McFarland speaks about NYT article

During an interview for the US Army All-American Bowl, Jamarkus McFarland spoke publicly for the first time about Thayer Evans' article. As he told commenter 6 Street's friend, McFarland said that some of the passages from his English paper were "spiced up," somewhat supporting the view of various commenters who claimed to have been at the party. McFarland did, however, decline to specify, also adding that he didn't know Evans had the story and saying that no Texas coaches or players were at the party.
Other than that, the news is that Kashemeyia Adams declined to elaborate on or retract any of her statements from the piece.

10 months ago GhostofBigRoy 40 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

McFarland did, however, decline to specify, also adding that he didn’t know Evans had the story and saying that no Texas coaches or players were at the party.

bullshit, then how the hell did thayer evans get a hold of his class paper and take direct quotes from it?

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 28, 2008 6:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

His mom, maybe. Plenty of plausible explanations.

by billyzane on Dec 28, 2008 6:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mom gave it to him

That’s my guess

by 40AS on Dec 28, 2008 6:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you look closely at the story, there are no direct quotes from anybody but his mom. There are reported conversations, but everything for the story went through the mom.

by 40AS on Dec 28, 2008 6:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"I will never forget the excitement amongst all participants," McFarland wrote. "Alcohol was all you can drink, money was not an option. Girls were acting wild by taking off their tops, and pulling down their pants. Girls were also romancing each other. Some guys loved every minute of the freakiness some girls demonstrated. I have never attended a party of this magnitude."

He continued: "The attitude of the people at the party was that everyone should drink or not come to the party. Drugs were prevalent with no price attached."

i’m no english major, how do you explain those quotation marks around his account of the party if it’s not a direct quote?

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 28, 2008 8:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's directly quoting his story.

So, those are his words but not via verbal statement.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 8:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I’m a history/government major and the paragraph directly before the two you cited read:

“But the best summation of his experience might have come from a paper he wrote for his English class comparing Oklahoma and Texas. The paper, "Red River Rivals Recruit,” includes a description of a wild party hosted by Longhorns fans at an upscale hotel in Dallas after the Oklahoma-Texas game on Oct. 11."

by 40AS on Dec 28, 2008 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

as i understand it, a direct quote are another person’s exact words (verbal or in print). his paper is a summation of his recruiting, however the quotes in the NYT were not paraphrased (from all indications i’ve seen) from his paper.

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 28, 2008 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You may be right

Seems like semantics to me though. It’s a direct quote of his high school English paper that he has admitted was not fully accurate and (according to JM) he did not know was going to be in the article. Not exactly directly from the horses mouth to the reporters notepad.

by 40AS on Dec 28, 2008 9:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It does raise the rather esoteric issue

of who owns the copyright to that paper – it should be him – and whether his mother has the right to give it to a third party. If he’s 17, she may have some control, but it is still his work, regardless, and properly should require permission.

Not a big thing, but another of the toes stepped on in this story.

What’s spiced up is the question, which in the rival’s story noted below, he won’t answer at this point. And as long as he won’t, there’s a problem.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 9:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

man why is this guy sooo passive

“I don’t know what happened” “maybe I spiced it up” “Maybe he got the paper then” “I don’t want this on my back”

Too late J-Mac this story is gonna surround you for the forseeable future.

by owenh on Dec 28, 2008 7:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

A liar

And a mommas boy.
Addition by subtraction.

by thirtyand0 on Dec 28, 2008 7:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It really seems to me like JMac is a good kid who got put under tremendous pressure by his mother and grandmother and eventually gave in.

For me the money quotes of that article (particularly now that its been made clear that the supposed UT Booster party description was, at best, embellished) are JMac pointing out that an OU diploma is basically worthless outside of Oklahoma (and that he intends to move back to Texas after college/any potential NFL career) and that there’s nothing to do in Norman except play Football. Its pretty clear what his personal preference would have been if his family had stayed neutral.

I think a lot of people forget how much sway their parents had over them when they were 17. None of us, (at least none of us that weren’t recruited football players) had parents that would prefer that we go to the lower quality school, particularly given a full ride scholarship. For whatever reason, whether it be that JMac’s mom thought he would have a better shot at the NFL if he went to OU (which is not completely out of the question given the relative success in the NFL of defensive linemen coming out of each school) or due illegal or unethical inducements, she clearly put a tremendous amount of pressure on him to go to OU.

Honestly, it probably didn’t help UT’s case that much when JMac came to Austin to visit and our stadium was half empty against Baylor. That doesn’t happen at OU (Yes, I know, that’s mostly because there’s nothing else to do in Norman than watch Stoops run up the score for BCS brownie points.) At some point I expect Mack’s frustration with UT’s fair-weather fanbase is going to boil over. If not Mac, it might be Muschamp going on a tirade after UT gives up an upset home loss to an inferior team in front of 60K fans.

by hodad on Dec 29, 2008 10:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t wait to move back to flyover country (living in DC ’burbs for now) and contribute 2 (4 when my kids are old enough) to the crowd of come-early-be-loud-stay-late fans. Look, I love that Austin and UT itself are not as proudly blue-collar as your usual community in Texas, but people, you need to show that a more sophisticated fanbase can be every bit as insane at a home football game as fans in Blacksburg or SEC country.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 29, 2008 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And I mean EVERY home game. Even when Directional State Technical College is visiting.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 29, 2008 3:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair...

DKR is much, much louder with the south end zone closed in. Still, UT has a long way to go for fan participation. My Mom, who went to UT in the late 60’s, went to the OSU game with me for the first time in DKR in about 15 years and was really frustrated at how quiet the fans are when UT is losing. When 60+ year old women are yelling at adults in their 20’s and 30’s for sitting on their hands there’s something wrong. That game was of course exceptionally from OSU’s first score til the end of the game.

by hodad on Dec 29, 2008 4:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I went to the opening game of the 2004 season. Benson rushed for like 180yds. and a handful of touchdowns, Selvin Young had a pretty good game, Ramonce showed his first flash of amazing speed on a 74yd. scamper, and of course the current Bevo’s predecessor retired. I decided to sit in the student section, which was fairly loud, but I would’ve expected more for opening night. The chicks in particular were pretty quiet.

Of course, wifey went to Maryland when we moved out here, and at least half the Terps students were gone by halftime, even when the game was close. Even the BC game, which was a huge game against a ranked opponent that UMD ended up upsetting, too many fans were gone. UT fans aren’t as rabid as we should be at home games, but I’ll take ‘em over fans at a basketball school any day of the week. I think there’s the potential to rival any SEC home crowd, too, especially as fans learn more about the homefield advantage and the stadium is built into a slaughterhouse.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 30, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree thirty...

beyond football, his family is crippling him as a man…still waiting for his balls to drop in the sac….

by jrod23mc on Dec 28, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Further...

It sounds like McFarland hasn’t bought in to his decision. He did what he did to satisfy his mom, pure and simple, and he’s still trying to convince himself that ‘mother knows best." Someday, perhaps, he’ll look back on the mess his mom has made of this and learn to think, speak and act for himself.

by utexas87 on Dec 28, 2008 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It’s really to bad for this kid, but this sort of story is going to stay with him for a long time just like everyone always remembers Ryan Leaf as a big cry baby in the locker room when reporters were interviewing him

by kcmorse on Dec 28, 2008 8:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Article from Rivals

McFarland apparently spoke to someone at Rivals, who wrote this story: http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=893953

McFarland said he embellished a passage taken from the English paper detailing free alcohol and drugs and topless women at a party of Texas fans in Dallas.

“Some things we knew were kind of mixed up because (the reporter) got a paper of mine,” McFarland said. "The paper I wrote for an English class – it was spiced up a little bit for class. But a majority of it was correct.

“I could have said I just went to a party. For an English paper – I’m taking a college course – you’ve got to explain. It’s brainstorming. If I knew he was getting it, I would have known what was right and what wasn’t right.”

Not surprisingly:

McFarland has had a difficult three days since the Times story was published. He said he received insulting messages on his Facebook page and by text message. Fans from Texas and LSU disparaged McFarland and his mother in blogs and message boards while Oklahoma has embraced them.

“I’m trying to get this to die down,” McFarland said. “I don’t want to say anything wrong about a school. I don’t want to put that on my back.”

by wizardimps on Dec 28, 2008 8:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Did Calvin Howell take a shot at McFarland?

Army Check-in: Texas duo @ Rivals Video

by jrod23mc on Dec 28, 2008 9:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Army-Check-in-Texas-duo-42837;_ylt=Ak9A0Op2UW94Qu3r3g0aM8Qh7qB4

sorry

by jrod23mc on Dec 28, 2008 9:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Try that in the body, not the headline.

The headline won’t even get you a 404.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 9:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Whills

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Army-Check-in-Texas-duo-42837;_ylt=Ak9A0Op2UW94Qu3r3g0aM8Qh7qB4

by jrod23mc on Dec 28, 2008 9:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's see if this gets it all. The address is ok but you have to cut and paste, so try this:

Army Check In with Chris Whaley and Calvin Howell.

Yes, Howell states in a cool fashion, paraphrasing, a man has to make his own decisions on where to go; if they want to go somewhere else, go out of state, just go ahead …and get whipped. heh

Obviously, everybody knows. Nice catch.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

haha, i 100% believe he was taking a shot at JM. but, that’s what happens when mom does your recruiting for you and she’s going to be the one there for you… despite never going to any of your football games.

ps : copy and pasting

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Army-Check-in-Texas-duo-42837;_ylt=Ak9A0Op2UW94Qu3r3g0aM8Qh7qB4

into the address bar worked for me.

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 28, 2008 9:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was surprised how big Whaley is.

Howell is listed at 6-4, 280, while Whaley is 6-3, 232. But they looked close to the same in size.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 9:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thought the same thing...

also, I noticed the difference in the interviews between Howell/Whaley vs McFarland and how excited they were to going to UT whereas Jmac was trying to convinced himself he made the right choice.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/army-check-in-jamarkus-mcfarland-42842

<blockquote>Coach Shipp is gonna coach me for the next four years maybe the next forty..<blockquote>

by jrod23mc on Dec 28, 2008 9:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

from what he’s saying it really sounds like it’s just his family making up their minds for him.

i actually really liked what dre kirkpatrick had to say about texas..

basically muschamp was the first to offer him a scholarship and that meant alot to him, that his family is loving texas even though they haven’t visited it yet, and that his parents are going to have a huge say in his recruiting and where he goes.

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 28, 2008 9:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A balanced and relaxed young man

I think we have a shot at Dre. With Bama and the Gators, it’s going to be tough, but there’s some hope there. He really doesn’t have stars in his eyes.

by whills on Dec 28, 2008 10:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate to say this!

but I honestly think the player and the mother should be sued for damages or come out and give names and evidence so the university can take the steps that are needed to disassociate itself from the people that threw these parties or offered these bribes. We as a university have a right to face our accusers and have the facts that are needed to make sure these people do not tarnish our fine athletic program again!

by LEMILES on Dec 28, 2008 9:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agree

completely, if you are going to call an institution out, then be prepared to defend your statements…unfortunately though I do not believe that Texas will pursue this anyfurther. Would not look good for an institution like Texas to be picking on a poor, single parent minority. One more thing, J-mack just because you are book smart, does not make you common sense smart.

by El_Hound on Dec 28, 2008 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be awesome if we can manage to land Kirkpatrick. He’s already loving Texas and thats the type of people we want!

by kcmorse on Dec 28, 2008 9:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I’d be satisfied if there were just sufficient fallout from this article to ruin Thayer’s career as a journalist and disprove allegations of malfeasance on the part of UT.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 29, 2008 12:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if a suit could be...

brought against these people.If it were a person slandered like this yes but only our lawyer friends know if an institution could bring suit.If a suit was brought Kashmeya would have to name names and present facts to back up her claims.IMHO she doesn’t have any or she would have put them out ther.

It has been speculated that Brown has some evidence of wrong doing by OU and since we have been accused he may be forced to use it.

by TCB Orange Dino on Dec 29, 2008 12:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Kennard, Kirkpatrick, Loston.....

Anyone know any mor about these guys? Are they still possible?

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

P.S. 45-35

by SwimTexas on Dec 29, 2008 12:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

we’ve got a good shot at kennard, he’s down to usc and texas.

dre kirkpatrick i didn’t have much faith in until his army all american bowl interview (its linked above) in which he actually sounds like he’s not so much of an alabama lock as i thought, and that there’s still hope yet for him.

loston has been all but commited for weeks and months now.. i wouldn’t hold out any hope for him.

our best shots are kennard, then kirkpatrick, with loston so far out on the horizon he’s a speck.

by Displaced Longhorn on Dec 29, 2008 2:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MacFarland should realize

That this will NOT go away until he has the guts to come out and talk about specifics. It seems he feels bad he basically took part in slandering Texas, but he also may not want to make his mother look terrible by coming out and setting the record straight. However, he better man up, or it’s going to keep following him around.

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 29, 2008 1:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs