Holtz Stands by Mut

Wide receiver will probably redshirt this season after tearing his ACL (picture from usfnation.com)

The Bulls got three wide receivers in the 2011 recruiting class, but one of them, Alex Mut, has torn an ACL during a game of basketball, just a few before signing day (as reported by Adam Adkins - TBO). [keep reading]

Until a recruit actually signs their letter of intent and sends it to a university, the verbal commitment and offer by the university (the coach offers) is not an actual legal contract. That is why you see so many players de-committing and changing their minds at the last possible moment.

There have been times when a recruit was offered, got hurt, and had their scholarship offer ripped away (ask Purdue about that). When Mut injured himself (as reported) he contacted Coach Holtz to explain the situation. Now Holtz could have legally taken the offer away and given it to a healthy player, but that is not Holtz. Holtz is about the players, not just the body on the field, he wants the player to get an education and by taking a scholarship away, he would be taking a future away from a player. So Skip stood by the offer and by Mut who is now part of the 2011 class.

Mut will be entering the rehab stage of his injury when he comes in during Spring practices and will most likely redshirt this season (I didn't see him playing this year to begin with due to depth and development he needs to undertake). He should recover and will still have a solid career with the Bulls. But it just shows that Holtz is all about the players, connecting with them, and being a great person (wonder if another former head coach would have done the same).