believe by Barnett that Ochs would be back for K-State. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. It appears as though Ochs, Watson and Barnett aren’t even on the same page anymore. Watson and Barnett had no clue this was coming down the pipe. Worse yet it is possible that Ochs will return to football but with another school. That might be the ultimate slap in the face.
Neil Woelk, Mark Kizla, and Dave Krieger all provide some disturbing analysis on what really might be going on with Ochs.
First it is obvious he will never be back. Ochs states, “I am deeply honored to have been a member of this team. I wish my teammates every success in the future both on and off the playing field.” That is certainly a good bye, not I’ll try to be back for the Black and Gold game.
Second medical redshirt versus regular redshirt. Now, I don’t understand all of the eligibility rules, and would love it if somebody would enlighten me, but with a medical redshirt Ochs can transfer and not lose any years of playing football. Apparently that is not the case with a regular redshirt. (The problem with this logic is that it would seem that after playing 1 1/2 games I think he couldn’t get a regular redshirt, explain that to me Neil Woelk) (THE NCAA RULES)
Regardless Ochs has made it clear that he is unhappy with his coaching and the Buffs playcalling. This may be just the excuse that he needed to get out of town and build on his football dream elsewhere. And that is the rub, If Ochs leaves his hometown for another team after having the starting job on a plate, that is the ultimate disrespect of CU coaches, CU fans and the CU program. Only Ochs know his own motivations, and I’m sure some of them are confused and still unclear, but they should start to reveal themselves in the next few years.
Related posts:
September 25th, 2002 on 9:01 am
Well, the speculation may never end for some time but here is the latest.
BuffZone, Denver Post, and The Rocky
Barnett has no idea of what Ochs plans to do. His teammates have no idea of what he plans to do. And nobody has talked to Ochs directly, so it is all hearsay anyway.
So Ochs father said last week that it was a family decision and if it came down to family they would act conservatively.
Ochs left a letter in every teammates locker on Monday and I think all that did was confuse people more.
Teammates like Jeremy Bloom and Jason Ackermann all spoke glowingly of Ochs. There were even rumors of Ochs complimenting Shawn Watson as late as last week about how he reminded him of his favorite high school coach.
Ochs has not asked to release his scholarship yet, but may do so soon. Barnett said he would “probably” release it.
I really don’t know. Ochs is a young kid. Life can be confusing and that is alright, it’s just a little different when the entire national media is watching you.
September 25th, 2002 on 9:44 am
It was my understanding, when I looked into a medical red-shirt that you can play as much as 1/3 of the season and still qualify for such an exemption. Also by trying to obtain the red-shirt during the current season it is more likely that the review board will accept it.
In Ochs case the fact that he will have to continue testing and seek help from the medical field will also be to his advantage. I agree that it sounds like Ochs is not planning on returning to the Buffs starting job. I also think that it is unlikely that he will be picked up by a D-I coach anywhere in the nation with 3 concusions. If he does not return to CU I don’t think he’ll get a shot anywhere else. This is probably the end of his career.