Antoinette Howard

[adamspt2]

Just read where she has been released from her LOI to Florida. Any idea who is interested in her? I know UK has some schollies and I think she'd be a solid addition to our current class of 2 guards, 2 posts. I hope she winds up somewhere where she's happy.

And great job on the site!

[FloridaKenny]

Looks like Amanda Butler is turning things around. I think Florida is in trouble....again.

[scoutnwhoops]

After talking with her dad for a while the emphasis is putting her in a place where she will fit in and WIN.

I think they want to see which of the teams that were really on her before will come back to the table.

[rk88bulldog]

In an effort to promote parity, I would like to see her go to a school like Temple or Praire View A&M. I listed them because they have excellent Afro Am female coaches, perhaps this is important to her. They are also not supernova type programs. Instead of building on someone elses tradition, why not go someplace that is still in it's basketball infancy and start a new tradition? What if she went to MTSU? How will they look in the next few years. Is Insell going to be as good as he was in the highschool game? He is looking good so far.

[FloridaKenny]

I have heard some buzz that they are reneging on some of the verbal commitments for 2008 & 2009 and already have started to burn some bridges around Florida.

[Trueline]

FlaKen

You obviously don't like the hire so who would have been your realistic choice.

[ifyousayso]

Well since this is an Antionette Howard thread I can say that the Howard's have been shown alot of love from Purdue, Florida State and Rutgers and these are definitely considerations for them, but, they are weighing all options at this point. Scoutnwhoops is right in that they want to go to a program that has established themselves as being able to get it done.

As for Amanda Butler it is survival of the fittest at this point and Butler appears to have the upper hand. She took this job knowing that Florida will lower the boon on her in a flash if there are not some big immediate changes. Coaches nowadays do not have the luxury of riding out a recruiting class for four years. Back to the Womens College basketball is a businesss statement...well another example.

I feel badly for those that the offers were rescinded, but. better now than once on the team I suppose. I have to believe that the large DI caliber recruits in Florida would have to appreciate that Butler means business. Now whether her efforts will pay off in the end who knows, but, it appears she is workin' it.

[FloridaKenny]

I like the hire. I thought they just were so obsessed with just being Florida they thought they could get whomever they wanted. I really think the best person for that job was Jose Fernandez but because he was at USF and people at UF cant recognize any of their accomplishments they hired Butler who had 2 years of coaching expirience in the A10 and was an Alum.

Butler isnt the answer at Florida in my opinion but they had to pay someone 450k next year to finish in the bottom half of the SEC. Hopefully she proves me wrong but I cant imagine them landing any top 20-30 recruits nationally and that is why Peck is a color analyst now.

They need to see what Florida State has done and mirrior that. Get the top players they can in Florida and hit southern georgia, alabama, and mississippi and stop this dream recruiting.

[scoutnwhoops]

You can field a top half of the SEC team in the footprint you described. Probably a Top 25 team without leaving those states.

[NGBBoiler]

Ms. Howard will be visiting Purdue this weekend per the local paper. *fingers crossed*...BOILER UP!

http://www.boilerstation.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070509/NEWS0901/70509030/1122/BOILER

[BoilerUp]

Well... it was a beautiful weekend in West Lafayette! I hope Antoinette enjoyed her visit!

:)

[NGBBoiler]

All the reports say she did. Hopefully she makes a decision soon (like tomarrow). Versyp and the Boilers need good news after the Phillips fiasco. Oh, and hoopgurlz Sarah Boothe took an unofficial visit to Purdue as well so Purdue is in the mix for her for 08. We will NEED a center.

BOILER UP! :)

[ifyousayso]

I believe that Ms. Howard had made arrangements to visit with Florida State prior to her visit to Purdue...SO looks like at least one more official visit that I am aware of before an announcement.

[NGBBoiler]

Oh, It was reported that she already visited FSU before she committed to Florida. She might want to take another. I was thinking she wanted to sign before the late signing day period ended. But, I don't think it matters.

[ifyousayso]

I hear that she was more than impressed with her visit at Purdue!