Should Herman Lathers Play or Posture for 2012?

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 3, 2011 7:32 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

[Note by Joel Hollingsworth, 11/03/11 10:35 AM EDT ] Argh! More coffee! Yes, thanks for the clarification, all. Lathers has at least one more year regardless. The question remains, though, whether he plays this year at the risk of losing a chance at an additional year of eligibility.

With all of the controversy about Justin Worley's redshirt, the decision about Herman Lathers' season may be even more difficult. Lathers used a redshirt in 2008, but he seems to have a good case for another one for this season through a medical hardship waiver. It's not a given, though, and the team could certainly still use him this season. If he plays, he may help the team become bowl eligible, but that will ~~be the last we see of him~~ foreclose the possibility of an additional year. If he does not play, the bowl eligible goal for the team becomes more difficult, but there's a chance Lathers could return at full speed ~~next season~~ for two more seasons. A chance, I say, because you never know with the NCAA. He could ~~be done~~ lose the extra year anyway, regardless of whether he plays this season.

Lathers isn't ready this week and probably isn't needed for MTSU, but he probably will be for the pivotal Vandy game. The decision is his, of course, but what do y'all think? Should he play this year or should he improve his hand for the possibility of ~~a full season in 2012~~ another year of eligibility?

Poll

Tennessee LB Herman Lathers has a decision to make: play his final couple of games this season or sit out and hope for an extra year of eligibility. What should he do?

Play this season

30 votes

Sit out this season

157 votes

187 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I thought Lathers was a.....

Redshirt Junior and would have 2012 anyways. Please correct if I’m wrong, but if that’s right, he’ll be back next year anyway and would be vying for a 2013 season with the Vols.

by Displaced_Vol_Fan on Nov 3, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

this is correct

if he doesn’t play this year, he can apply for a medical waiver allowing him to play both 2012 and 2013 (provided he wants to play 2013).

I think the answer depends on whether the coaches think he’s good enough right now (i.e. rust shaken off, back in shape) to really help and on whether they think he’s good enough to jump to the NFL after next year. If both are answered “yes,” come on back. If not, I’m not so sure.

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 3, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

He can only get a medical redshirt if there was no possibility of him returning.

That basically means no practicing or anything that would sniff of he’s-ok-but-we’re-angling-for-a-redshirt.

Honestly, if we’re asking whether he comes back this year or not, he’s not getting a medical redshirt. 6th years are really hard to get.

by David Hooper on Nov 3, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

And he already practice this week

no-contact scout team work, but it was practice

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 3, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

*practiced

I’m in desperate need of a new laptop, or at least a fully functional keyboard

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 3, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

That settles it, then.

So second year of redshirt for him. I guarantee it.

by David Hooper on Nov 3, 2011 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

--> "No" second year...

No keyboard blame for me – just a typo.

by David Hooper on Nov 3, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Lathers is a red shirt junior. He’ll play next year regardless of getting a 6th year of eligibility for 2013. If I was him the question would be am I going to the NFL after the 2012 season or not. I think he has an NFL future so play him this year and then he’ll go into the draft next year. Interesting how they’ll work him into the lineup if he plays this year.

by rjm78 on Nov 3, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

I think he'll take minutes away from Vereen

and could also see him replacing AJ on passing/nickel situations.

Those are some amazing ups in that photo.

by phil g on Nov 3, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I voted play this season

Taking into account the fact that he is a redshirt junior and would play next year anyway…

This question could be asked a couple of different ways. One is from Lathers’ point of view (taking into account a possible NFL future, the players’ need to look out for themselves in the NCAA’s exploitative system, yada, yada, yada) and the other is from UT’s point of view (simply needing to win football games but also taking into account issues such as possibility of re-injury for Lathers and also the possible tangential effect on recruiting of looking out for your players’ needs). I voted from UT’s point of view and said we need to get him in there ASAP.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 3, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions