2016 Vols commit Darel Middleton disappears?

#26
#26
jps2194 said:
I've watched him closely for two years at Powell and he has a long way to go. Unless he does a complete 180, UT needs to move on. Let's not forget that he hasn't done anything on the field to really warrant a scholarship - he got it because of his size.

The sad part is he could dominate if he would give some effort.
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Please list your coaching qualifications so I know how much stock to put into your evaluation. TIA
 
#27
#27
Weezer said:
I agree the kid has to get himself together and grow into a man, but unless we have a bunch of mindreaders on this board, let time work itself out. I don't care how close anyone thinks they are to the situation, they don't know what's going on in this kid's head. Leave him alone and let he and his family work it out.
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I'd just add that at his age that's what he's doing - growing. It's not an easy thing to be a teenager and believe or not kids don't simply have bad attitudes because they want to (there's usually something behind it that needs to be dealt with). Folks acting like he's just doing whatever he's doing for fun are very likely wrong about whatever is behind his actions right now.

Wish him well in whatever is going on but remember he's still a kid and kids aren't immune from issues and problems and sometimes they deal with ones full grown adults never have to.
 
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#29
#29
Weezer said:
Please list your coaching qualifications so I know how much stock to put into your evaluation. TIA
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I've watched him practice and play for two years at Powell as my son is also on the team. I would think that qualifies me to have a valid opinion of his attitude and effort. I also played college football so I know something about the game.

He's lazy and has a terrible attitude. It doesn't take any coaching qualifications to recognize that.
 
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#30
#30
Weezer said:
Statements like this piss me off. Are you in this kid's head? Do you know what's going on in there? How do you know this isn't a kid with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or any of a host of mental medical conditions that need treatment. Are you a doctor? Are any of these others you refer to in these forums as "knowing better", doctors? If any are, have they sat him down and examined him? I would suspect the answer is no.

So despite the fact you think you know, you don't know jack squat. So kindly stfu and keep your ignorance to yourself.
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Frankly, I don't give a rats ass whether it pisses you off or not. Yes, I do know a lot about this situation because I have seen it up close during the last two years.

Students have to have medical clearance to play high school sports, by the way. No, I don't know if he has any of the maladies you describe, but just like every other high school athlete in Tennessee he has been medically examined.

So, STFU yourself. There are two people in the conversation between yourself and I. One of us does have a clue because he is in a position to have seen the events of the last two years, and that one of us is not you.
 
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#33
#33
TennesseeThumper said:
Frankly, I don't give a rats ass whether it pisses you off or not. Yes, I do know a lot about this situation because I have seen it up close during the last two years.

Students have to have medical clearance to play high school sports, by the way. No, I don't know if he has any of the maladies you describe, but just like every other high school athlete in Tennessee he has been medically examined.

So, STFU yourself. There are two people in the conversation between yourself and I. One of us does have a clue because he is in a position to have seen the events of the last two years, and that one of us is not you.
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FWIW, depression, bipolar disorder and several others are medical conditions. They wouldn't effect medical clearance for football though. However, both would effect his behavior and need medical treatment. And if you've witnessed a bad attitude or laziness then it's possible it's because of those conditions -- they start up in the teen years. That said, for all we know it's problems at home or at school.

But what do you mean when you say bad attitude/lazy? Can you give us some examples?
 
#35
#35
jps2194 said:
I've watched him practice and play for two years at Powell as my son is also on the team. I would think that qualifies me to have a valid opinion of his attitude and effort. I also played college football so I know something about the game.

He's lazy and has a terrible attitude. It doesn't take any coaching qualifications to recognize that.
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Can I get a witness?
 
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#36
#36
UTProf said:
FWIW, depression, bipolar disorder and several others are medical conditions. They wouldn't effect medical clearance for football though. However, both would effect his behavior and need medical treatment. And if you've witnessed a bad attitude or laziness then it's possible it's because of those conditions -- they start up in the teen years. That said, for all we know it's problems at home or at school.

But what do you mean when you say bad attitude/lazy? Can you give us some examples?
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There are countless examples on the recruiting thread However, one needs to loom no further than the start of this thread where his coach hasn't heard from him and he was a no show. That is not an isolated incident and is a pattern of bad behavior.
 
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#38
#38
TennesseeThumper said:
Frankly, I don't give a rats ass whether it pisses you off or not. Yes, I do know a lot about this situation because I have seen it up close during the last two years.

Students have to have medical clearance to play high school sports, by the way. No, I don't know if he has any of the maladies you describe, but just like every other high school athlete in Tennessee he has been medically examined.

So, STFU yourself. There are two people in the conversation between yourself and I. One of us does have a clue because he is in a position to have seen the events of the last two years, and that one of us is not you.
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Players are given physicals. They are not tested for specific illnesses, specifically mental illnesses. And you're wrong about either of us actually having a clue as to what's going on with this kid. You see what's happenned through your extremely narrow POV. You have no idea what's going on inside this kid's head so that's where you lose your right to say you have a "clue".

Your viewpoint is extremely ignorant. To be clear, ignorant, as in the absence of knowledge, not outright idiocy. I highly doubt this kid is throwing away his future just for the hell of it.

As for my qualifications to speak on the matter, I don't know the kid, so I can't speak on him specifically. I do however have bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depression, so I can speak on the ramifications of mental illness. If you've never lived it, you'll never understand it, but intelligent men acknowledge its existence. It sounds like this kid is going through something, and if you're as close to the situation as you claim, stop ripping the kid on a mb and start trying to find a way to help.

And I expand that statement to all the posters on here claiming to be close to the situation, yet are sitting on there asses attacking a high school kid rather than trying to help the young man or at least keeping their damn mouths shut while others try and help him. What exactly are you accomplishing other than cyber-bullying a high-schooler. That's right, a friggin' high-schooler. It's pathetic. Hope you feel better about yourselves for it.
 
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#41
#41
UTProf said:
FWIW, depression, bipolar disorder and several others are medical conditions. They wouldn't effect medical clearance for football though. However, both would effect his behavior and need medical treatment. And if you've witnessed a bad attitude or laziness then it's possible it's because of those conditions -- they start up in the teen years. That said, for all we know it's problems at home or at school.

But what do you mean when you say bad attitude/lazy? Can you give us some examples?
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So, you and our friend don't know if he has those conditions, either, but you are diagnosing him with those conditions sight unseen and blaming his attitude problems on them?

You don't know any more that he has them than I do that he doesn't. The point is that the attitude issues are there. Fingers have been pointed at coaches, teachers, administrators for those issues. Does it not stand to reason that those issues would have been discussed with his parent? The folks at Powell have gone the second, third, and fourth mile in the last 2 years.

Bottom line - it looks like Darel is going to transfer elsewhere. As I said before, I hope he gets his act together and I wish those who will be working with him as teachers and coaches all the best. I don't dislike the kid personally - he's pleasant to talk to at times and who in the world wouldn't want a talent like that on their team, if he would realize that he is part of the team and not the team? As a UT season ticket holder of over 30 years I hope he gets it together and becomes a productive member of the UT TEAM one day.
 
#43
#43
TennesseeThumper said:
Frankly, I don't give a rats ass whether it pisses you off or not. Yes, I do know a lot about this situation because I have seen it up close during the last two years.

Students have to have medical clearance to play high school sports, by the way. No, I don't know if he has any of the maladies you describe, but just like every other high school athlete in Tennessee he has been medically examined.

So, STFU yourself. There are two people in the conversation between yourself and I. One of us does have a clue because he is in a position to have seen the events of the last two years, and that one of us is not you.
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I think you're overconfident in what you think you know. Things could have been said to him from the coach that you have no idea happened. I know a kid that left our team and no one found out why him and the coach had such a bad blood relationship, come to find out the coach called him a "lazy n****r."

So, unless you follow this kid around you honestly have no room to speak for him or his situation. You either get your information from the people he has issues with (the coaches) or other players who could be unaware of any situation.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but your confidence like you know exactly what has transpired is what irks me.

:hi:
 
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#45
#45
Weezer said:
Players are given physicals. They are not tested for specific illnesses, specifically mental illnesses. And you're wrong about either of us actually having a clue as to what's going on with this kid. You see what's happenned through your extremely narrow POV. You have no idea what's going on inside this kid's head so that's where you lose your right to say you have a "clue".

Your viewpoint is extremely ignorant. To be clear, ignorant, as in the absence of knowledge, not outright idiocy. I highly doubt this kid is throwing away his future just for the hell of it.

As for my qualifications to speak on the matter, I don't know the kid, so I can't speak on him specifically. I do however have bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depression, so I can speak on the ramifications of mental illness. If you've never lived it, you'll never understand it, but intelligent men acknowledge its existence. It sounds like this kid is going through something, and if you're as close to the situation as you claim, stop ripping the kid on a mb and start trying to find a way to help.

And I expand that statement to all the posters on here claiming to be close to the situation, yet are sitting on there asses attacking a high school kid rather than trying to help the young man or at least keeping their damn mouths shut while others try and help him. What exactly are you accomplishing other than cyber-bullying a high-schooler. That's right, a friggin' high-schooler. It's pathetic. Hope you feel better about yourselves for it.
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Who has ripped the kid?

You don't know him. I have had many conversations with him. I like the kid personally and have told him many times that I want to see him have success, but there are attitude issues and those issues have been addressed without success. The next time I see him, I will shake his hand, wish him good luck in his next stop, and tell him that I am pulling for him to be successful, just as I do every time I see him.

And, yes - I understand bipolar issues. I've seen it up close with family members myself.

As I said, one of us has a clue, and one of us doesn't.

And about that cyber bullying charge - go back and read what you just posted to me. That finger points both ways, pal.
 
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#47
#47
Weezer said:
Players are given physicals. They are not tested for specific illnesses, specifically mental illnesses. And you're wrong about either of us actually having a clue as to what's going on with this kid. You see what's happenned through your extremely narrow POV. You have no idea what's going on inside this kid's head so that's where you lose your right to say you have a "clue".

Your viewpoint is extremely ignorant. To be clear, ignorant, as in the absence of knowledge, not outright idiocy. I highly doubt this kid is throwing away his future just for the hell of it.

As for my qualifications to speak on the matter, I don't know the kid, so I can't speak on him specifically. I do however have bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depression, so I can speak on the ramifications of mental illness. If you've never lived it, you'll never understand it, but intelligent men acknowledge its existence. It sounds like this kid is going through something, and if you're as close to the situation as you claim, stop ripping the kid on a mb and start trying to find a way to help.

And I expand that statement to all the posters on here claiming to be close to the situation, yet are sitting on there asses attacking a high school kid rather than trying to help the young man or at least keeping their damn mouths shut while others try and help him. What exactly are you accomplishing other than cyber-bullying a high-schooler. That's right, a friggin' high-schooler. It's pathetic. Hope you feel better about yourselves for it.
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Before you question us close to the situation, go read all of our posts in the recruiting thread. You are passing judgment without all of the background just like you are giving us a hard time for.

Nobody wanted him to be suxcessful more than the Powell parents. Duh. However we have seen him blow it time and again after he's had multiple second chances.

Regarding bipolar, my brother has it as well. This has nothing to do with a mental illness unless you count laziness and a ba attitude as a illness.
 
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#49
#49
TennesseeThumper said:
Who has ripped the kid?

You don't know him. I have had many conversations with him. I like the kid personally and have told him many times that I want to see him have success, but there are attitude issues and those issues have been addressed without success. The next time I see him, I will shake his hand, wish him good luck in his next stop, and tell him that I am pulling for him to be successful, just as I do every time I see him.

And, yes - I understand bipolar issues. I've seen it up close with family members myself.

As I said, one of us has a clue, and one of us doesn't.

And about that cyber bullying charge - go back and read what you just posted to me. That finger points both ways, pal.
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You and I are grown men. Both of us are present to put forth our arguements. Young Mr. Middleton is a high-school kid and he's not here to defend himself from the accusations. See the difference?
 
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#50
#50
Weezer said:
You and I are grown men. Both of us are present to put forth our arguements. Young Mr. Middleton is a high-school kid and he's not here to defend himself from the accusations. See the difference?
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The difference in what, and what accusations?

Booted from his high school football team after being suspended twice in the past season. Factual.

Did not show up for 3 high school basketball games this week, and has not bothered to let the basketball coach know he wasn't coming, has quit the team, or what ever the situation is. Factual.

Those are facts. Period. They aren't opinions or third party here say.

See the difference? You are hypothesizing. I am dealing in reality.
 
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