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By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter 

Oregon move is big leap for 'Big Play V.A.'

Crunch Time

 

Last updated 2/12/2015 at 1:41pm



A gray day in Cheney turned a little bit blue Monday.

Vernon Adams made his much anticipated decision to transfer to the University of Oregon for his senior season of football eligibility in 2015.

Despite him “ducking” out of town earlier than we all would have wished, Adams has so many people wishing him the best of luck.

In having this immense privilege to tell stories such as those I have been able to do in chronicling Adams’ amazing exploits over the past three years at Eastern, I cannot think of many “kids” who were as endearing.

Even after passing for six touchdowns and a gazillion yards, following such a game he was the first to always credit his teammates. And hopefully they, too, will remember that first — and then his departure a year early — when they think of V.A.

As the rumors of his possible transfer first began to eek out, the questions came seeking insight on just what might be his decision.

I put on the parent’s hat, the one worn when trying to have good heart-to-heart chats over the years with daughters over things such as schools, cars, jobs and apartments.

They rarely listened at the time, but years later would often confide, “Why didn’t we listen to you and Mom?” It didn’t happen often, but when it did it was nice to know we might have been smarter than we appeared at the time.

And things turned out well, despite some stumbles.

In theorizing and rationalizing what might happen with “Big Play V.A.” out came the pros vs. cons list. That’s what my family has long employed to make difficult decisions a bit easier.

Like not following through on a wild notion to purchase an abandoned home next to our rental property. Because once we started really studying things, the lengthy list of negatives made sure our collective bank accounts — and sanity — remained intact.

For Adams, the pros seemed simple. Oregon offered the kind of bigger stage from which he might just further his football career. This despite his already record-setting, All-American naming and twice a Walter Payton Award runner-up resume at Eastern.

But the cons certainly looked like they’d win the day and he’d amaze for another year as an Eagle. Loads of Nike and Pac-12 money provides a lot of glitz the red turf simply cannot match.

The path Adams has chosen has huge challenges. And that concern showed throughout the day in comments, and the tenor of the voice of Adams’ coach, and mentor, Beau Baldwin.

He has to graduate June 12 and do so needing to earn a significant number of credits just to get to Eugene June 13 to begin summer workouts.

And because he will not have a diploma in hand, Adams will miss spring ball and have just a few weeks to learn the Oregon system. Then he has to unseat athletes already in the U of O system — Jeff Lockie, Morgan Mahalak, Ty Griffin, Travis Waller and Taylor Alie during the Ducks’ fall camp.

“He has one senior year with a lot of pieces that go into this in terms of when he can get there, timing, all that,” Baldwin said on 700 ESPN’s “Patchin, Lukens and Osso Radio Show.”

But Adams has surprised everyone before, and on many occasions since his breakout effort in spring camp at Eastern in 2012. That’s when he came out as a redshirt freshman and ultimately beat out FBS/Southern Methodist University transfer, Kyle Padron to begin his amazing highlight-reel EWU career.

Despite what might lay ahead, and the big gamble Adams has taken in this transfer decision, Baldwin, is one of many who seem to think it will work out.

“I will always bet on Vernon,” Baldwin said. “There’s not going to be too many things that I don’t think that guy can get done.”

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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