Singing the blues in Morgantown
This from MSN Sports Net on West Virginia football recruit Marquis Melvin of Whiteville, NC:
In the past, (Rich) Rodriguez has lost players to homesickness and having a change of heart, but this year was the first time he lost a player to the music industry. Freshmen defensive back Marquis Melvin notified the coaching staff Friday night that he wasn’t going to join the program.
"I've been coaching college for 21 years and head coach for 13 and this is the first time I've lost one to a music contract," said Rodriguez. "We knew he was a singer but we didn't know he was that good. If we see him on American Idol or something we'll know what happened. I was hoping he'd hang around for the annual Gong Show that we do, but now we’ll have to wait for the TV appearance."
Me: It's just another sad example of a gospel singer turning pro early, jumping straight from high school to the big leagues. I doubt he's ready. And college choirs obviously suffer when singers with the talent of Marquis Melvin, who also considered going to N.C. State like another Marcus Melvin, skip school altogether. When is the music industry going to follow the NBA's lead and invoke a much-needed 19-year-old draft-eligibility rule?
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Marquis Melvin may yet be singing in the shower at West Virginia's Puskar Center.
This just in from WVU's www.msnsportsnet.com:
Rodriguez has gotten word that freshman Marquis Melvin may be returning to school. Melvin told the coaching staff last Friday that he wasn?t going to come to camp and instead pursue a music career. The coaching staff has gotten indications that the Whiteville, N.C., resident may be having a change of heart.
?I don?t know if the whole truth (about the music contract) was coming out,? said Rodriguez. ?His family was as surprised as we were about this. Until I talk to Marquis tonight I can?t give you any more information.?
Posted on August 9, 2005 10:25 PM
As Joe just put it this morning, this is "the Ballad of Marquis Melvin, last verse ... I think."
From www.bluegoldnews.com:
Marquis Melvin's career as a Mountaineer is over.
The freshman defensive back from North Carolina left on the first day of camp to sign a recording contract. He was able to come back, but again did not show for today's practice.
"This is the second time," Rodriguez said. "His career is over. This is the second fastest quitting I have ever had."
Posted on August 11, 2005 11:18 AM