Semantics

[dreadnut]

So first a high-schooler commits to play at a given college; next we're reading about how he "de-committed" and will now play elsewhere. Is "decommitment" even a word? Because it means he never really "committed" in the first place. If one can "decommit", then it devalues everyone's "commitments." This kinda stuff drives me nuts.

[GAD]

The correct word is renege.

[adorshki]

Is "decommitment" even a word?

NO it's not.
The correct term would be "renege(d)(on their promise)" but of course that just sounds like a bad thing, which it is, and lord forbid we should accuse anybody of doing a bad thing these days.
That is if we even know the proper term for it.
This just irks on so many levels, and I hear examples of mangled usage at least a couple of times a week now from television news anchors.
As well as an ongoing pronunciation of nuclear with two U's.
From folks in positions of power.
Now THAT's kinda scary....
And on the short summary given, the college that lured him away from the college that had the original commitment deserve every consequence of failure to keep a commitment he's going to show them.
Assuming they lured him with a "A better offer".
If they're innocent of that, they'd be better served to withdraw any offer in light of the subject's demonstrated lack of trustworthiness.
Maybe he'll learn something to boot.
Keep us posted?

[davismanLV]

Or, he FLAKED!! Totally......

[Grassdog]

Irregardless of the mis-use of words, there's no commitment to begin with anyway in modern day collegiate athletic recruiting so it means nothing. Commitment for what, one or two years? As long as they're getting playing time? I still root for my favorite teams but the whole system of college athletics just depresses me immensely.

[GAD]

Irregardless of the mis-use of words, there's no commitment to begin with anyway in modern day collegiate athletic recruiting so it means nothing. Commitment for what, one or two years? As long as they're getting playing time? I still root for my favorite teams but the whole system of college athletics just depresses me immensely.

Oh no you did not!

[walrus]

Irregardless of the mis-use of words, there's no commitment to begin with anyway in modern day collegiate athletic recruiting so it means nothing. Commitment for what, one or two years? As long as they're getting playing time? I still root for my favorite teams but the whole system of college athletics just depresses me immensely.

Very true. It is a common topic of discussion in a few of my college-level courses. Even the students recognize the huge money-making scam that is the NCAA.

walrus

[Grassdog]

Oh no you did not!

Guilty. At least I didn't say "nuculear"

[dreadnut]

Some more of my favorites:

"Quote, Unquote." Really they mean "Quote, End Quote."

"Take the chicken out of the freezer and unthaw it." Wait, if it's in the freezer it's already unthawed.

I remember hearing this from a personnel manager: "You've been deselected." Hold on, doesn't that suggest I'd already been selected? But to adorshki's point, it sounds nicer than "Sorry but we've chosen another candidate for the job."

[CA-35]

The correct word is renege.

My definition of renege: Total lack of integrity

Prime football examples: Josh McDaniels "commits" to be the Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts then reneged. Manny Diaz not only "commits" but signs a contract to be the Head Coach of Temple University then reneged.