The End Of Grady? Comment Count

Brian

Kelvin's out, and Kevin, already hanging by a thread after literally drinking himself into a stupor last offseason, has racked up another strike:

Kevin Grady, the former East Grand Rapids football standout and a University of Michigan player, is in jail for seven days after violating his probation on a 2008 drunken driving conviction. …

Court officials said he failed to properly report to probation agents in Ann Arbor, failed to complete a victim impact panel and alcohol highway safety education class, failed to complete 24 hours of community service and tested positive for opiates, a type of pain killer.

…so, yeah, he basically didn't do anything the court asked him to do. Rodriguez might decide to give him the boot. That wouldn't open up a scholarship, since Grady is a senior. Nor would it make much difference for Michigan's prospects next year.

My main question: can you get Fulmer Cup points for inaction?

Comments

MechE

May 14th, 2009 at 10:41 PM ^

Yeah, Grady is really pushing for a boot. If he isn't off the team by the start of the season, he'll be so far down the depth chart he might as well be.

TIMMMAAY

May 14th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^

This really sucks for everyone, especially Grady. I think he has been the most frustrating player in the past several years. It's too bad, I still think he has potential to be great.

He does seem like an asshole though. I met him after the spring game and my boy asked for his autograph, he was pretty rude about it, really surprised me. I just said a real sarcastic "thanks", but whatever.

Ryan

May 15th, 2009 at 12:01 AM ^

Not to get all old man on you (I'm only 27), but I'm not sure what "other side of the story" there is to a 0.281 BAC and a failure to complete ANY of the requirements of your probation.

At this point, his best bet is to claim he completed all the necessary actions, and that he fumbled the paperwork.

qbwaggle

May 15th, 2009 at 12:08 AM ^

Does this have any impact on our APR score, either directly or indirectly?

In other words, if he gets kicked off the team but still graduates, there should be no negative effect on the APR? However, if getting booted from the team leads to his saying "eff it" and fails to complete the graduation requirements, then I assume in that case the APR gets dinged (even though he's a senior and would be done anyway...)

MichiganMikey

May 15th, 2009 at 7:54 AM ^

The main problem with both Kevin and Kelvin was that they were part of the whole "Grady Elite" AAU thing in high school that was ran by their father. They came out of high school thinking college was going to be given to them on a silver platter. Insert RR and Beilen and things did a 180. I met them and ironically Carson Butler at the Breslin when they had the basketball finals there back in say 2005ish. All three were very arrogant and acting as if they had to listen to no one. Manny Harris was playing for Redford was very well behaved and was curtious to everyone.

Don

May 15th, 2009 at 9:30 AM ^

Not just at Michigan, but at all schools. The list over the last 10 years nationally is pretty amazing. You just never know.

I've seen about one carry from Grady in a Wolverine uniform that would have justified the hype about him. I've been mystified since his freshman season how he came to be ranked so high in the first place.

lbpeley

May 15th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^

Because he was the same size now as he was in high school. I'd have to see EGR highlights every f-ing Friday night on the news waiting for the teams I was interested in to be shown. Grady's runs consisted of running thru and over kids half his size. That, and for some reason the Gradys are the Jesus Christs of a very arrogant, priveleged school system. You know how the media is on USC football's jock at all times? EGR is the USC of the Grand Rapids media. Even years that Lowell, Rockford, South Christian, Hopkins, Ravenna, Muskegon were piling up Dome runs and state championships EGR still had to get their press time.

the_white_tiger

May 15th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^

Rockford parents are very arrogant and obsessed with their program. The players and students aren't terrible but the parents get out of hand with "Ram Pride." They treat it like a major college team, but take it a little too far. They aren't dicks because they're rich, they're dicks because they act like dicks.

MichFan1997

May 15th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^

every time i've ever seen Rockford at a tournament, their parents have been terrible. I've never seen a more arrogant, stuck up, self-entitled group of parents in my life. Their kids, in turn, act like the parents. Two years ago, I saw a Rockford kid throw and absolute hissy fit when he lost the state championship match. This is not uncommon for Rockford kids to behave this way, in my experience.

lbpeley

May 15th, 2009 at 11:09 AM ^

True story.

In any event, my original response was to someone wondering why the Gradys seem to be assbags. I was merely giving my epinion on why they might be like that.

WolvinLA

May 15th, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^

Agreed with much of the above. Not only is EGR the wealthiest high school in the area, similar to Birmingham in Detroit (much wealthier than Rockford and I have no idea why Lowell was included, plus GR private schools are weak) but they are the winningest program on that side of that state, and have had some of the most exciting players, Grady being the most, by a long shot.

I did not go their either, I'm an FHN kid, but the praise they get is usually worth it. That school has more state championships than any school in the state by so far it isn't even funny.

lbpeley

May 15th, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^

With you being a Northern guy you know what I'm saying then. I didn't say EGR has no talent or history. I was trying to flesh out why they have a reputation in the area as being douchebags. If you live in the FHN/FHE/FHC school district you know Lowell is becoming the new Ada. Rockford's been a higher end place to live for years now. Caledonia is becoming East GR south. I was saying there are plenty of rich families driving Daddy's cars at all these other area schools (including the private - weak in sports or not). Why does EGR have the biggest douchebag reputation?

WolvinLA

May 15th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^

I don't think they're douchebags at all, I just think they are both the wealthiest and the most athletically successful school in the area. It will be a while before Lowell and Caledonia match EGR or Forest Hills, for each kid driving his daddy's car there are 3 more driving a pick-up from daddy's farm.

Some areas will just always be the old money. Areas like Walled Lake can build all the big houses it wants, but it will never be the same as Birmingham or Grosse Pointe.

Glen Masons Hot Wife

May 15th, 2009 at 10:55 AM ^

Really disappointing. It's a downer to see highly touted kids underperform. You know it hurts them to figure out they ain't so good after all. At the very least I like to see those kids find some sort of redemption with an important role.

jg2112

May 15th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^

....and I think he will be gone though I don't know how big of an "example" he would be. It would be like Rich Rod getting rid of Butler last year, had he actually done so. The response would be, uh, yeah, okay.

And based on his West Virginia track record, maybe it's better to keep the kid in the fold lest he go off the deep end. A number of players he had there were crazy, then were sane while at WV (Pac Man and Chris Henry come to mind), then went off the deep end once they no longer "held the rope."

Maybe kicking Grady off the team, given that it doesn't effect scholarship numbers or APR reports, and given that his brother just left, would be the worst thing to do to the kid. Let him stay, maybe be on scout team, and force him to finish his degree.

markusr2007

May 15th, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^

really didn't yield the Wolverines much substance.

75% decimating injuries, transfers and flame outs.
Grady started at tailback as a freshman in 2005.

Tim Waymen

May 15th, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^

At this point he should be kicked off the team. He showed that he doesn't care about authority or rules, even when on probation! He's had plenty of chances. RR needs to lay down the law. For him to stay on the team would be an embarrassment.

I too have heard that he is an arrogant SOB. I know someone in sports med or kinesiology (one of those) who would work at the camps and she said that he was a prick. Obviously, that's not the reason he should be kicked off; he is a young guy and I do feel bad for him even if he is an asshole, but I think it should be over after what he's done.

Bando Calrissian

May 16th, 2009 at 9:22 AM ^

I could have told you last year when RR essentially let him off the hook that he wouldn't learn his lesson. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened.

Can't wait for him to be suited up and leading the team on the Victors Walk again next season...

Elno Lewis

May 16th, 2009 at 9:40 AM ^

In my business that is prime directive number 1. I am not suggesting Grady be kicked off the team and not suggesting he should stay. I don't know enough details to make such a decision. However, if there are no real consequences, the behavior will not change-- period. In the end, if someone isn't inclined to change a behavior, you cannot make them. If they are so inclined, they usually, with a little help at least, can. With addiction problems, which is what this might very well be, the "solution" or "treatment" cannot be short term. It is sad, but sometimes you just have to let a person reach rock bottom before change can occur.