Just got done filing a short for tomorrow's dead tree edition on Maryland's decision to release quarterback Tyler Bass from his scholarship.
Here's the essence of the story: Maryland was overbooked at the inn in terms of scholarships and wanted the Georgia native to grayshirt, which means Bass wouldn't enroll in College Park until January and wouldn't be a true freshman until 2009.
Bass wanted to start his career this fall and had no interest in waiting another five months to start college.
It's unfair to blame Bass for possessing such a preference, and not just because most 17- and 18-year-olds are eager to go off to college.
He was the No. 73 quarterback in the class of 2008 according to scout.com, and while such football recruiting rankings are a bit dubious, there's no question some decent major college program would probably be glad to add a decent quarterback at this stage. He had plenty of interest before he signed with Maryland; East Carolina, Louisville, Memphis, Purdue and Western Kentucky also recruited Bass.
The math adding up to 85 scholarships is a tricky thing for college football programs, and Maryland has found the grayshirting route to be the least painful way to get around signing too many guys. Defensive linemen Carl Russell and Joe Vellano both grayshirted last year, but were with the Terps for the spring.
But it doesn't always work out that well, and the Terps will go forward with a recruiting class that doesn't have a quarterback (though it should be pointed out two QBs have already committed for next year's haul).
--- Patrick Stevens
