Sorry. I'm bored at work, and with Monte leaving, this was on my mind. To start, this is about Evans only. Anyone that transfers has their reasons. The manner in which they leave, the circumstances under which they leave, and the 'legacy' they leave behind are different for every athlete. I wrote a post in a similar vein when Hurley left, and again, these situations are all different.
I figure there are 3 schools of thought here:
1. He was a great player and they won a title, so I wish him well.
2. He's not here anymore, so I don't care about him.
3. The manner in which he left was atrocious, and I hope he fails.
The first thought is, obviously, the most positive. Everybody loved him. He was a great player. He hustled. He was a great teammate. He was Hollywood without it being 'over the top'. He was an integral part of the team that finally got to the show. Of course, we would all prefer that he stayed, but didn't he do his part? He was here for 2 years and gave his all for those 2 years. He felt he had the skill to transfer up, and he wanted to follow his coach/mentor/father figure. Can't blame a kid for that. Thanks for your 2 years, and good luck.
The second is the indifferent choice. I root for the players on the floor. He's gone, so I don't care. Dare I say, 'Next Bull in.' This choice is tempered by the 2nd Championship. They didn't end up losing anything by his transferring, so no harm, no foul.
The last is, of course, the most negative. This team should have been even better (Yes, if Shannon is here, there's no CJ). We're talking dynasty. The manner in which he left was atrocious. Essentially blackmailing his way out. And he did it in public. He turned his back on his team and the University. Forget about what he did in the past. He's a traitor, and I want to see him fall on his face.
With a year to gain some perspective, I fall into the first camp. I hope he does well. I can't blame a 20 year old for trying to better himself. I truly believe that he had a special relationship with Hurley, and he believed that he could play in the PAC-12. Who am I to get mad at him? If a player transfers in to UB, everyone here is all excited. No one considers the school he left behind. It's all perspective. Do you think Toledo fans fell guilty toward UB because Nate Navigato ended up there (yes, I know it wasn't a 'transfer'? Of course not.
Most of the ire toward Evans is based on the manner in which he left. If he had explained his thoughts first, and said he wanted to transfer, I don't think most people would have been upset. Disappointed, but not mad. Those few days with the twitter war make me cringe. But, is that enough reason to wish him ill? When a professional player leaves in free agency, do you immediately hate him? Do you forget about all of the positive things he did?
I'm not hugely optimistic for how he'll perform. I think he's an elite MAC player, but at best, an average PAC-12 player. But, he's had a year off to get stronger and work on his game. Who knows? That being said, I wish him well. I hope he does great. He did great things here, and for that, I thank him. I hope I see him on highlight reels, and I can say, 'He was awesome on UB, back in the day'. Can't speak for everyone else, but I'm getting too old to hold petty grudges. Good luck, Shannon.
