Morning Coffee Is A Fugitive
by Peter Bean on Aug 3, 2007 9:12 AM CDT
in Quick Hits
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PrintA quick note before I get started on a busy day.
Fallout from the Andre Jones arrest: Cedric Goldman, Austin American-Statesman: Mack needs to take action, Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle: Arrest count: defense 4, offense 0, Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News: Timeline of UT arrest troubles, Geoff Ketchum, Orangebloods: This could have long-term consequences for the program ($).
Whatever your opinion of how Mack Brown should handle this, there's no denying that Texas is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons right now. One of the things I hear some people say is that once the season starts, this won't be something that hangs over the season.
Maybe, but as a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I can assure you from recent history that a long series of bad summer headlines can and does carry over at times. The Texas football program is as strong as any in the country, but we can't sugarcoat what's happened this summer - this is as close to crisis as Mack Brown has ever been.
--PB--
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I don't know if this will
affect the 07 season, but Texas will feel this in 08 and 09. If Webb comes back from JUCO pergatory and they can get some DTs to develop, then maybe things turn around.
But this looks alot like the type of attrition OU went through the last two years.
The big problem is the team culture. Why are so many kids getting in to trouble and how did this culture of self rationalizing misbehavior develop?
Mack has his work cut out and this is not his area of expertise.
Milk Drinking Assassin
I think we can all agree that Mack probably won't handle this with any sort of vengeance, pimp-slapping, or boot-in-the-ass.
This is Colt's team for the next 3 years. He is the son of a coach. He should recognize that this is the time to call his own team meeting, and hold teammates accountable.
I realize I'm sort of calling him out here, but I can't stand to see the Longhorns making these types of headlines (Fulmer Cup withstanding). I believe that Colt (with Mad Dog standing behind him) has the best chance to pull the team together. This is his time, his team, and his chance to lead in the right direction.
I'm feeling redundant
Apologies to screwou, as I had not seen his comments from last night yet. That's what I get for reading the top post 1st.
No more moral high ground
We make Oklahoma look good. Something is seriously wrong with our recruiting for us to have so many players that do things like this. Seriously wrong.
Come on, really?
The crimes committed are bad in their own right, but I think the extent of this situation is being blown out of proportion due to our thirts for football talk during the summer months.
There were about 2 real bad seeds (Jones and Joseph), who will both be off the team, and 2 bad decision makers, who will be reprimanded.
The bad image of the team as a whole will be in the media only, and is not an accurate depiction of this team.
Did you know they were bad seeds before they were
caught?
Not saying that the problems are systemic, but a pattern is at least emerging.
Also, I think one of the few disadvantages of being the University in the state of Texas is that your school, and by proxy players, are under a more scrutinizing gaze.
I wouldn't yet come close to categorizing UT as thugish just because of a few bad eggs, but then again I wouldn't have predicted these arrests, either.
by Red Blooded @ Burnt Orange Nation on Aug 3, 2007 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
coming down hard
I think we can assume Jones is off the team along with accomplice Joseph.
The problem is, any other summer two kids convicted of DWI/DUIs would probably get off easy. Without knowing the details, Kindle and Melton's cases are probably forgiveable. But with all the headlines, I suspect MB will come down hard on these two and make an example of them.
On another note, who is suppose to be the defensive leader this year? He should be stepping up.
by sharkbait101 on Aug 3, 2007 10:49 AM CDT reply actions
Set the standard ...
Young men will make mistakes and by ripping these guys and I am throwing stones from a glass house. But these aren't just "any" young men.
Jones is gone unless this is a huge case of mistaken identity - and the sooner a temporary suspension is announced (b/c people are still innocent until proven guilty) - the better. Same should be done with the DUI's. If Melton and Kindle do not at the very least get suspended beyond the OU game, we will look weak.
Be bold and act strongly on these MB - you can only lose more or stop the bleeding. I don't believe our season is dependent upon any of these guys no matter how talented (which is questionable). I think our program is dependent on swift, decisive and morally sound action though.
And in an echo to others, where the hell are the defensive leaders??? Whoever they are - they are being further marginalized by the day.
by CyHorn770 on Aug 3, 2007 11:21 AM CDT reply actions
RE: Defensive Leaders
Wouldn't it have to be Lokey and Okam?
It's just horribly ironic that the BON community nicknamed this duo Law & Order earlier this summer
MB needs a private investigator
on staff to work character issues for future recruits....I wonder if the Xbox bandit is already planning his "transfer" for more playing time.
It still blows my minds that some players spend their downtime planning auto theft and armed robbery....why can't these guys simply chase the muff around in their spare time??
because...
why can't these guys simply chase the muff around in their spare time??
Because the muff comes to them? But you're right, if they have energy left over for theft, they surely have the time to get laid more.
Put me in the..
"everyone's over-reacting" camp. So far (and I stress those words), this is not catastrophic. All NC-winning teams in recent memory have gone through the same thing.
But that is merely my assessment, not my stance.
In fact, I think that over-reaction is useful in this case, if only for the strong message it sends. If the UT community does not inflate the maginitude of these occurrences, then it leaves the door open for continuation. It also gives this community validation that we are not the selfish, rationalizing dick-faces that make up sooner nation.
Austin's finest
I'm surprised that APD didn't shoot any of them in the back.
these arrests......
make baby Jesus cry.
Seriously, this is ridiculous. Just the other day I was getting on my friend for his Husker team letting Purify off the hook for DUI and kicking some dudes ass. And now I have to rationalize this? No. I can't make excuses for this type of behavior. In the Army (these douches) would be arrested, tried in civilian court, busted down, then given NJP or a courts-martial and probably kicked out.
Playing football DOES NOT give you the right to rob somebody at gunpoint. I dont understand how this type of behavior is acceptable for ANYBODY let alone a University of Texas student athlete. Kick these felons off the team. No more recruiting questionable characters. Need a 2-3 game suspension, mandatory, for DUIs no matter what time of season they happen or who the next opponent.
Though Tarell Brown and Gatewood were found innocent of all wrong doing last year, I was happy that Mack suspended these guys for the tOSU game simply for putting themselves in that type of situation. Be smarter guys. We all Bleed Burnt Orange and this behavior kills us all inside.
Where's the countdown picture?
by bleed burnt orange on Aug 3, 2007 12:52 PM CDT reply actions
Agree
Some mandatory sentences may make some guys think before they act - or at least it may send a message to malcontent recruits to either clean it up or not apply.
I say Mack starts with this one: arrested for ANY reason, two game suspension...automatic...no questions asked. Penalties get stiffer based on the accusation. Make these guys use their heads a little before they do something stupid.
And for crying out loud...Melton and Kindle probably could have gotten a free ride home from a cabbie or cop, if not a teammate, just by asking and / or letting them know they played for the 'Horns - they didn't have to choose to drive. It was a poor decision on their parts and there should be some consequences for them both.
I vented my outrage yesterday
and it's not abated at all. My recurring thought today, however, is the utter fatuousness and hypocrisy of all the holier-than-thou talk of how, for example, Webb, Calhoun, et al can't cut it the classroom or how they possess character flaws or how they're immature and wouldn't represent Big State U suitably and so on and so on. This is a sorry state which, while seriously damaging to us, only makes OU and Agriculturus et Mechanicus look good in comparison and that I can't stand.
I agree
Not only is this bad for the team, it is bad for the school as a whole. It is embarrassing to have to defend a community that allows such actions.
Please, Kelson, do something.
by meega on Aug 3, 2007 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions
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