Shanahan's character or lack there of will come out. He's a quitter and a crybaby. Where will he transfer to if he doesn't get his way up at BC...maybe he should have just stayed at COC.

Annon the hater..You are lying again by saying that you thought. Trish worked for a major Utilities contractor over the last few years as a project billing anylist(or some such title) and before that for a wind energy company. The same company she worked for here will be hiring her as a consultant working out of her home in Fresno. Sounds like the only section 8 here is the one the military let you out on. THIS is why people post anonymously, so they can be mean spirited and condescending without having to posses the courage it takes to do it like a man. While the family agrees that Ryan is held responsible for his grades, we still support him and will no matter what direction his life takes..Probably more than can be said for anons parents where he was concerned.

Yes, Mom. One of the terms of the scholarship is that Ryan live in housing provided by FSU with a fellow student roommate, in his case, it's Coach Hill's son. I had heard that Ryan Skidmore was going to share the apt also, but I'm not sure if that is happening.

Don't be ugly anonymous.  You were a supporter when Ryan was playing for West but your jealousy is shining through again and allowing you to take out your spite on a fine young man.  Shame on you.

Ryans mother has NEVER lived in sect 8 housing and has always worked full time lots of overtime, and making darned good money for as long as I've known her. 

Keep supporting that young man. Don't ever let him forget that Football kicked open the door for him, but a solid education will provide a lifetime of solid monetary support.

One day, maybe later than sooner, but it always happens, some Coach will say "Son, you're a good ball player, but we don't need you anymore". This is when he'll be glad that he studied hard and took full advantage of that opportunity for an education.

He's still young, so you may have to KEEP REMINDING him and providing examples.

I'll give you one to start:

David Turner, in the late 1970's, was THE fastest thing to ever grace a football field in Kern County. He played ball for Shafter High. He got a free ride to College and played ball. After College, he got picked up by the Bengals. That gig lasted 1 1/2 years. After he was cut, he ended up back in Buttonwillow, irrigating on a Farm. He didn't take advantage of that opportunity for an education. When the money was gone, his Wife and kids were gone too. He blew an opportunity to get a good education.

For the record: Ryan will be moving into the Bulldog apartments on Aug 1st which he will pay the rent for out of his schoolarship money. He starts school around Aug 13. His quallification is still pending in regards to playing football this season. If he qualifies he will start practice the middle of August and if he doesn't he will grey shirt, either way he will be attending classes and working out with the team learning the play book and preparing for college ball. We have talked about all this and he does take full responsibility for his grades, which were not "bad" as many are implying. Ryan is very thankfull for this opportunity and is fully aware that Football will be over one day and an education is the most important asset in life. People can post all the negative things about Ryan and me they want on here and all the other blog sites, I am not on welfare programs and have worked since I was 16 years old when I gave birth to Ryan. Ryan will succeed in life because I have taught him determination and hard work do pay off. We live a very nice life and are a very happy family. And in the end Ryan's life is just that Ryan's life.......

Thanks for clearing that up and setting the record straight on Ryans current status.  

Isn't it amazing how some people just want to tear others down instead of encouraging and wishing them the best?   Makes ya wonder why.

msmathews has done a great job in raising TWO great young men.  I wish all of you had the opportunity to meet these boys because you won't find two more respectful and polite young men anywhere.

I'm proud of you T.

My comment wasn't intended to be negating. I'm sorry if it came across that way.

I've got two Sons of my own (15 & 13) and they both play Football. Periodically, I have to remind them how the priority order stacks up, because they forget. It's to be expected because they're kids. (#1 Grades / #2 Sports).

He sounds like a good kid, with a good opportunity. There's nothing wrong with that.

It also sounds like Mom is doing her part too. When I said "Keep Supporting" him, I meant emotionally and psychologically. He'll need you to help him steer the course (do part of his thinking), even if he sometimes doesn't think so. He's a kid, and it's normal.

Thanks Tonyh I didn't take your comments negative at all...I am glad to see there are real people who do understand that kids do make mistakes and the important thing is that they learn from them and move forward to still obtain the goals they set for themselves... and they learn that if you don't succeed the first time you pick yourself up and try again until you get it right... YOU NEVER QUIT!!!! I do support my son and he knows that I am proud of him no matter what he decides to do with his life... I am just thankful for taxpayers like ANON.....:~)

Anonymous: Jealousy is a sickness hope you get well soon...............

Pay his rent out of an unearned scholarship money? Welfare, by any other name is still welfare. His welfare payment are not as large as the Royal twins, but neither is the tax base.

Be serious, if this was any other kid or one of the myriad who play they excuses would not be a family matter. What is this kid learning, the best things in life are free?  Go to JC on your own and re-apply, stop taking up valuable space. Maybe some kid will discover the cure for the common cold, with this State money.

Jealousy my ass, my kid went to Fresno State and I paid the last two years. her husband also went to FSU and he is paying off his scholarship with his 4th tour of Iraq.

Be honest it is not the kid and his well being that interest you, it is  the potential millions an NFL contract brings that drives your passion. Try the lottery.

Anon the hater. I see now why you are so pissed and degrading. YOU had to pay and someone else doesn't. Ryan led the nation in rushing, SOMEBODY was going to give him a shot. It's YOU who should be honest. Do you have any idea how many athletes struggle with grades? Go look at the stats yourself since you seem to be such a storehouse of knowledge and contacts..OH YEAH! Your information on the family was in error already. Maybe your contacts worked for the CIA in 2003, or maybe you just like making things up that suit your bitterness..nevermind. . Major athletic programs are not interested in the best smart players thay can get, they are interested in the best players period, and Ryan fits that bill. Will he be as successful in college as he was at West High? Will he make it to the Show? Who knows? I will tell your sorry a&& this though. If you think this family has anything but Ryans happiness and well being in mind, you need to put your crack pipe away. Sure, we would love to see him go all the way, and being the type of man he is, the family would certainly be a beneficiary of his success, but the fact that he will have made it would be the payoff to us. That said, everyone in his immediate family have successful careers and money is not a problem for any of us(Trish can't really even quit, she is too valuable to the company she worked for, thus the consultant job). Should my daughters want to go to college, I will have to go the same route you did and pay for it myself and I won't hurl insults at those who are going on scholarships or their families just because I am doing what 95% of all the rest of the familes are having to do. It is people like you who make me feel so much better about myself in those times that I think I have been an ass or that I feel blue, because I can always look at you and know I am a step above you in common decency and that I will ALWAYS be happier than you.

hahahahahahaha...I love it.... This has all of you in such an uproar.... Maybe you should run for Governor or something so you can stop the frivolous scholarship welfare programs!!

GO BULLDOGS!!

I can't understand what all of the anger is about. This young man is only getting started. Wish him the best and ask that he makes the most of his opportunity.

Why don't you ping on those Athletes that had a free ride to College, but never graduated? There are plenty of them out there. Pick one and lose you mind on them. This is where the waste is, four or five years of scholarship money paid, with no education to show for it.

This kid is just getting started. If he earns a degree, I'd consider it tax money well spent. It doesn't matter if he can go pro or not, with a college education, he'll be able to contribute to society. From the looks of it, he's got an entire family backing him. With that kind of support, the odds are good that his scholarship will be well spent.

You need to get off of his case!

Unfortunately,  you are right, this kid may eventually graduate and as any graduate he will be a contribution to society, but at whose expense?

The Fresno State Athletic Corporation: The big revenue producing machine that props up the rest of the athletic programs and few of the campus facilities.

There are no slots for idiot athletes. Staff in any admissions office will tell you that "idiot athletes" actually increase the applicant pool for the university. I can tell you firsthand that Fresno State football factored into my decision to apply there for Graduate School.

"Jealousy my ass, my kid went to Fresno State and I paid the last two years. her husband also went to FSU and he is paying off his scholarship with his 4th tour of Iraq."  Quote from ANON

Please don't speak of Iraq in that way to me, my step son LPCL Joshua Dickinson not only was wounded in Irag on his first tour but he gave the ultimate sacrifice his LIFE when he was sent back the second time!!! Consider yourself lucky that your son in law is still alive to come home and pay for his college.......................................... ...................... Maybe you should stop and think about things and give blessings for what you do have in your life instead of trying to tear someone else down....

"Jealousy my ass, my kid went to Fresno State and I paid the last two years. her husband also went to FSU and he is paying off his scholarship with his 4th tour of Iraq." 

Sounds like jealousy to me. I paid for my undergrad then I went to Iraq and now I'm at Fresno State on scholarship through the army. There's still no need to hate on the young man for your son-in-law's 4th deployment. I can think of some other folks who might be responsible. One of their names ryhyme with "push".

Well at least it's out of the closet as to who the hater is.  (the bragging about MIT gave him away)  I mentioned it above and was proven right.  It comes as no surprise considering the hate he has spread throughout this entire blog on just about every topic imaginable.  When Ryan was playing at West, it the only time I saw this person ever say a kind word.  He supported Ryan and wished him well....what happened to that?

As Trish mentioned, Ryans grades weren't bad.  It's not like he was failing in school by any means.  If you go back in history, you'll find many famous who were successes in life and in careers in spite of getting a slow start and I'm NOT talking about movie or sports stars.

Another grandson in the family had a scholorship his first year but changed schools an lost it for the next 3.  He had to struggle and work his way through college with the only family help (and he fought that) being in his last quarter.  While I'm proud of what he accomplished, I would much rather have seen him get a full ride all 4 years.  I would have liked to see him not have to struggle so hard.  Now, seeing one go through that makes me all the happier that Ryan won't have to struggle financially as the other grandson did.    He may have to struggle academically but he will succeed.  He's that kind of kid.

Since anonymous posters are still allowed it's hard to tell if it's just just one waffling or more than one.  My guess is it's just one who is making all the disparaging remarks so I'll say this.  Most people have the good sense to be glad a young man is given the opportunity to go to college. That's what we hope for all our young people.  Personally, I don't care how they get there as long as they do get there and they learn.  Ryan knows education is the real goal to his future.  Anonymous (and now we know who he is) doesn't even know Ryan ... but that's HIS loss.....and Ryans gain.

Hey don't pay any attention to me, I am old fashion and believe that your are still responsible for your own actions and cutting across is a sucker move, but what do I know, this is the twenty-first century.

You make it seem like the guy robbed a bank. His grades didn't meet the standard so now he's facing the consequences of not being eligible to play this upcoming season; simple as that. Universities look for more than book smarts. A diverse campus has brainiacs, athletes, different ethnic groups. Every campus tries to achieve this delicate balance. Again, he very well could be regularly accepted to the university and not meet NCAA Clearinghouse guidelines. Those are two different criteria. Most athletes redshirt there first year anyway. Personally I think grayshirting is an even better idea if the young athlete has the patience (which I didn't at that age).

Thanx for the info Mark

Those kids who are playing for major college football teams aren't really getting free rides. Do you realize how much money is generated for the schools? At the University of Alabama, you have to cough up $10,000 bucks, just to GET INTO a lottery to acquire season tickets. Life isn't as easy on these guys as is made out. Sure, sometimes the rules are broken for a few blue chip athletes who are pampered by rich alumni, but the majority of them have a full load of classes, a job, and football practice, that includes a lot more than just on field practice but also film study etc.

They give scholarships to academics, and they give scholarships to athletes. And if people didn't think one's physical ability is as important to them as one's intellectual ability, they wouldn't support athletics, and the Chess Championships would be held in front of 90,000 people. It's the world we live in. It's easy to say that America's priorities are screwed up. SOMEONE likes Jerry Springer, SOMEONE gives a rat's patoonie about Paris Hilton, SOMEBODY's goin' to strip clubs. If there is no demand, there is no supply. Welcome to capitalism