I don't know. I don't have enough information to make an educated guess. Every situation is unique and making assumptions on what Sherri or any other coach might or might not do in a similar siutation is next to impossible.
To be fair,
Bob and Norvell have been recruiting DGB since he was 15. So there's a long relationship there.
Bob kept Jaz Reynolds and Trey Franks on scholarship during a suspension year when most coaches would have kicked those kids to the curb.
So Bob has some history here of trying to help kids get their stuff in gear and continue their education.
Going back Bob did something similar with Lynn McGruder and that worked out well for all parties involved.
I'm extremely skeptical about what is reported via newspapers/tv/internet news. I would expect Sherri to use sources that were more dependable/accurate and get behind the reports if she were really interested.
It’s a tough call. I think any coach and athletic administration would seriously investigate the actual facts related to past transgressions of a player like DGB.
I do not think that Coach Stoops would have given DGB a second chance to become a Sooner if it had not been for the relationship that had already been established with the player and his family during the recruiting process when DGB was in high school. As MsProudSooner stated, every situation is unique. The established relationship between OU coaches and DGB is a significant factor in this situation, in my opinion. Apparently, the OU coaches personally like the young man.
I also think many coaches have the heart of a teacher, and they get special satisfaction when they can contribute to the “salvation” of a wayward young person. Of course, a very significant factor is that DGB has the athletic talent to be an All-American and a success in the NFL. Thus, you have multiple motivations for the teacher/coach to accept DGB.
In addition, I think there is limited risk here to OU, as I think DGB will be gone if he screws up even once at OU. I would not be surprised it DGB gets a drug test every week, and that he and his family agreed to this.
If Coach Coale was given this same exact set of circumstances, I speculate that she would do the same thing, even if she thought the stories were true. But who really knows?
No doubt Sherri continues to learn more about her profession with each passing year, and she certainly observes what works (and does not work) for other successful coaches.
Are we sure it was grades?
I still remember the Kerry Jackson recruitment by Fairbanks. Royal wanted Kerry in the worst way. He was to be the first African-American quarterback for Texas. But, USC and OU had the lead on him. They both backed off because his grades were inadequate. At that time, there were no SAT requirements. So, everything was silent in Galveston.
Suddenly, the day before national signing day, one grade was changed from a D to a C by the Principal (which is legal in Texas). It made Kerry eligible. The Principal was a Texas alum (according to Eschbach, I think). But, Kerry didn't sign with Texas. He signed with OU. Royal erupted. The rest is history.
We were put on probation because our OL coach, Michaels, knew that the grade had been changed. I'm not sure what the violation was since the change was legal. Never did figure out how that worked out.
But, was it Gant's grades? Were they the same grades when she got to A&M?
