Andre Woolridge

[Concrete]

Why did he transfer?  I've vetted the forum and didn't find much (any) discussion on it.  I was very young at the time, but I'm guessing it was pretty devastating for the program/fanbase.  Probably the first sign that we were in for a long ride over the next couple decades, unless there were other issues behind it that caused it to be a necessary move for him.  Thoughts?

[Huskerpapa]

There was never an official reason provided.  There was a lot of speculation.  This is from the Gazette and is as official as it gets:

 

Woolridge was a Nebraska football fan growing up, and when it came
time to pick a college, he and his buddies decided to stay home and
become Cornhuskers.
“We were all going to go there as freshmen and try to help the
program and build the program ourselves,” he said.
Woolridge got about 17 minutes of playing time per game last year,
but the backcourt was crowded with three freshman guards and
veteran Jamar Johnson.
He averaged 4.9 points and 2.0 assists and shot 38.7 percent from
the field. He made the Big 8 Conference all-freshman team, but it
wasn’t enough.
Some insiders say the expectations were too high. Others say
Woolridge became too impatient at Nebraska under Coach Danny Nee.
In any case, he decided to leave after one season.
“We had an agreement not to say too much, Coach Nee and
I,” said Woolridge of his departure. “I’ll just call
it a bad situation, and God blessed me with another chance to go
on.”
Coming out of high school, he thought Nebraska was the best place
to be … or maybe the safest.
“When you go through the recruiting process, it’s so
hectic,” he said. “I mean, you get calls from 7 in the
morning until 12 midnight.
“Every coach tells you different things and you’re
looking at different facilities. You never know the right decision.
I don’t think anyone is 100 percent sure.”
 

[49r]

Lots of speculation, no real concrete information (pardon the pun), but whatever the cause, it pretty much signaled the beginning of the end for Danny at Nebraska...local media folks started to turn on him after that debacle.

[tbowman]

Why did he transfer?  I've vetted the forum and didn't find much (any) discussion on it.  I was very young at the time, but I'm guessing it was pretty devastating for the program/fanbase.  Probably the first sign that we were in for a long ride over the next couple decades, unless there were other issues behind it that caused it to be a necessary move for him.  Thoughts?

 

The expectations for Woolridge were through the roof.  But he did not play well at all his freshman season.  And in several games he played pretty poorly.  Even the fans started getting on him a bit. 

 

Another element that I think played a small factor was the success Strickland had as a freshman.  He was excelling while Woolridge was struggling.

 

Just my opinion, but all these things created friction between him and Nee and created doubt whether Nebraska was the best situation for him.  I remember being super disappointed, but not surprised when he left. 

[jimmykc]

No skeleton in the closet here. He and his family didn't feel he was getting enough playing time considering his hype and talents. Pretty much the same reason most kids transfer today. Probably was a good decision considering the amount of success he had at Iowa.

[Handy Johnson]

When he threw up 50 in the Title game against Hastings, everyone thought we had the next Isaiha Thomas. Had a good but unspectacular career at Iowa.

[Norm Peterson]

Why did he transfer?  I've vetted the forum and didn't find much (any) discussion on it.  I was very young at the time, but I'm guessing it was pretty devastating for the program/fanbase.  Probably the first sign that we were in for a long ride over the next couple decades, unless there were other issues behind it that caused it to be a necessary move for him.  Thoughts?

No, it wasn't pretty devastating for the program/fanbase.  We were in pretty good shape; in fact, that was right in the middle of the best run we ever had.  And, no, it wasn't a sign of us being in for a long ride.  Andre was a kid with an ego that matched the enormous hype he had.  He was not a humble kid and he thought he was too good to ride the pine behind Jamar Johnson.  

 

You should have seen him in practices.  I remember watching him on the scout team just rolling his eyes the whole time like scout team was so totally beneath him.

 

Andre may have had a good career at Iowa and good for him.  But I think a lot of people around here just felt like "don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out" when he announced he was transferring.

 

And, about the time Andre started making noise in Iowa City, another point guard named Tyron Lue started making noise in Lincoln.

[Norm Peterson]

When he threw up 50 in the Title game against Hastings, everyone thought we had the next Isaiha Thomas. Had a good but unspectacular career at Iowa.

Benson played 4 on 5 on defense so that Andre could drop his 50 points.  I'm not sure he ever got on the defensive end of the court for the entire second half of that game.  He just hung out about mid-court waiting for the outlet pass the whole game.  He was determined to be a jerk I mean set the record in that game.

[49r]

Not that Norm is bitter or anything...  

[Norm Peterson]

Not that Norm is bitter or anything...  

Y'know, after watching him set the scoring record in that state title game, I was a little worried about how he and his ego might react if he didn't jump right into the starting lineup at Nebraska right off the bat.  But he did nothing to beat Jamar Johnson out for the starting job.  And, having watched him at practice, you could see by his body language that he was not happy in a backup role.  He was barely going through the motions when i saw him.  Acted kind of pouty and indignant that he should have to run the scout team.

 

So, at least for me and the guys I knew who followed the team back then, we really couldn't care less if he ran off to Iowa.  Strickland was the best of the three freshmen and Boone was probably second best at the time.  And they both brought it during practice.  So, if Andre wants to go somewhere else?  Fine.  You and your massive ego can find a new home.  That's how we all felt at the time.

 

And, I'll just add this.  My opinion of him was solidified after he went to Iowa.  He was experiencing some success there and one of the local papers was interviewing him and asked him about leaving Nebraska and he made some spiteful remark about how, was it just him, or did Nebraska need a point guard.  Kinda like, "Boy, don't they wish they still had me?"  Course, about that time, Tyron Lue had arrived and, actually, we were doing just fine at point guard, thank you.

 

Concrete seemed to wonder if losing Andre Woolridge was some kind of downward turning point for the program and I just want to pass along my view that, while he certainly went on to see success at Iowa, him leaving was probably best for both parties concerned.

[49r]

I remember that interview too, Norm, and the one quote that still sticks in my mind was Andre saying something about how coach Davis didn't tell the players what to do, just let them play or something like that and he said "now, that's a real coach"...and yeah, that was at least for me, the ultimate embodiment of what a completely self-absorbed, egomaniacal douchebag he really was.

 

Obviously we got along without him, but I still stand by my assertion that it was the beginning of the end for Nee at NU...it's when the local media really started to turn on him.

[Norm Peterson]

9r, I think the media turned on Nee after he interviewed at Rutgers.  He said some things about never really fitting in at Nebraska that he probably wishes he wouldn't have said.  Especially after he didn't get the job.

[Husker4theSpurs]

I remember being disappointed but not surprised he left. He didnt exactly set the world on fire his freshman year. Basically he wanted more playing time and didn't want to be patient.

[tcp]

9r, I think the media turned on Nee after he interviewed at Rutgers.  He said some things about never really fitting in at Nebraska that he probably wishes he wouldn't have said.  Especially after he didn't get the job.

 

this is my recollection as well. this was the beginning of the end.

[AuroranHusker]

 

9r, I think the media turned on Nee after he interviewed at Rutgers.  He said some things about never really fitting in at Nebraska that he probably wishes he wouldn't have said.  Especially after he didn't get the job.

 

this is my recollection as well. this was the beginning of the end.

 

 

Yep.  IIRC, at that point in time of his interview at Rutgers, Danny Nee had a radio interview in which he proudly named his new dog Jersey & at some event for Big Red, Nee called out some NU boosters as S.O.B.'s publicly.  Not a great way to win friends in Lincoln...  (Side note: Who'd have ever guessed that 15 or so years later, both NU & Rutgers would be in the Big Ten together.)

[49r]

No, I respectfully disagree, the press turned on him long before the Rutgers deal...specifically after the player boycott (I believe, in '96).  But I still feel that the Andre situation (and not winning any NCAA games) started some of the sour columns and snarky comments from the press, particularly in Omaha.

 

My opinion, naturally.

[AuroranHusker]

No, I respectfully disagree, the press turned on him long before the Rutgers deal...specifically after the player boycott (I believe, in '96).  But I still feel that the Andre situation (and not winning any NCAA games) started some of the sour columns and snarky comments from the press, particularly in Omaha.

 

My opinion, naturally.

 

Perhaps it was more a final nail in the coffin, then.  The player boycott was a huge problem for Nee that likely led to his bitterness toward the press.  

 

It's all kind of a blur for me, really too bad that it went south because the Huskers were very good there for a while....

[jamar1700]

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davison for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player. That was when it went over the top IMO. And when I stopped reading that particular column. Forever

Edited for spelling

[AuroranHusker]

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davidson for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player.  That was when it went over the top IMO.   And when I stopped reading that particular column.  Forever 

 

Who wrote said column?

[49r]

 

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davidson for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player.  That was when it went over the top IMO.   And when I stopped reading that particular column.  Forever 

 

Who wrote said column?

 

 

Pry Shatel...  SMH...

[jamar1700]

Shatel.  Also known for saying he didn't mind the idea of girl's athletics he just didn't want it shoved down his throat.  Leading God to bless him with baby girls, or so my daughter and her HS team-mates believe. 

 

I spoke to Matt about it once and he remembered it well.  

[atskooc]

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davidson for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player.  That was when it went over the top IMO.   And when I stopped reading that particular column.  Forever 

Who is Matt Davidson?

 

Is he friends with Grant Winstrom?

[Concrete]

 

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davidson for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player.  That was when it went over the top IMO.   And when I stopped reading that particular column.  Forever 

Who is Matt Davidson?

 

Is he friends with Grant Winstrom?

 

He runs around with Tommy Frazier and Tom Osbourne, too.

[Searching 4 Chester Surles]

 

 

I remember the column eviscerating Matt Davidson for his decision to play for Nee, sullying his legacy as a football player.  That was when it went over the top IMO.   And when I stopped reading that particular column.  Forever 

Who is Matt Davidson?

 

Is he friends with Grant Winstrom?

 

He runs around with Tommy Frazier and Tom Osbourne, too.

 

 

 

I heard they go to Barnes & Nobles with Jason Peters.

[Searching 4 Chester Surles]

Woolridge got 17mpg as a frosh and complained. I was of the opinion (during that season) he should've played MUCH LESS. Couldn't understand why Strick would get taken out of the game just to watch Andre pout up and down the court.

 

There are plenty of guys today that would kill for 17 minutes as a freshman.