[CowboyIndian]

on the transfers of jones & peat, i have it on pretty good authority that it came down to one or both wanting starting and/or playing time guaranties which coaches were not willing to give, especially in light of existing and/or incoming talent.

"Existing and/or incoming talent" is extremely rich given how weak the RB room is without them. I don't deny your source and that people are saying this but it's all so silly to think that backs who weren't good in high school and weren't played much in their first two years at Stanford (all of Shaw's future NFL backs played substantially within their first two years) and/or incoming guys lesser regarded than Jones would block his path to playing time.

The way I read this scuttlebutt: Jones didn't feel appreciated by the coaches, asked for assurances that he'd be the man to assuage concerns that a lesser back like Smith would take Jones' job, and decided to look for a better fit when he didn't like the answer. Sometimes coaches play lesser guys and Jones knows that. That he transferred to USC, however, suggests this is about respect/appreciation rather than playing time.

If he asked for a guarantee (which is questionable), I can see the rationale for refusing that.

[CowboyIndian]

on the transfers of jones & peat, i have it on pretty good authority that it came down to one or both wanting starting and/or playing time guaranties which coaches were not willing to give, especially in light of existing and/or incoming talent.

"Existing and/or incoming talent" is extremely rich given how weak the RB room is without them. I don't deny your source and that people are saying this but it's all so silly to think that backs who weren't good in high school and weren't played much in their first two years at Stanford (all of Shaw's future NFL backs played substantially within their first two years) and/or incoming guys lesser regarded than Jones would block his path to playing time.

The way I read this scuttlebutt: Jones didn't feel appreciated by the coaches, asked for assurances that he'd be the man to assuage concerns that a lesser back like Smith would take Jones' job, and decided to look for a better fit when he didn't like the answer. Sometimes coaches play lesser guys and Jones knows that. That he transferred to USC, however, suggests this is about respect/appreciation rather than playing time.

If he asked for a guarantee (which is questionable), I can see the rationale for refusing that.