Former App everything Travaris Cadet scored on a four-yard reception in the preseason Saints-Cardinals games last night. He finished with a game-high eight catches for 80 yards and 49 return yards on a punt and kickoff.
He’s turning some heads.
The Saints are loaded at running back, but one player that really has caught my eye has been undrafted Appalachian State halfback Travaris Cadet, who played quarterback, halfback, wingback and returned punts and kickoffs in high school and college. Cadet looks physically a lot like Chris Ivory.
Cadet (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) runs with excellent power between the tackles and has enough speed to be effective on the edge. Unlike Ivory, Cadet is a good receiver coming out of the backfield. He has sure hands, effortlessly catches the ball out front with his hands and has some good wiggle moves out in the open field.
It will be hard for Cadet to make the 53-man roster, but he can play pro football somewhere and coule be on the Saints’ practice squad.
* Photo stolen from nola.com.
If Cadet continues to impress during the preseason, there is no way he clears waivers and ends up on N.O.'s practice squad. The Jets seem like a good place for him based upon his versatility. He would fit the role vacated by the retirement of LT last season.
Agreed, i would hope he'd get a chance on somebody's active roster instead of the Saints practice squad. There are plenty of teams who could use a back with the skills he's shown so far.
He does look good in their black and gold
I agree, Jamey. He looked very comfortable last night. I don't see how he would fail to a team unless he gets hurt. But, the kid is tough as nails! I wish him the best of luck!
Falcons could sure use a kick returner and special teams guy since Weems left in free agency. Cadet would look good in red and black too.
I am not a fan of NFL or how many players graduated from App St that are in the NFL. I am a fan of players that realize what App did for them in providing an education. So with that said, how many football players from App St that are in or played in the NFL have "paid it forward" meaning paid their scholarship back to App St.
It is a good question and is something to cheer about considering the money comes back to App St.
Interesting comment on paying back a scholarship. The time and effort scholarship athletes put into their sport more that pays back the room, board and tuition. Universities make money off of football and basketball players while they are in school so there is another contribution these students make that non-athletes do not. While it would be wonderful if App State athletes can make a living off of their sport and afford to contribute to the university, they should be no more obligated to do so that any other alum.
Way to go, TC! I'm so proud of you! Miss you my friend!
I guess you have not seen the book Watauga 72.
No FCS school is making money in football and with Capel at the helm for App St basketball you can show up late and the open seats are so close to the bench that you might get ask to play.
Giving a half or full scholarship is a gift. If players have the ability to pay it back, they should.
Makes you wonder what SS could have done with Cadet instead of Little Mo.
Read the book, saw the movie too. Will never agree that an athletic scholarship is a gift, as I attended school on one. You earn that scholarship….lots of hours spent in training and practice, not even counting competition. Even if the athletic department is losing money, which they do on non-revenue sports, football pays its way and helps to carry the non-rev sports. How many ASU jerseys with Armanti's number were sold when he was in Boone? The school derives revenue directly from the success of these high profile stars. How much money would they lose without that revenue?
I'm ending my self imposed strike for a moment.
Murry is a fool.
Strike back on.
Watauga 72. We appreciate your hard work, we do. But a scholarahip is a gift of a free education. Some people get scholarships for good grades while others are athletic and receive them fir a specific sport. Yes, you are obilgated to perform but so is everyone else if they are to graduate.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/…
Hate to say it, but Cadet could flourish with Brady and the coaches in NE. But, I think AE could also.
Murray, I don't give a rat's rearend if you appreciate anyone's hard work. Scholarships are earned, not gifted. The original question was the obligation successful athletes have to "pay forward" their "free" education. They are under no more obligation that someone who received an academic scholarship, and I would argue that an athlete playing football (will concede that ASU basketball does not produce sufficient revene) generates more revenue for the school while playing at ASU than any scholar.
If athletic scholarships are gifted, then so are academic scholarships — which is entirely false.
That is like saying someones paycheck is gifted to them — who cares if they worked for it?!
LOL @ Murray! You hate the football team!
Murray, Murray, Murray . . . (shakes head)
Goofy. Scholarships are earned and it does not make sense to suggest they be repaid.
As as aside: The ASU English Department, or some other English classes, sure let Travaris down if I can believe the video on the New Orleans newspaper link?
I do not expect for anyone to agree with me. I believe what I believe. A lot of people can not go to college without a scholarship. I see that as a gift. If you work hard, good things will come to you.
Great to see Cadet doing so well at camp. However, I will admit I was not a Cadet fan last season. I'm really second guessing what I was thinking last year. Is it possible that Cadet really was a premiere SoCon tailback and our line and play calling sucked so bad that it made Cadet look like a weaker player than he really was?
Scholarsips a "given" and "free" I think not, let's exam how one gets to the point of getting a scholarship in college, he/she earn it, why would anyone put in all the tim and effort if they thought there was not going to be an opprtunity for a "college scholarship, you work hard from day one, pee wee football through high school, some make it and some do not even with the hard work, I played from 92-96 at App football and baseball and was a walk-on that had to earn y "scholarship, so I think and know that the scholarship I earned after one year was not a given, I "earned" it 100%, my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years I had a full scholarship and that was very helpful in paying my bills, I worked 2 jobs in the summer and winter, ski instructor and white water rafting uide, so I think I deserved my scholarship and the time and effort I put in to earn extra funds for other things that I would have not normally could afford, as athletes, students, we should all be very thankful that we had an opportunity to attend college, that is not a given even with a "scholarship" because it can be taken away at anytime, just look at what "Rizor" did last weekend, he was blessed and had been playing great and starting now look at him, off the team and without his scholarship, what he and his friend did was unacceptable for anyone to do but an athlete do act that way, come on he knew better but the drinking just took over I suspect, and driving on a revoked license come on now what was he thinking, stupid moves like that they are the athletes that should be "repaying" there scholarships back in my opinon? I still have student loans I am paying off but it was all worth it in my opinion?
Scholarsips a “given” and “free” I think not, let’s exam how one gets to the point of getting a scholarship in college, he/she earns it, why would anyone put in all the time and effort if they thought there was not going to be an opprtunity for a “college scholarship, you work hard from day one, pee wee football through high school, some make it and some do not even with the hard work, I played from 92-96 at App State football and baseball and was a walk-on that had to earn my “scholarship, so I think and know that the scholarship I earned after one year was not a given, I “earned” it 100%, my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years I had a full scholarship and that was very helpful in paying my bills, I worked 2 jobs in the summer and winter, ski instructor and white water rafting guide, so I think I deserved my scholarship and the time and effort I put in to earn extra funds for other things that I would have not normally been able to
afford, as athletes, students, we should all be very thankful that we had an opportunity to attend college, that is not a given even with a “scholarship” because it can be taken away at anytime, just look at what “Rizor” did last weekend, he was blessed and had been playing great and starting now look at him, off the team and without his scholarship, what he and his friend did was unacceptable and he should have known better, you look up to athlete's and when they let you down by doing stupid things it shows us all that we are all "human" he knew better but the drinking just took over I suspect, and driving on a revoked license come on now what was he thinking, stupid moves like that they are the athletes that should be “repaying” there scholarships back in my opinon? I still have student loans I am paying off but it was all worth it in my opinion?
Kieth, I'm thinking the same thing! I'm thinking "how in the hell can TC come into the NFL undrafted and turn more heads than AE who is the only two time Payton Award winner!" (I know Payton Award winners don't mean squat in the NFL). If it was because of the coaching and other things that Coach Moore mentioned like players saying "I don't like my Coach" or "I'm not getting enough play time", then they were damn lucky to get 8 wins last year! I hope this season can prove that last season was a big train wreck.
Has it been made offical that Rizor's scholarship has been taken away????? I have only seen that he was dismissed from the team.
Risor should have his scholarship rescended.
Murray – Do you think Appalachian95 should repay his scholarship? Clearly, 4 years of Appalachian education has him writing the longest run-on sentence I've ever seen. He may have inadvertently made your point. Or, wait – could it be that what he got in exchange for his athletic service to the university wasn't enough? This is a tough one. Sorry, 95 – did you graduate? Maybe we can let that be the deciding factor.
People, if you want to be taken seriously, learn to write. Any argument you make is nullified by poor grammar. Certainly, don't boast that you went to App if you write like a 3rd grader.
If you have the ability to donate/repay the money of your scholarship, then do it. It only helps Appalachian and shows one's appreciation for what Appalachian did for them. We all work hard for various things along the way in life. Or do you guys feel, like Jerry Moore said, "entitled to a scholarship" and do not care about anyone else but yourself?
…and so the sniping begins once again. Let's enjoy it while it lasts, shall we?
+1 Gwalt on the self-imposed exile. I think Middie and some others like us are doing the same until fans fill Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium here in G-Vegas and we actually have something worth discussing.
Got my 11 tickets yesterday!!!! Bring on the Pyrates!!!!
Cadet, like Armanti, is an OW (offensive weapon) in the NFL. But, he's also above 6' and 200 lbs. Armanti is not. That is a huge difference.
Cadet up the middle for 1.
Remember that? We did not know how to capitalize on what he could do. Everybody knows that. We treated him like a power runner. Big mistake. He could do this. http://youtu.be/nFxJ9urWuM4?t=2m22s
Murray, you have yet to answer my question..
What's the difference between getting a hard earned paycheck and a hard earned scholarship? In both cases, the recipients had to work hard to get the end product..
i agree. always knew cadet had nfl potential, had the right body type, work ethic and speed. just dont think we ever really knew how to use him at app. he got his fair share of big plays, but too many runs getting stuffed up the middle.
Well Joe, in a lot of cases without a college degree the paycheck would be significantly less with little chance for advancement/career etc.
Joe, its not someone is asking to pay interest on the scholarship that one receives. If someone has the ability to pay back their scholarship it could help another potential student athlete.
Sorry you do not see the benefit of helping Appalachian.
+1 Keith Our offensive line and bad play calling were our big problem last year. From what I am reading they are correcting both of those issues. How many times did we see JJ standing around waiting for the call to come in motioning to the coaches. That will not happen this year…that I guarantee.
Murray, that is not what I am saying at all..
What I am referring to is the fact that you think a scholarship is a gift. If a scholarship is a gift, so is a paycheck.
Way to spin the words in your favor (although, you failed to do that)
Joe, not trying to spin anything but being offered a scholarship has a bigger picture that most can imagine. What if there were No scholarships?
Then it would be called Division 3.
What if we all worked at our jobs without a paycheck?
Joe, there would be No Divisions classified by scholarships if there were No scholarships.
If we worked at our jobs without a paycheck, call it slavery.
Cadet's performance so far is just more proof that Lil Mo was a joke as was McClain. Many fans could see the talent being wasted the past few years while others refused to believe we had issues on the staff. Just listen to the comments coming from this year's camp, and it is easy to see changes were long overdue. Some players caused issues as well (the arrest records prove that), but Coach Moore needs to stop placing all the blame on the players. Chris and Bob were just as much of the problem as the idiot players that got kicked off the team. Hopefully all of the dead weight has been removed and the program can regain the magic it once had.
My scholarship was caslled a student loan…..still paying for that!
Murray,
I cannot believe I have to explain the definition of the word gift to anyone over the age of ten.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Gift: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.
There are only two ways to acquire a thing that are always legitimate. A thing can be gifted or traded.
If scholarships are indeed gifts, as you say they are, then the notion that they should be repaid is inconceivable.
If scholarships are traded, that would prove value was traded for value. Which is, in short, payment.
If you want to continue believing without questioning that in which you believe, it looks like you will need to create a new word to describe how scholarships are obtained.
So, in light of the new knowledge I have gifted to you, do you still consider scholarships to be gifts?
Scholarships, athletic or academic, are not gifts. They are earned through performance, either on the field or in the classroom. Generally, they are retained by maintaining that performance.
That aside, I tend to agree with what I take to be Murray's central point: IF a successful professional athlete from App was sufficiently comfortable financially and IF that athlete was otherwise so inclined, it would be a great gesture to give back to the University by donating an amount equivalent to his or her scholarship, or even better by establishing a scholarship fund for future students in his/her sport, or maybe even his/her major. In a sense, that is what Tommy Sofield did, albeit by contributing significantly to facilities for athletes as opposed to athletic scholarship funds.
But nice as it would be for successful pro athletes to “pay ahead” their scholarships, there is no more obligation for the athlete to do that than there is for, say, a successful grad of the COB who also attended App on scholarship. It might be more feasible financially for a pro athlete to do so (but given their short career life, maybe not), but still–they have no more obligation than any other successful alum.
Exactly my point, Murray.
People work hard to earn a scholarship (athletic or not). Likewise, people work hard to earn a paycheck. The two go hand in hand — they are earned, not given as a gift.
If they were just given as a gift, then anyone could get one (again, I am not only talking about athletic scholarships). You have to work hard to EARN one.
But I do agree with you Murray that if someone can afford it, paying back a scholarship would be an awesome thing to do.
My coach said that a scholarship is a gift. A gift that most do not take seriously and understand what the possibilities could lead to. My coach also said that very few pay back their scholarship. I will pay mine back.
Armanti doing work and it's paying off. http://www.panthers.com/team/depth-chart.html
Fourth string reciever!
Way back in the Stone Ages, I received a full basketball scholarship…..well I had to pay $5.00 a quarter class dues. Education cost me $60.00. That education has server me well plus I love the school. It was only a little over $300.00 a quarter or around $1000.00 ayear for my full scholarship. You better bet I tried and have paid App State a lot more than the $4,000.00 for my scholarship. I have not kept up with it, but I feel I have donated around $30,000.00 to App State and when that amount I still received more from the school. Anybody that gets a full scholarship and does not support the school is someone I do not understand. We traveled in NC State Station Wagons and my freshman year I had to ride in the back seat which faced backwards. Our post game meals were at the Town House Rest. and consisted of what $2.00 would buy. I LOVE THE SCHOOL AS IT GAVE ME MUCH MORE THAN I CAN PAY BACK!
Just saw some awesome football helmets on ebay….a 1979 old gold and a new gold with the old yosef on it. About 5 days left on the auction. cool.
Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. But imagine
if you added some great images or video clips to give your posts more,
"pop"! Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this
site could definitely be one of the greatest in its niche.
Amazing blog!