After the Mississppi State game and the mysterious rumors of him wanting to leave the team coupled with his non involvement at the halfback posistion Saturday, Russells mom had this to say...(From Kentucky 247sports.com)
"Hey all..this is Donald’s mother..I wanted you to know that I read the blogs the good and the bad. We always use them as a learning tool to improve so believe me when I say all of your comments are appreciated. I couldn’t sit back and just let everyone assume what is going on. The coaches are only going to tell the fans so much but I feel I will tell you. Donald and Johnthan George was recruited because Coach Brooks wanted tailbacks that could hit the hole in the middle and break tackles. Now Joker and Coach Sanders (also quoted by Joker in different press conferences) they feel the smaller runnerbacks fits what the offense needs and the direction the offense is going in.
Donald has been dealing with the pressure of knowing the Coaches do not feel they need his type of running style. He was told by a coach after the GA game that “his margin of error is smaller than the other players because the Offensive Coordinator wants to play #4 Sanders so he cannot make any mistakes so work harder.” Donald has been commended by teammates and other Coaches (EVEN Joker in a press conference) on how well Donald has shown good character by still working hard in practice, doing everything they have asked him to do and by not showing any ATTITUDE. I watched the Giants/Dallas game last monday and a running back fumbled the ball and the coach put him right back in. The commentator stated he commends that coach for putting that player right back in the game and that the coach was a true players coach. Also, in the Fl. State game on Thursday the quarterback fumbled the ball the last few seconds of the game costing them the game. His team rallied around him and the head coach talked with him and touched him to consule him. He knew what the young man must have felt to know that he just lost that game after a start of a great season.
When Donald fumbled his ball (WHICH WAS A HORRIBLE FUMBLE FOR THE TEAM) I was in the stands and I just screamed repeatedly No No No (along with the some others words I will not type) because I knew what that meant and what he was going to feel like. NOT ONE COACH went to him to say “What were you thinking or that he was to good of player to make such a mistake or to even encourage him as the Fl State coach did”…my family and I knew what was going to happen.. he was punished because he has no room for a margin of error because of his running style. Now don’t get us wrong..not every coach can go over and give every kid a hug..that is not what we are asking but Donald and (us his family) can see what their intentions are for him. I told Donald everything that he did wrong and every play that he missed because Donald has to work on being a great tailback not just a good tailback if you want to be in the SEC. I’m sorry if any reader believes there is more to the story but there isn’t.
This is Donald’s lesson on having mental toughness. You have to build a bond and a relationship with players in order for them to believe and trust in what you are doing. If you don’t.. then you won’t be able to motivate them to do more than they have already have for you. They lost our trust with their words so we have been going by their actions and their actions are speaking loud and clear. This may not be the appropriate to put my thoughts online especially when we are easy going quiet people but this is our story. Yes this is Jokers team and he should and has the right to do what he feels is best for the team and he has our respect for that. Joker is under a lot of pressure and my family and I are so proud of him and wish him the best as a coach…"
Today Mrs. Russell spoke with Larry Vaught on the issue again via Vaughts ViewsTanya Russell says they love Kentucky and want to bleed blue,but she is "running out of motivational speeches for her son after every game" She also stated that "the fun is being sucked right out of him every week" and "so many of the other players are just unhappy"
There seems to be issues(at least with Joker) of not playing a kid for fumbling the football,but Mrs Russell points out that he didnt even have a chance to fumble against State.
While Russell did play special teams Saturday,his use on the offensive side of the ball was indeed very limited. In fact in the fourth quater when Sanders went out of the game the coaching staff chose to give Coshik Williams some reps.When asked about Russells limited play Joker had this to say..
"Late in the game when (Sanders)went out for a couple of snaps and we went for Williams who came in and gave us something,picked up blitzes and hit a couple of runs,and was seeing things also."
Mrs. Russell told Vaught that she planned to speak to Joker face to face and that they do not want to leave Kentucky as some have speculated.
For a team standing at 5-5 and facing a do or die portion of thier season to become bowl eligible this is not something that needs to be at the forefront.Why are so many players unhappy? What implications could this have for Joker and his Cats?Probably nothing profound,but it will make for some uncomfortable questions from the Lexington media this week.While I do not fault Mrs Russell for defending her son,as any good mother would do,I just dont like her timing. I can understand her feelings of helplessness having her son sitting on a college campus while shes thousands of miles away unable to offer this young man any support,thats hard for any parent.But as she stated she trusted Joker and the coaches to be his support,his mentors and to mold him into an even stronger young man.Maybe Joker isnt motivating this young man,maybe he isnt giving him the conservative criticism that he needs,but then again we arent at practice.At this stage in the season Joker and Russell need to be concerned with one thing,and that is Charelston Southern.For Kentucky to be bowl eligible they have to beat Charleston Southern,and to better thier chances it would be in their best interest to beat Vandy and Tennesee.There's no time on the Kentucky schedule to worry about who's not getting the playing time they think they deserve,the only thing they need to concern themselves with is how to get better.Whether Mrs Russell gets her face time with Joker or not,he is the coach and he decides what is best for this football team.Not enough Playing time Donald? Here is your inspiration to show Joker what youre made of.
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