I guess he never went to BYU. But I never followed what happened to him. His college career doesn't really stand out. I think he's in the NFL....Just thinking out loud.

I vaguely remember him. Hali Ngata or something like that. I don't recall hearing how it all worked out for him. Did he tube?

I couldn't remember the name of that 4th string QB either, but I went and looked and it is

Brock Spencer

Bib

Cougarbib2 wrote:

Top 10 list of players who never should have left BYU to "better their situation" when they did becaue it did not work out well for them:

I will start the list with a few off the top of my head:


Ben Olson
Ryan Cuff
John Walsh
The 4th string QB the year Tom Young, the 5th String QB won the MVP award in the Bowl game
Trent Plaisted - if he goes
Shawn Bradley

For those of you who know how to do it, feel free to cut and paste and make this a new thread

Bib

I am not sure why people still bag on Bradley for going into the NBA after his mission rather than return to BYU. He was the second player selected, he got all kinds of guaranteed money, which would have been significantly capped the following season. He maximized his earning potential by doing what he did when he did it. It was a no brainer. I would have loved to see him play another year or two for BYU, but I don't begrudge anyone who has a chance to do professionally what they want when they want. He had a productive, if unremarkable, pro career. It's time to let it go on Bradley.

As for Olson, I don't think he would be BYU's starter now had he stayed. He is awfully injury prone. He's gone. He made the right choice for him and for BYU. He found his eternal bride at UCLA. It's time to move on.

I really don't think Shawn Bradley belongs on your list. I think the smartest thing he ever did was go pro. He refused to try out for any of the teams when he returned from his mission. He had a very good career, never a super star, but successful. I am not sure any college years would have improved his stature with the NBA. Just my humble opinion, which some say is not worth too much.

Ngata had a stellar college career and was All-PacTen and an All-American at Oregon. He was selected in the middle of the 1st round as I recall and has played well in the NFL.

Talkdoc wrote:

I guess he never went to BYU. But I never followed what happened to him. His college career doesn't really stand out. I think he's in the NFL....Just thinking out loud.

I actually like both players (Olson and Bradley)personally and have met them and have their autographs. I actually wish them both well. I agree that unless Ben stayed healthy and developed more confidence, he would not have made it big at BYU either, but he would have gotten a few more chances to play during his years. I am not sure it made it any worse for Olson, I am just saying it did not provide the betterment he sought.

In the case of Bradley, I felt he lacked physical skills and maturity when he turned pro. If he played at BYU longer he would have set some records, matured mentally and physically, and still gotten drafted high and probably would have made an impact sooner after he went PRO. I do not think it would have turned him into the all - everything NBA Center. I guess I am just seeing these as cases where someone left BYU with a little bit of an over-inflated impression about their immediate future and it did not meet their expectation of how it was going to turn out. In the case of Bradley, I felt Ryan Cuff and others swayed him against the coach while he was on his mission to further their own agenda. Perhaps in actuality, Bradley just prayed about it and was guided by the Spirit. Only Shawn Bradley knows.

Speaking of people I have met, but in this case never bothered to get his autograph, Chris Burgess would need to be added if we count people who flirted with BYU and then dumped them for a prettier face. Of course he did not play 1 year at Duke and then go pro as he planned and ended up having to finish out being a Ute.

He probably helped get Roger Reid fired, which I have always felt was a mistake, not to take away from Coach Rose at all, but Roger Reid was a far better coach than the guy who dumped BYU to head back to Fresno.

In any event, the list is intended for fun. If it feels a little mean spirited I apologize and promise to let it die if no one is interested in using this to liven up a boring time of year.

And, I sincerely hope that Ben Olsen recovers in time to lose to BYU and then win every game after that and turn pro, play in the super bowl and win the MVP ring. I really do. And, I wish Shawn Bradley had broken all of Lew Alcindor's records in the NBA. I really do. I love them both.

Bib