clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

LaMichael James reveals why he chose Oregon over TCU

Getty Images

When Oregon's star running back LaMichael James was coming out of high school it appeared that he was destined to become a TCU Horned Frog, but at the last minute he switched his commitment to the Oregon Ducks.  James has long hinted that there was a specific reason for his switch but he has kept mum as to why until now. 

This weekend James was in Dallas to receive the Doak Walker Award and during an interview with Dallas radio station 1310 The Ticket James finally revealed what steered him away from TCU and towards the Pacific Northwest.  Apparently during one of his visits to TCU a coach referred to him as "LaMarcus" the entire weekend.  Which understandably did not sit well with James, who felt disrespected by the slight and opted to turn his gaze elsewhere. 

James did not want to name the coach in question but if I had to guess I would bet it was former TCU Offensive Coordinator & Running Back Coach Mike Schultz.  Schultz was a bumbling dunce of an offensive coordinator which was evidenced by how the offense went from lackluster to outstanding after he left TCU in 2009 to become the OC at Illinois, where he was fired after one season.  So it would only be appropriate for him to make such an egregious error in recruiting an outstanding athlete like LaMichael James

Bottom line it all worked out-- LaMichael James is having an outstanding career at Oregon, TCU found a great running back in Ed Wesley and went undefeated without James, also Schultz finally got the coaching job he deserves as the Co-Offensive Coordinator at Texas State.