Defensive player Cook Quits Team

Harry · September 15, 2011

DaWaylon Cook, a safety who was North Texas’ defensive MVP just two years ago, has left the program, head coach Dan McCarney confirmed Wednesday through a university spokesman.

Cook had played in just one game this season, had not recorded a tackle and was not listed on the two-deep depth chart heading into UNT’s game Saturday at Alabama, its third of the season.

Cook’s career took a dramatic turn when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a loss to Rice in the second game of last season. He had reconstructive surgery and returned, but found himself in a fight for playing time at a position where UNT has more depth arguably than at any spot on its roster.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_untfootball_0915.1666f882d.html

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KRAM1 · September 15, 2011

One has to wonder if sitting out most of the year because of that injury just worked some to cause young Mr. Cook to re-think his commitment to playing football? Could it be that he found that life without football wasn't nearly as bad as he thought it might be, that he realized that his future may well not be in football, and just simply decided to get on with his life?

The kid could play and UNT will not be as good without him in the short term,but Cook has made his decision, for better or worse, and it is time for the Mean Green nation to move along. It will open a spot for another kid to get playing time and perhaps develop a lot more than otherwise would have been possible. Coach Mac is trying to surround himself and his staff with the type of player he wants...both physically and mentally. I have no problem, and actually am thankful, for any player who realizes he just doesn't want to be or cannot be one of those type of players and moves on with his life rather than just taking up a place on the team. No harm, no foul and certainly nothing to bad mouth the kid about...he's a kid, he made his decision. It will be up to him to determine if it was actually the right or wrong decision for him long term. I wish him luck and thank him for his service.

Now, let's get on with the turn around with the guys who want to make it happen.