Toussaint Hit With DUI Comment Count

Brian

Blarg:

The Saline Police Department arrested University of Michigan starting running back Fitzgerald Toussaint in Ann Arbor Saturday night on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired, according to Detective Don Lupi.

Details are still forthcoming. DUI is usually a suspension-level offense even for a first-timer, so Michigan may have just lost its starting tailback for a slightly important game. A reminder: Stonum's enforced redshirt was after two DUIs and repeated failure to do what the court told him to. Toussaint's not in the same boat.

Comments

MGoJen

July 23rd, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^

Enough.  My main thought this morning re: the PSU sanctions is that we've adapted this culture of valuing winning in college football over human decency.  Now Twitter is blowing up with, "OH NOES WHAT ABOUT BAMA WE NEED HIM OMG OMG OMG."

Sorry folks.  You can't nail Dantonio for how he handled Chris L. Rucker and then pray Hoke gives Fitz another chance.

cigol

July 23rd, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^

I really can't believe these guys.  The excuse of "oh theyre just kids...we all make mistakes" is off base.  These people are given full scholarships to academic institutions they otherwise wouldn't be at.  They are made into demi-gods and are intensely relied upon to represent their school in the spotlight and most importantly, their teammates and coaches.

I lose all respect for players to run these risks (not just the ones who get caught), ESPECIALLY after having a wakeup call like the Stonum expulsion.  I hope Thomas Rawls thumps Alabama  and Toussant gets Wally Pipped and never seens the field again.

 

cigol

July 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^

These people = major sport college athletes.  If you thought I had some sort of racial intention, get off of your p.c. high horse and grow up.  While there might be a few football players that could have gotten into Michigan on their own, the vast vast majority wouldn't have.  If you can't acknowledge at least that little bit, you are jaded. 

My point was that they are given this monstrous opportunity. With that comes responsibility.  I have never gotten a DUI and  I can promise you that if under the microscope at Michigan, all while receiving top flight everything for free as compensation for representing my university on and off the field, I wouldn't be so damn foolish as to so much smell alcohol and drive.  ESPECIALLY after seeing Stonum run out of the program. 

uncleFred

July 23rd, 2012 at 9:49 PM ^

Ok. Have you ever gotten beind the wheel when you "might" be over the limit? 

Don't get me wrong, Fitiz should not have been anywhere near the wheel of a car if he'd been drinking at all. I mean he is under age, right?

I have a hard time believing that, assuming you drink, you've never been behind the wheel when you might have been over the limit. Especially since the "limit" is now set by politics not actual incapacitation. 

echoWhiskey

July 23rd, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^

Good to know.  I'm sure he's devastated to have lost your respect.  By the way, please post your full name and address so I can judge you if you ever make a terrible decision some time.  It's fun to judge people who we don't know and have no stake over.

cigol

July 23rd, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^

There is a higher standard if you are receiving a full ride, academic support, and multi million dollar facilities, all so you can represent the university in a respectable manner on and off of the field.  If some random SAE gets a DUI, nobody cares.   You're damn right there is a double standard. That comes with the territory of having the opportunity at national glory and a free education.

Needs

July 24th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^

There's also the double standard of random yahoos on the internet deciding that you are intellectually inferior and got into college purely on your athletic abilities, when they've never met or had any interaction with you.

MSHOT92

July 24th, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^

I agree. Sorry, he was a known starter, known cog in the offense. HE KNOWS BETTER. Sucks for him and yes kids make mistakes, but by your Senior year and with everything on the line, there is NO room for mistakes like this. Get your head on boys, Hoke has given new life to MICHIGAN and each guy on that roster needs to think about why they are there and what opportunity is ahead of them. Inexcusable stupidity.

triangle_M

July 23rd, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^

Yeah this this is not the type of breakout season we were expecting from Fitzgerald.    I can't say I was any better at his age.  I just never got caught.

Mr. Yost

July 23rd, 2012 at 5:29 PM ^

He shouldn't have been drinking and driving.

#1 - It's so fucking stupid. You can kill someone.

#2 - You're the star Running Back at the University of MICHIGAN!!! Call up one of your scallywags and tell her to get out of bed and come pick you up.

#3 - You have a team of 100+ players, PLUS GAs, PLUS student trainers...you have access to more people who care about your well being and success than most people do. Someone is awake and sober.

If I got drunk in college...my network of 5 friends were all drunk with me. Walk, take a cab, or crash at whoevers house we were at. You have literally hundreds of people at your disposal and you can't find a fucking ride? You choose to get behind a wheel?

If you don't suspend him for drinking and driving, suspend him for stupidity. 

snarling wolverine

July 23rd, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

Toussaint should've just argued that they weren't within their jurisdiction.

Well see, that's the thing about being drunk . . . your ability to make quick decisions like that generally isn't the best.

But seriously, would the cops really let a guy they suspected of drunk driving off with a warning?  

 

pmarcil1

July 23rd, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^

It is common practice in a county to get as many police departments together as they can and work as wolf packs in some cases in designated areas.  Mostly in high alcohol involved crash areas and times.  They all work on overtime with federal grant money and I figure this is what happened here when Fitz stumbled into the wrong area and got picked up.  Usually, they publicize where they are going to be and all, but not always.

evenyoubrutus

July 23rd, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^

Why can't we just do what Dantonio would do and suspend him for the first home game of the season or something?
 

Or do what Urban Meyer would do and kick him off the team, but then give him a chance to get back on the team!

markusr2007

July 23rd, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^

but UM still have Vincent Smith, Stephen Hopkins, Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes and Denard, matters could be a lot worse. Still, it's times like these when we probably wish Michael Shaw could have been RSed a few years back.

Fitz should have known better. Call a godamned cab. He could have killed someone.

 

 

jamiemac

July 23rd, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

Prediction: Court date gets moved to something like 9/10, pleads guilty, gets typical first offense punishment from courts and gets suspended for UMass. He still rushes for 1,000-plus this year. Take the Over on stadium steps run

Seen it go down this way everywhere, including at MICH.